Colonial buildings of Rottnest Island

Several important colonial buildings including the Superintendent's Residence overlook the seawall in Thomson Bay

Rottnest Island was first settled by European colonists in 1830 following their arrival at Western Australia and the Swan River Colony. Soon after, construction of a variety of private and public buildings commenced, many of which were built with aboriginal convict labour and which remain today. This is a list of extant Colonial buildings of Rottnest Island, constructed between 1830 and 1896.

The first European settler on the island was Robert Thomson, who established a modest farm for hay production, as well as a salt collection enterprise. In August 1838, a Corporal Welch was sent to Rottnest with 10 aboriginal prisoners.^[1] The following year, Thomson had his whaleboat stolen, supposedly by several of the inmates, and after complaints, Governor John Hutt decided to resume all land grants previously made on the island. Henry Vincent, a gaoler at the Fremantle prison was subsequently sent to the island as its first superintendent. Vincent went on to personally build or oversee the construction of many of the buildings listed. Building materials were mostly locally quarried limestone as well as timber from the local pine (callitris preissii) and featured distinctive rough plastered walls.

First Superintendent's House

Built c.2016.

Situated immediately above the Visitors Centre off the main jetty, the structure was built as the residence for the Superintendent of Rottnest Island. It was closed in 1904 and in 1913 divided into two cottages for use by government officials.

Military Barracks

Built c.1844.

Pilot Crew's Quarters

Built 1846-1853.

Pilot's Quarters

Built 1847.

Second Superintendent's House

Built 1848.

School and Chapel

Built 1856–57.

The school and chapel were built in 1856 and '57. Between the Wars the chapel was used as accommodation for domestic staff from the island's hotel.^[2]

Mill and Hay Store

Built 1857.

Governor's Residence

Hotel Rottnest

Built 1858-64.

In 1848 Governor Charles Fitzgerald expressed an interest in a summer residence on Rottnest. He resided temporarily in the First Superintendent's House. His successor, Sir Arthur Kennedy authorised funding for the construction of an official residence and works commenced in 1858. Architect Richard Roach Jewell as Superintendent of Public Works and Towns, designed the two-storey building which was completed and occupied in 1864.

Between 1909 and '13 Governor Strickland attempted to extend the grounds of the Governor's Residence forward to the sea-front and behind to Government House Lake.^[2] This would have prevented the residents of the settlement from walking in front of the Residence to get to the Chapel, and so the extension was not permitted. After this the summer-time residence of the Governor was moved to Albany.^[2]

The Residence was converted to holiday accommodation in 1919 and in 1953 it opened as a hotel with a liquor license ^[3][4] It has been known variously as the "Rottnest Hotel", "Quokka Arms"^[5] and as of 2015 "Hotel Rottnest".

Major modifications and extensions to the buildings have been made over the years, including the addition of several short-stay units for tourists and a modern bar/restaurant facility. The major architectural features of the Residence are still clearly prominent.

Pilot Boathouse

Built 1858.

Native Prison

Visitors to the prison, c.1900-1910

Built 1863-64.

Rottnest was used as a penal establishment for Aboriginal people between 1838 and 1931, except for the period 1849 to 1855. The "Quod" (meaning quadrangle or prison) replaced an earlier structure which was destroyed by a major fire in 1856. The only entrance faced east, towards to the Superintendent's office. Rooms on either side of the entrance housed prison warders.

In 1883 a commission was set up to look at conditions for aboriginal prisoners.^[6] The superintendent William Dockwrey Jackson gave evidence to this commission as to the conditions of the prisoners: "There are 36 cells[…]. I have had five natives in a 6 x 10 cell, but as a general rule there are only four."^[7]

Frederick Vosper, owner of the local Sunday Times newspaper visited the prison in 1899 and described it as follows:

The prison buildings are in the form of an octagon, of which about six sides are occupied by cells opening on a common courtyard, the remaining two consisting of offices, kitchen, etc. ... Around the interior of the octagonal courtyard runs a narrow verandah, with a boarded floor, which boards look like as if they had not been scrubbed or washed for a geological epoch. The cells are wretched little cubicles, apparently about 6ft. x 8ft. in extent, which are lighted only by a grating in the cell door, and one in the wall over it. The cubic air space must be very small not more than 300ft. I should think and in there, black prisoners sleep on the bare boards, having a rug provided to cover them. ... I was informed by Dr. Hope that the rule is to put three men in a cell.^[8]

The prison closed in 1904 and in 1911 it was modified for holiday accommodation. Further modifications were made in 1986 when it became the Rottnest Lodge.

Hay Store

Built 1863-64.

Pilot Crew's Kitchen

Built 1867.

Salt Store

Salt Store

Built 1868.

Coxswain's Cottage

Built 1871.

Lomas Cottage

Built 1871.

Boy's Reformatory

Built 1880-81.

This is one of the few colonial buildings on Rottnest Island not constructed by Henry Vincent. John Watson built the structure and became the reformatory superintendent for all of its 20-years of operations to 1901.^[9]

The reformatory buildings are now used as holiday accommodation as part of the Rottnest Lodge.^[10]

Aboriginal boys and boys in trouble with the law were sent to this reformatory. Here they were taught carpentry, gardening and joinery.

Wadjemup Lighthouse

Wadjemup Lighthouse plaque

Built 1849 and 1896.

The current lighthouse stands on the site of a much smaller lighthouse built in 1849. Foundations of the original structure are nearby.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rottnest Island.

• Seddon, George (1972). A Sense of Place. 
• A Guide to the Colonial Buildings of the Thomson Bay Settlement. Fremantle: Rottnest Island Authority. 2010. 
• Somerville, W. (William) (1966). Rottnest Island in history and legend : its discovery and development, natural beauties, fauna and flora. Rottnest Island Board. 
• Ferguson R.J. (1986). Rottnest Island history and architecture. University of Western Australia Press. 

Notes