South West Life

This article was written by Akita Olsen.

Are you driving past a living museum each day? I am.

King Cottage is situated in the busy street of Forrest Avenue, in the town of Bunbury, Western Australia.

Zooming past homes and commercial properties you can be forgiven for not realising that there is a small world of history living amongst this full-on environment.

The King Cottage was built 120 years ago by Henry King, a brickmaker by trade, who is said to have had help from his sons - using bricks they had made from the back of their property. His home was built using patterns known as Flemish and Engish bond - for strength, which obviously works as the building still looks great, including the original floorboards.

Henry and his wife Susannah arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia in March 1855 on the ship the Berkshire which left Southhampton, England in December 1854. A brave young married couple. Did they know that they would become a pioneering family in the south west of Western Australia?

Legend has it that Henry established a brickworks during the late 1860's in the area near the Leschenault Inlet, close to the northern end of King Road - hence the name. He apparently used the clay there and shaped it by hand into bricks, using wooden moulds and firing it on the spot.

This family wasn't overly special nor different, yet most of these pioneers have interesting stories and a big light went on in my head when I heard that the road King Rd was named after this man. To realise the meaning of these streets that I and maybe you travel on regularly gave me a buzz.

The cottage is furnished to fit the period from 1880 - 1920. The artifacts displayed are part of the Bunbury Historical Society's collection and reflects the way of life for a common Bunbury family from that era. It includes historical photographs, domestic artifacts, musical instruments, costumes, the scary and dreaded laundry equipment and other outdoor displays.

To experience life in the period of 1880-1920 step into this museum at 77 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury, or for further details and opening hours contact the Bunbury Historical Society on 9721 7546 or 9721 3929.