Shenton Cottage Site 1830

Established in the 1830s, this site was the location of one of Western Australia’s first farms. The historic site now forms part of Meadow Landing, Roelands.

Within the area stands an old flame tree and an ancient fig tree, which once surrounded an old homestead. An olive tree in Shinnick Close, adjacent to what is now Stanley Park, marks the site of improvements that were earlier than the homestead. There is also remnants of a timber jetty. This is all that remains of the original settlement.

The Farm was part of Location 2 selected by William Kernot Shenton (1802 – 1842) in 1830. Shenton undertook ‘location duties’ to improve the property with full title granted in August 1840, making it the earliest development in the Harvey Region.

Shenton was a member of several exploration trips in the district in the 1830s which provided information to potential settlers and the government. In 1839 he sent stock to his Collie River grants. Shenton lived in Perth and visited his grants where he established a hut for a manager. A review of the works undertaken by Shenton to improve the lands in 1840 noted that buildings were present on the site and portions of the land were cleared.

Shenton drowned in 1842 whilst on a voyage to see his land grants. The land was transferred to John Allnutt in 1844 who continued to engage men to work the property whilst he lived in Australind. The property (location 2) was later transferred to Edward Hamersley, a substantial property owner, who continued to lease the property to Allnutt.

As the majority of travel was by boat during this period it was logical that a small jetty was constructed adjacent to the former residence. The choice of the site for the house was also dictated by the presence of a spring.

Meet William Kernot Shenton

William Kernot Shenton was one of the first landowners in the Australind and Greater Bunbury area.

A wealthy engineer and architect, he also had considerable holdings in Perth.

Shenton built a horse mill at Fremantle in 1830, in which he ground the colony’s first wheat while hand-writing an early newspaper.

He also established the Old Mill in South Perth in 1835.