The Rocks, Albany

The Rocks, also referred to as Government House or Government Cottage, is a residence in Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

The Rocks
The Rocks, view from bottom entry gate
General information
TypeHeritage listed building
LocationAlbany, Western Australia
Coordinates35.02414°S 117.87717°E / -35.02414; 117.87717 (The Rocks)
TypeState Registered Place
Designated1 April 1999
Reference no.28

The building was constructed in 1882 for William Grills Knight, a prominent local identity, and his family. Knight later served as Mayor of the City of Albany from 1886 to 1888 and the family remained at the property until 1910, the last owner being his daughter, Mary Knight.[1] The building was sold to Mr Dymes[2] who sold to Mr Butcher in 1910, who made various improvements on the building.[3]

The building is set on 8,196 square metres (88,221 sq ft) of manicured gardens situated on the side of Mount Melville and overlooks the town of Albany and Princess Royal Harbour.[4]

The Government of Western Australia acquired the property in 1912[2] to utilize as a summer cottage for vice regal dignitaries. During World War I the house was used as a convalescent home for wounded servicemen up until 1921 when the government started using the building again for vice regal visits. By 1937 the Governor no longer required the building and it then served several purposes including being used as a school, maternity and general hospital.[5] During World War II it was once again used by returned servicemen, and became a private hospital again in 1941.[6]

In 1944 it became a private residence[1] and then in 1950 the building was used as a hostel for girls attending Albany Senior High School, with 30 girls taking up residence; this was later increased to 40. The Country Women's Association were managing the enterprise.[7]

The building was classified by the National Trust in 1977, and placed on the register of the National Estate in 1980. In the early 1990s it was once again briefly used as a hospital.[1]

The property is used as tourist accommodation and is the only five star heritage accommodation in Western Australia. The house is important as an example of the restrained architecture typical of Albany and of a large house of the period. It has a federation filigree style with seven bedroom, eight bathrooms, billiard room, library with Victorian styling and jarrah floorboards.[8]

In 2005 the building received a A$50,000 grant from the state government to assist with the cost of conservation work including the replacement of the aluminium windows and doors with jarrah frames.[9]

See also
  • List of places on the State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Albany

References
  1. "The Rocks". Heritage Council of Western Australia. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. "Albany". Western Mail. Perth. 22 November 1912. p. 20. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Governor's summer house". Kalgoorlie Miner. Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. 28 November 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Albany's finest property". Merrifield. 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  5. "The Rocks". The West Australian. Perth. 24 August 1934. p. 24. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ""The rocks"". Albany Advertiser. Albany, Western Australia. 15 May 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ""The Rocks"". Albany Advertiser. Albany, Western Australia. 14 September 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 15 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Albany Federation Heritage – Albany Residences with Heritage Status". Federation House. 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  9. "More protection of Albany heritage". Media Statements. Government of Western Australia. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
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