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Patrick Taylor's Cottage
Visit the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia and experience how our early settlers lived.
Travel back in time to the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia and discover the lifestyle of the early settlers.
Patrick Taylor's Cottage is the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia, having been built by the Morley Brothers in 1832 when the town was a military outpost and originally was set on a 240 acre block (97 ha).
The Cottage was purchased by Patrick Taylor in July 1834 and the eleven room - wattle and daub cottage consists of an entry room, boxroom, parlour, nursery, bedroom, dining room, family room, sewing room, kitchen, laundry and side verandah.
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The wattle and daub construction is a representation of the traditional building used by the early settlers and is a clay which was packed into the cavities between the mats and poles. ​Sometimes the daub was mixed with chaff or cow manure for greater durability. The walls were given a final coat of cow manure to make them waterproof. The wooden floors of the cottage are the original boards, which are pit sawn jarrah affixed with hand made nails.
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The Cottage displays over 2,000 historical items with artefacts from Albany’s history including a vast display of English porcelain and silverware, some of the items dating back to the 1600s.
EARLY SETTLER
Patrick Taylor
A young orphaned boy became a well educated, religious man and a leading figure in the town's affair.
In 1833, Patrick set sail on board the James Pattison with Sir James Stirling, Lady Stirling, W. B. Sherratt, Peter Belches, Captain Cheyne, Mrs Bussell senior and her eldest daughter Mary. The James Pattison reached Albany on 12th May, 1834. ​Patrick purchased the Cottage in July 1834 for £300 ($600) by public auction.
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Patrick's early years in the colony were hectic, he was a fanatically religious man and he soon became a leading figure in the town's affairs.
Plan Your Visit
Patrick Taylor's Cottage Museum is open from 11:00am until 3:00pm every day including Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Albany Historical Society Members
2.00pm
Free
AHS Membership Card holders
Adults
2.00pm
$6.00
16 years and over
Concession
10.00am
$4.00
Pensioner Concession Card and Veteran Card holders
Children
Three (3)
$4.00
5 years and over. Children under 5 - free
Family
Six (6)
$15.00
2 adults, 3 children
Patrick Taylor's Cottage Museum
Group Bookings
For bookings of 10 or more, please make a booking enquiry by contacting the Albany Historical Society by emailing: historic.albany@outlook.com or by calling 0456 617 570.
GHOST STORIES
The Haunted Cottage
It is believed that every September the spirit of Major Frederick Ingoldby returns.
Major Frederick Ingoldby was a Boer War veteran and doctor and former tenant of Patrick Taylor’s Cottage. He passed away at the Cottage on the 15th September 1940 and it is believed, that every September, his spirit returns to the cottage around the anniversary of his death. Major Ingoldby was injured in combat, he appears dressed in his military uniform with his arm in a sling.
According to staff the feeling of a continued presence and being watched is reported often. Staff have also found items that have been moved or knocked over and voices from other rooms, but only to find, no one is there.
