The Kwinana Heritage Group is made of passionate volunteers who have for over 25 years cared for the Smirk’s Heritage Site. The foundational purpose of the group is to preserve and promote awareness of Kwinana's Heritage.
Over time the group has managed other heritage sites, saved buildings from demolition, successfully secured a museum space and delivered activities in and around Kwinana. Below is a detailed history of the development of the group.
The Kwinana Heritage Group members meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8.00am until 11.30am where various jobs are undertaken like gardening, repairs, cleaning and rearranging displays, and preserving and recording the historical collection.
Visitors are welcome during this time, in addition to our dedicated Open Days which are held on the first Sunday of the month from 10.00am to 3.00pm.
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Kwinana Heritage Group is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
About Us
History of the
Kwinana Heritage Group
- 1985 -
The Kwinana Heritage Group (KHG) had its beginnings in 1985 when the Town of Kwinana (now the City of Kwinana) established a committee to organise local events to commemorate Australia’s 1988 bicentenary.
Made up of councillors, Town staff and community members, the Bicentennial Committee provided a launching pad for interest in the area’s heritage. A sub-group of the committee; being the forerunner to the KHG, was created to investigate ways this history could be highlighted during the 1988 celebrations.
- 1988 -
The sub-group protested and campaigned to stop a plan to demolish heritage building Smirk's Cottage. This, together with the support of peers like the National Trust of Australia (WA), resulted in the Town deciding to restore the cottage as one of its bicentennial projects.
- 1990 -
To facilitate the restoration as well as the future management of Smirk’s Cottage, the Kwinana Heritage Group became an incorporated association in 1990. Led by Alf Lydon, who was also the President of the Town of Kwinana Council, the KHG went on to merge with the Sloan’s Cottage Restoration Group in 1991 and took over responsibility of this Council-owned property too.
From the outset, the KHG planned to run Smirk’s Cottage as a house museum.
- 1991 -
Smirk’s Cottage was officially opened on 9 November 1991.
- 2003 -
KHG secured a demountable building from a nearby TAFE (originally constructed and occupied by Aloca) and located it on the Smirk's Cottage site. Operating as a Museum, it opened in 2003 to display the growing collection, with the primary focus to the main aspects of the Kwinana’s post-European settlement history up to the proclamation of the Town of Kwinana in 1977.
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At a similar time, the group relocated a 1920's Soldier Settlement home to the site to demonstrate what life in the settlement schemes of the early 20th century may have looked like.
- Present day -
The Kwinana Heritage Group continues to manage the Smirk's Heritage Site on behalf of the City of Kwinana. The group holds open days, tours for schools and group bookings, small events and historical exhibits.