Soldier Settler Homes, Mandogalup

Parent Place or Precinct

12125 Mandogalup Townsite

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic Value: With their simple building forms, weatherboard cladding and corrugated iron roofs, the residences combine to produce a recognisable precinct of buildings and contribute to the streetscape of Mandogalup Road.

Historic Value: The houses are associated with the implementation of the Soldier Settlement Scheme on the Peel Estate in the 1920s, which, although generally considered a failure, contributed to the early development of farming and settlement at Mandogalup. One of the remaining houses is associated with local resident, Jack Jolly, who was foreman for the Settlement Scheme house building in the 1920s.

Representativeness: This group of three cottages demonstrate government planning of rural settlements, through their location together and the style and size of the homes. The differences between the homes demonstrate how the settlers could express their individuality.

Level of significance: Considerable.

Physical Description

The place comprises a (discontinuous) row of three single-storey residences, each located on the west side of Mandogalup Road. Two of the residences, No. 27 and No. 31, are characterised by their simple rectilinear form, with large gable roofs incorporating timberframed verandahs across the front elevation. No. 45 has a slightly different form, with a single room projecting from the main building form, creating a gable bay facing the street.
Each of the buildings is clad with timber weatherboards and has a corrugated iron roof.
No. 27 has recently been renovated and extended and is set within attractive landscaped grounds incorporating a number of mature trees. The front verandah has criss-cross balustrading (not original) and the door and window openings appear to have been modified or removed. The face-brick chimney is still evident on the north side.
No. 31 is mostly concealed from the road by large plantings, but its original building form is still clearly evident and the place appears to be largely intact, retaining its original timberframed windows and dark-coloured weatherboards.
No. 45, also known as ‘Rhondarosa’ is also mostly concealed from the road by vegetation, but closer inspection reveals the main building form is intact. The windows appear to have been replaced with aluminium-framed windows.

History

After the First World War, rehabilitation of returning soldiers posed a major Commonwealth problem, particularly in the United Kingdom where hundreds of thousands of returned soldiers were unable to find employment. To combat the problem, and also potentially populate the vast undeveloped areas of Western Australia, the Group and Soldier Settlement Scheme was implemented. The government resumed or purchased large estates and these were then subdivided. The Peel Estate was such an example. Most farmlets were approximately 100 acres in size, and were established for dairy farming because of the rich land surrounding the swamp areas.
The settlement of each ex-serviceman was financed by the Agricultural Bank, with an initial loan made to them to enable them to built a small, four-roomed unlined weatherboard house, to clear and fence their property, and to prepare pasture land to feed their stock. A supervisor from the bank was appointed to help them with advice and instruction, and a Bank Inspector visited them periodically to assess the work they had done before making any further loans.
Unfortunately for the Soldier Settlers, most of whom had no previous farming experience, the cost of producing the milk was generally greater that the price they received for milk. Some settlers sought new avenues of revenue and combined pig raising and poultry farming with dairying, but that rarely provided a real solution to the problem and the majority of settlers were forced to walk off their lots.
The homes constructed on the Solider Settlement lots were generally smaller than the Group Settlement homes, and typically consisted of four rooms and a verandah. Each cottage had a wood fired stove and a 1,000 gallon rainwater tank and cost approximately £40 to build.
The house at No. 31 was believed to have been built by Jack Jolly, who was foreman of house building in the early 1920s and retired to Mandogalup in 1931/32.
(Source : Nora Taggart, Rockingham Looks Back, 1984; Laurie Russell, Kwinana “Third Time Lucky, 1979)
In 2021, all three residences are extant and appear to be in good condition.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: Moderate-High

Condition

Good

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.