Attractions
Smirk's Heritage Site
Smirk's Heritage Site is a collection of buildings and spaces which showcase the regions settlement history through to the development of Kwinana as a town. The focus of the site is Smirk's Cottage, a heritage building surrounded by beautiful gardens, a museum, a settlement house, machinery shed, blacksmith shop and repair shed. A local history collection is managed by the group on site. There is some significance of this collection specific to Kwinana, including industry, Toc H and the Maternity Hospital.
Smirk's Cottage
William Smirk began building Smirk's Cottage as we know it around 1902, following his marriage to Johanna Kavanagh. His father, Thomas Smirk, had built an earlier building on the site in 1855, and purchased the land in 1895.
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The cottage initially had two rooms, the date of the extensions is unknown. William and his brother Thomas ran a market garden business supplying Fremantle retailers from 1898 until 1912. William was elected to the Rockingham Roads Board in 1910, and won prizes for his vegetables at annual fairs.
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Smirks was purchased by Fremantle storekeeper George Charles in the late
1930s. Most of the land was resumed in 1953. A council works foreman lived at
the cottage until 1985, when the Council decided to demolish it. This decision was overturned after much community campaigning. It was restored in 1991 by the Kwinana Heritage Group, who maintain now as a house museum.
Museum
The Museum displays the historical collection, a fascinating array of objects, memorabilia and stories of settlement, development and history of the area. Smaller buildings on the site exhibit other interesting artefacts including a tractor, tools and vintage machinery.
Soldier's Cottage
Built in 1922, this settlement house is a timber home which demonstrates the type of cottage provided to soldiers during settlement in the area. Originally located on Lyons Road, this building was moved to the Smirks site to ensure its future as a historically significant house.