Thorsager House (site)

Author

City of Cockburn

Place Number

10198

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Location

425 Rockingham Rd Spearwood

Location Details

Local Government

Cockburn

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1900

Demolition Year

1996

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	10 Apr 2014	Category D	Category D Some significance Contributes to the heritage of the locality. Photographically record prior to major development or demolition. Recognise and interpret the site if possible.

Statement of Significance

Thorsager House (site) is associated with prominent local family, the Thorsagers.

Physical Description

Thorsager House was demolished in December 1996.
This small weatherboard house was set behind a large weeping willow tree on a Rockingham Road block. The cottage was constructed from weatherboard and had extensions in fibreboard. It had three bedrooms under a steeply pitched corrugated iron roof with a central chimney. The red painted roof had deteriorated and had been patched over time. There was a verandah protecting the front of the house with wooden supporting posts and a timber floor. To the rear of the former house is a large swamp, part of the Beeliar Wetlands Chain.

History

Niels Thorsager was one of the early pioneers in the Spearwood area. After buying a block of land he sent home for his intended wife Frederikke. She arrived in 1898 by ship. Unfortunately she arrived early with no one to greet her. Her first thoughts were to continue on to Adelaide where she had relatives, but friends convinced her to try and find Niels first.
Successfully reunited, Frederikke and Niels prepared for their wedding which was held four days later. The reception was held at the Coogee Hall. Soon after she was living in the weatherboard cottage now known as Thorsager House.
Niels Thorsager was employed as a post cutter and then worked long hours labouring on his home block. He had to clear the block of trees and limestone and build wells for water. The stone trenched from his block was carted to Rockingham Road to be used as a road base. The Thorsager family went on to contribute much to the growing community spirit in Spearwood.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: Site only
AUTHENTICITY: Site only

Condition

Site Only

References

Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
HCWA Database No. 10198	State Heritage Office
M Berson; "The Making of a Community".	City of Cockburn	1978
Register National Estate
National Trust Australia (WA) Documentation	National Trust WA

Place Type

Historic Site

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	RESIDENTIAL	Single storey residence
Original Use	RESIDENTIAL	Single storey residence

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	TIMBER	Weatherboard
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General	Specific
PEOPLE	Local heroes & battlers

Creation Date

22 Dec 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

18 Dec 2019

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.