The History

Built in 1880-1881 by the local builders Watkin and Ettingshausen, the four front rooms were first occupied by Thomas Tulloch, his wife and five daughters. It was extended in 1881 by adding the back room.

The cottage was soundly built and demonstrated the skills of the craftsmen, the masons, the carpenters and joiners and the plasterers who worked on them.

The cottage cost 867 pounds 10 shillings to build. In it local variations included the use of basalt for the external walls (there was no local brickworks), cedar for most of the joinery and ironbark for the floors.

The series of officers in charge of the harbour, who controlled Kiama's contact with the outside world, used the cottage as their home and office for almost a century. They were in charge of all aspects of  controlling the harbour - mooring, navigation lights, fees shipping reports, weather reports - even the lighthouse!

In 1978, the last pilot, AW (Joe) Triffitt retired and the cottage became empty and derelict.

Given A New Life

In 1983 the Kiama and District Historical Society Inc. took over the cottage as its headquarters.

The building over the years had lost much of its original character - the cedar joinery was painted , the basalt walls were rendered, the front verandah filled in with louvers and the chimneys demolished.

A Community Employment Grant allowed for the renovation and restoration in 1984-5. Then a Bicentennial Grant allowed for the development of the cottage as a heritage centre.

With other generous help, and with tireless efforts of Historical Society members the cottage has been something for the people of Kiama to be very proud.

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