Rockbridge, Upper Warren

Author

Shire of Manjimup

Place Number

01729

Location

222 Rockbridge Rd Upper Warren

Location Details

Local Government

Manjimup

Region

South West

Construction Date

Constructed from 1865

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 08 Dec 2016
State Register Registered 13 Oct 2019 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Classified by the National Trust Classified 07 Sep 1987
Register of the National Estate Indicative Place 09 Aug 1988
Municipal Inventory Adopted 10 Jul 1997 Category A

Statement of Significance

Representativeness, Aesthetic, Rarity and Historic

Physical Description

The old house stands on a slight rise overlooking a small stream which joins the Warren River. Nearby is the twentieth century family residence. The simple rectangular building originally consists of three rooms with vertical jarrah slab walls resting on a log foundation plate with corner posts morticed into the plate. The hipped roof is constructed of timber shingles. A stone fireplace at the west end has also been restored. There are two doors and two timber framed windows in the front elevation. The house is surrounded by an old post and rail fence.

History

Rockbridge is the Mottram family property. John Mottram was one of a group of early pioneers who settled in a community on the Warren River just north of the Karri forest. The others were Arthur Clarke (Fern Hollow), Walter Blechynden, and Peter Wheatley (Clover Cottage). The four families were responsible for the building of nearby St Mark’s Anglican Church which was also used as a school for the local children between 1891 and 1920. This timber cottage is thought to have been built C1865, although one source suggests this is a later building replacing an earlier building closer to the river. Nearby is a more modern residence where the Mottram family currently lives. The old house was last occupied in the 1920s. During the 1990s the timber building was carefully and lovingly restored by the Mottrams in the late 1990s, and it is now a fine example of an early pioneer residence. Graham Robinson, a local builder specializing in old timber buildings, did a lot of the work. The interior has also been restored and the house has been furnished with family treasures and artefacts of the period, some of which were found on the farm. Cliff Mottram, the current owner, now 85, said he was born and lived in the house until he was about five. The family then moved into the new house in the 1920s. The old rock bridge after which the property is named, has been covered over with a causeway.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very Good Authenticity: Very Good

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Heritage and Conservation Professionals: "Shire of Manjimup Municipal Heritage Inventory". Shire of Manjimup 1995 Adopted 1997
National Trust Assessment form National Trust of Australia WA 1987

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

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

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall TIMBER Slab

Historic Themes

General Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Settlements

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

29 Apr 2021

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.