Russ Cottage

Russ Cottage

Russ Cottage is a typical Yeoman's residence built on the banks of the Irwin River by Titus Russ in 1868-70 from local limestone. The cottage consists of four rooms with verandahs all around, and is furnished in the style of the early farming families with gifts from local residents. The sitting room features a portable organ which arrived in the Swan Colony with the Dent family on the "Marquis of Anglesea" on the 23/8/1829, and an octagonal table once owned by the Russ family is the centrepiece. Framed photographs of pioneer family members adorn the walls.

The kitchen features a pine dresser and many household gadgets such as candle moulds, mincers, sausage makers, coffee grinder, and a hand made rat trap. The nursery holds children's clothes, a cot, bed and a child's push chair from the Criddle family. The bedroom displays many articles including hand made night gowns and petticoats. The side verandah houses a collection of tools and farm implements.

The Irwin District Historical Society has another msueum, housed in the Old Police Station at Dongara. See separate Guide listing.

Address: 
St Dominic's Road, Dongara, WA
Tel: 
0899271323
Hours: 
Sunday 10.00am-12.00noon and by appointment
Website: 
http://www.wn.com.au/idhs/
Email: 
idhs@midwest.com.au
Admission: 
$2 Adults, 50c Children
Facilities: 
Guided tours, Education programs, Brochures, Wheelchair access.
Collection: 
A Yeoman's cottage of the day, furnished with items and utensils used in the district in the late 1800's.

Subject:

Items

Wooden rat trap

Rodent catcher

Rodent catcher
Creator:
Handmade by early Irwin Settler
Description:
Wooden hand made rat rap.
Date:
C.1880

Made from packing case and fence wire by early farmer of the Irwin District. The trap was reputedly very efficient.

Wooden pedal organ

Portable pedal organ

Portable pedal organ
Creator:
Unknown
Description:
Portable wooden pedal organ
Date:
C.1820's
Item Id Number:
IROBO202

Child's Push Chair

Go Chair

Go Chair
Creator:
Unknown
Description:
Wooden child's folding push chair.
Date:
C.1900
Item Id Number:
IROB0281

Child's high Chair

Hand made child's high chair

Hand made child's high chair
Creator:
Charles Osborne
Description:
Wooden high chair made by blacksmith and builder, Charles Osborne for his niece Gertrude Rowland and used for her sons Ivo and Vivian. Both the Rowland and Osborne families used the chair for many years at Dongara.
Date:
1912
Item Id Number:
IRPB0316

Wooden high chair made by blacksmith and builder, Charles Osborn for his niece Gertrude Rowland and used for her sons Ivo and Vivian. Both the Rowland and Osborne families used the chair for many years at Dongara.

Wooden Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair
Creator:
Unknown
Description:
Wood and rattan rocking chair. This rocking chair came to Western Australia with John and Esther Pell who married in England and sailed to Fremantle in 1850. The Pells went to Walebing (North of Perth) and it was here that their son was born, being the first European child born in the Victoria Plains district. Later, the Pells moved to the Irwin district and lived in a stone cottage near "Pell Bridge". The chair passed to the Pells grand daughter the late Mrs Ivy Bond.
Date:
C.1849
Item Id Number:
IROB0052

This rocking chair came to Western Australia with John and Esther Pell who married in England and sailed to Fremantle in 1850. The Pells went to Walebing (North of Perth) and it was here that their son was born, being the first European child born in the Victoria Plains district. Later, the Pells moved to the Irwin district and lived in stone cottage near "Pell Bridge". The chair passed to the Pell's grand daughter the late Mrs Ivy Bond.