Little Holland House

Statement of Significance

Historical and social associations and the importance of the contents relative to the Prinseps while those contents remain in the house.

Physical Description

A distinctive style one and two storey house in masonry and timber framing with corrugated iron roof. Handsome joiner, large gable and dormer windows.

History

Assessment 1976:
Construction: commenced 1909
Architect/builder: Henry Charles Prinsep

Henry Charles Prinsep commenced the building of ‘Little Holland House’ in 1909, some years after retiring from the public service. During the final quarter of the last century he was one of the best known and most highly respected personalities of Perth where he established a leading position in the cultural and artistic life of the city.
‘Little Holland House’ has strong historical associations both with its builder, his wife Josephine Bussell of Cattle Chosen nearby and with the activities of his father Charles Robert Prinsip of Calcutta who established the Adelphi Estate near Launceston in Tasmania in 1828 and the Belvedere estate near Bunbury in Western Australia in 1838.
Henry Charles Prinsep in 1866 came to manage the latter estate from which he exported horses to the Indian cavalry remount marker and timber sleepers for the Indian railways. He built the original Prinsep Park at Dardanup for his bride. During the 1874 depression he had to sell the estate to his creditors and moved to Perth where he was employed as a draftsman in the Lands Department, later becoming in turn, Chief Clerk of that department, Under Secretary for Mines the Chief Protector for Aborigines. During retirement he served for some years as mayor of Busselton.
‘Little Holland House’ was the artist’s dream house named in honour of the Kensington home for many years of his uncle Henry Thoby Prinsep through whom Henry Charles established close associations with the painter George F Watts and with the children of the Poet Laureate, Alfred Tennyson. The construction of ‘Little Holland House’ was seriously interrupted by the Great War so that the builder’s original plans were disappointed. Though it may lack architectural distinction it occupies a a beautiful setting and is a veritable museum of manuscripts, books and articles previously owned by Henry Prinsep and his father.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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