Local Government
Capel
Region
South West
Hayfield Dve Peppermint Grove Beach
Capel
South West
Constructed from 1869
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 13 Oct 2003 | ||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 01 Aug 1999 | Category B | |
The place is of considerable significance for it's associations with the McCourt family and early settlement along the coast. It is a good example of a dwelling of the period.
One room limestone. The remaining 2 rooms were wattle and daub.
James McCourt arrived in the colony in 1842 with his wife Mary and two children, on the 'Trusty'. He worked at Australind as a timber worker.In 1843, they abandoned Australind and moved to Ludlow where several Catholic families had settled. By 1847 McCourt had a 330 acre depasturing lease which he named 'Fatfield' by 1848. He expanded his property. After buying land at Peppermint Grove Beach in 1854, he purchased locations 181-185 in 1860. In 1862, after floods washed away their dwelling, he sold property to Captain Molloy. After some years of financial difficulties, he was able to retain Peppermint Grove properties and built a dwelling. He established 'McCourt's Farm', growing onions, breeding horses and raising cattle. In 1873, the government resumed part of Location 182 as a site chosen for a cut through the sea. In 1874, Charles Manning (Clerk of Works) had the cut built by the last of the convicts from the Bunbury depot which closed the same year. The cut was immediatelty south of Doungup, and is still there. McCourt was employed to keep the cut clear. People often camped on the land in the valley near the safe swimming spot and during the popularity of theplace, it became known as Peppermint Grove. James McCourt died in 1899. His daughter Kathleen McCourt married Robert Hardey in 1904, after having helped run the farm for a number od years, continued to do so after her husband died in 1933. During WWII, a lookout was established at Hardy's Hill and Alex Campbell was stationed there. Mrs Hardey employed him to help on the farm before he was assigned to Bougainville. After the war, Alex Campbell settled his family with Mrs Hardey, purchased some land and managed the property. When Mrs Hardey died, (early 1950's) she left some property to Alex Campbell. In the early 1960's part of the farm was sold off the developers and Alex Campbell did some development with the first residential blocks at Peppermint Grove Beach in 1965. In 1966 Jim Campbell and his wife Cheryl became part owners of the property and settled there in 1975. Part of the property has since been developed by the Campbells as the McCourt Hill Estate.
Integrity: Redeemable Authenticity: High Degree
Poor-Fair
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase D and Krantz V; "Just a Horse Ride Away, A history iof the Shire of Capel and it's people". pp. 29, 32, 40, 45, 46, 57, 58 | Shire of Capel Local History Collection | 1995 |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
| Present Use | VACANT\UNUSED | Vacant\Unused |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | EARTH | Wattle and Daub |
| Wall | STONE | Limestone |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
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