Western Australia

Location: Mill Workers Cottages South Western WA

Threat:     Development

The few remaining precincts of timber workers’ cottages in the Shire of Manjimup are currently at risk. Restructuring and phasing out of the timber industry is now changing the pattern of use for these cottages.

The cottages are of considerable local significance as evidence of a way of life once central to the south western area of the state. They also appear to be of state significance as a unique precinct built by the timber companies to provide accommodation for the existing mill.

Their scale, construction and unique clustering siting indicates the primitive conditions under which the state’s timber workers lived for much of the 20 century.

The mills at Pemberton (known originally Big Brook) and Deanmill were constructed in 1913 to provide sleepers for the Trans Australia Railway. Hence the Deanmill cottages in particular have heritage significance for their role in the construction of this first major Commonwealth construction project following Federation. The social significance of these unique sites is directly related to their

status as an intact heritage precinct.

Once the cottages have been vacated, they are prone to damage by vandals and by theft, and they are increasingly at risk of being moved or changed to short term accommodation.

Left in their original precincts, the cottages would retain their capacity to provide understanding of the past, yet have considerable potential for development as tourist accommodation.

The National Trust has requested the Minister to ensure the heritage values of these precincts are conserved and interpreted through a heritage agreement. To date, no response has been received.

UPDATE

Ministerial decision to allow sale of individual cottages without heritage agreements. National Trust is working with community groups to obtain a reversal of decision to achieve a more positive heritage outcome .