Local Government
Busselton
Region
South West
22 Kent St West Busselton
Bond Store & Custom Officer's Residence
The Gulch; Police Residence
Busselton
South West
Constructed from 1854, Constructed from 1856
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
Heritage List | YES | 13 Aug 2014 | |
State Register | Registered | 08 Jan 2010 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|
(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Category | ||||
Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
Classified by the National Trust | Recorded | 02 Feb 1976 | ||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 20 Jun 1996 | Category 1 |
Custom officer’s house and police station 'The Gulch' has cultural heritage significance as one of the few remaining early private buildings designed in Victorian Georgian style in the town centre. It is also significant for its association with the early government administration of Busselton, in particular Captain John Molloy and Joseph Strelly Harris who were both resident magistrates for the Sussex District.
A rendered brick walled cottage with a steeply pitched iron roof at the rear of the lot and a timber framed and clad cottage at the front of the lot. There is also a low squat chimney located slightly off centre of the main ridge line. A three-roomed cottage with rendered brick walls inside and out. It has a pressed metal ceiling and concrete flooring. The roof was framed for shingles, which have been replaced with iron.
According to Busselton Historical Society notes, the place was built in the convict period as a customs officer’s residence and added to in 1906. John Molloy built the customs house during 1856, primarily as a warehouse space for bonded goods, with additional rooms for a guard and an office for the Resident Magistrate. Comments by the Colonial Secretary’s Office and Molloy and delays relating to its completion indicate that the building was purpose built. Subsequently a larger bond store and office space was built for the Resident Magistrate elsewhere and the place appears to have been used for residential purposes from 1861.
Moderate Degree/Moderate Degree Integrity Notes: The residential nature of the place remains apparent. The integrity of the place is moderate. Authenticity Notes: Both buildings have had minor modifications so that the place retains a moderate degree of authenticity.
Rear Cottage- Fair. Front Cottage- Good
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
---|---|---|---|
Conservation Plan | 1999 |
Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
---|---|---|---|
4072 | Conservation Plan for The Gulch. | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 1999 |
Individual Building or Group
Epoch | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Other Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Police Station or Quarters |
Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Customs House\Bond Store |
Present Use | RESIDENTIAL | Other |
Style |
---|
Victorian Georgian |
Federation Bungalow |
Type | General | Specific |
---|---|---|
Wall | BRICK | Rendered Brick |
Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
General | Specific |
---|---|
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES | Markets |
OCCUPATIONS | Domestic activities |
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Government policy |
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Law & order |
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Government & politics |
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.