Cossack Townsite Precinct

Child Places

• 03229 Police Quarters, Lockup & Service Bldgs
• 02344 Galbraith's Store
• 03233 Registrar's Office and Residence
• 02346 The Old Court House
• 02345 Customs House & Bond Store
• 03232 Cossack Cemetery
• 03230 Cossack School (Ruins)
• 02347 Post and Telegraph Office
• 03231 Land Backed Wharf - Cossack

Statement of Significance

The HCWA Statement of Significance for the Cossack Townsite Precinct, states “that the precinct comprising a number of buildings constructed of local materials and archaeological sites dating from the 1870s, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:  the precinct was a frontier settlement established in 1863, the first port in the North West of Australia and home to Western Australia’s first pearling industry;  the precinct is a nationally significant archaeological site that has the potential to contribute to a wider cultural understanding of the cultural heritage of the State through use as a research site;  the precinct contains evidence of the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal communities;  the precinct was important to the establishment and sustainability of Roebourne and the spread of settlement into the hinterland;  the precinct is testimony to the rigors of frontier life and contains major evidence of the response of European settlers to a remote environment characterised by scarcity, climatic extremes and the hazards of cyclones and tidal surges;  the precinct provides evidence of an early multicultural society and the accommodation of the cultural diversity of European, Afghan, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Filipino and Aboriginal people;  the precinct is associated with outstanding figures in the early development of the Pilbara region, including explorer F T Gregory, the Padbury, Wellard, Broadhurst, Withnell and Sholl families, and Cossack identities such as the Halls and Muramats; and,  the precinct contains a notable group of public buildings, designed during George Temple Poole’s term as Chief Architect of the Public Works Department.”

Physical Description

The most immediate aspects of Cossack Precinct are the remains of built structures in the townsite, including the Court House and Bond Store, Post and Telegraph Office, Police Station and Jail, Customs House, Galbraith’s Building, and land-backed wharf. These are concentrated along the historic Strand, Perseverance St and Pearl Street. Much of the old townsite is either ruined or removed, and revealed only as archaeological sites (below). The Asian settlement is strung out along the road towards the cemetery, and characterised by market gardens and the remains of habitation and commerce, with distinctive imported Asian objects. The Aboriginal historical campsites, and Afghan camps, are located along the western extent of the raised peninsula and characterised by dense deposits from occupations, camps, working areas and market gardens. The various yards and wells that once sustained the settlement are located along the western extent of the raised peninsula. The remains of the tramway to Roebourne (late 1880s) are revealed through a raised embankment. Butchers Inlet contains the remains of various abandoned and wrecked vessels, chain piles, vessel parts and stone ballast piles. It constitutes one of the richest concentrations of maritime archaeological heritage in the State.

History

The town was established in 1863. At this time it was called Tien Tsin, after the barque of the same name which was commissioned by Walter Padbury to deliver his stock. It was renamed Cossack in 1871, after Sir Frederick Weld visited on the Cossack. Cossack, and the Upper Landing, were significant sites for the arrival of early settlers, such as Padbury. However, it suffered from being separated from the mainland at high tide and from the shallow waters of Butchers Inlet. Cossack was the home of the pearling fleet, established in the 1860s and was a significant setting for the pearling industry decades before it was established at Broome. The pearling fleet relied on Aboriginal and Asian workers and this is remembered in the Aboriginal camps and Asian settlement at Cossack, located between the Police Station and the Cemetery. The gold rushes of the late 1880s saw many new immigrants arrive through Cossack. At this time the settlement was linked to Roebourne with the Tramway. Despite this, the town was slowly eclipsed by Point Samson, with the establishment of the jetty there. In the twentieth century, activities at Cossack included commerce, as seen at Muramats Store, and the turtle processing enterprise based out of the Customs Building. The heritage values of the town were increasingly recognised in the later twentieth century, with national, state and local heritage listings. Today the site is managed by the Shire of Roebourne as a tourist destination.

Archaeology

The townsite that extended from the distinctive Nanny Goat Hill to the Cemetery (with separate Chinese and Japanese sections), and the inlet, is largely an archaeological site, with some key work having been conducted.

Integrity/Authenticity

Varies from none to complete

Condition

Varies from archaeological site/ruin to intact

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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