Aubrey Gibbs House

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic significance as a good example of a modest rural homestead dating from the 1920s.
Historical significance for its association with the Gibbs family and market gardening in the area
surrounding Pipindinny Swan.
Social significance for its contribution to the community's sense of place.
Management Category

Physical Description

Aubrey and Emma Gibbs's single story home is located at Lot 4, 73 Pipidinny Rd, Eglinton on a rural
property on the south side of Pipidinny Road within the City of Wanneroo's Coastal Ward. The house
is set back approximately 25 metres from the road on a limestone ridge, facing east and overlooking
Beonaddy Swamp. The kitchen and dining areas are part of the first dwelling, built c1919 by Aubrey's
older brother William Lacey and is made from limestone rubble. Unfortunately before the roof could be
added most of the walls were completely washed away. The front.three rooms, hall and verandahs
were rebuilt by a stone mason, Butcher Lee out of sandstone, quarried locally from the west side of
Beonaddy Road. The steeply pitched corrugated iron hipped roof extends over the verandahs that
encompass the north, east and south sides. Some of the heavier roof timbers were salvaged from the
shipwreck of the "Alex T Brown", as were the original doors. The kitchen, bathroom, laundry and back
verandah are under a skillion roof. There is a central double flued chimney servicing both the kitchen
and the lounge. The house has the original concrete floors throughout. The inside walls are lime
rendered smooth and either papered or painted while the outside is painted. There are still remnant
Fig trees (three different varieties) down two sides of the house, planted when the family first moved
in and a huge Loquat tree in front of the house planted in the mid 1940's. Mature Tuart trees
(Eucalyptus gomphocephala) are extent on the property, one with approximately an 8 metre girth.
The remnants of the dairy cool room, separating room and cow shed, built c1946 out of cement bricks
is 60 metres to the west of the house. This was also used as a shearing shed in the Iate1950's and a
piggery in the early 1960's. (Information provided by Leonie Snape).

History

The suburb of Eglinton was approved in 1973. It is named after the Barque "Eglinton" which was
wrecked on rocks, which now bear its name in 1852. Eglinton Rocks are located off the coast
adjacent to the suburb
William John Gibbs, his wife Harriet (nee Lacey) and daughter Harriet Sarah arrived in Western
Australia in 1834. They settled first at Claisebrook then moved to the Cannington area. They also
spent some time in Wanneroo as Harriet died here in 1862.
William Lacey Gibbs, William and Harriet's fourth child leased Swan Loc. 2751 in 1884 in his son
Jabez name. The 100 acres, along with other leased lands in the Wanneroo area were used to spell
his herd of dairy cattle, so as to rest "Brooklands" his Cannington farm. After his death the land was
titled to Jabez and he and his family move onto the northern section of the property in 1919. Around
the same time Aubrey built a bag house for himself on the southern portion of the property and started
the construction of the limestone house.
In 1921 Aubrey and Emma Gibbs and their three children Ruby, Henry and Charles moved to north
Wanneroo. The family grew to six children, although one died in infancy. Aubrey ran cattle, had a
dairy and twice reclaimed a section of the Beonaddy swamp land. Here, with the help of his sons he
grew tomatoes, cabbage and cauliflowers for market. In later years the family also ran sheep on
adjacent leased land and had a piggery. Aubrey was also the caretaker for Yanchep Park in the late
1920's.
During World War 2 the family well was used by the army, stationed on the coast for their water
supply.
The house is still being lived in by Aubrey and Emma's son Ken and his wife Lola. (Information
provided by Leonie Snape).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.