This building was originally built as a two-room building by an Enrolled Pensioner Guard William McDonnell. It was built from stone; the two rooms were joined with a door and had back to back fireplaces and a thatched roof.
William McDonnell was a private in the British 88th Regiment and was granted lot P2 in 1852. The house was recorded as being built in 1854.
The property was mortgaged in 1876 and when William McDonnell died in 1879, the cottage was sold to Henri Larsen for 100 pounds. It was not until 28 February 1890 that it was bought by Charles Edward Elverd, however it seems that John Charles Elverd (1858-1891) had rented the cottage since McDonnell’s death and his son John Charles Elverd (Charlie) lived in the cottage until his death in January 1979. Charlie Elverd married Anna Elizabeth Carlson and they did not have any children.
It is not known when the north room was built, and over the years front and back verandah roofing was added with dirt floors. On the back verandah, wooden flooring was added and two rooms were added either end of the verandah. One room was a kitchen, and the other was used in the 20th century as a bedroom.
The cottage became known as Elverds Cottage and is a Western Australian State Heritage listed building.
Items in this collection are objects, photographs and documents associated with the history of Elverds Cottage as well as items that reflect the era of the building and which are displayed in the building.
