The Schwerkolt Cottage

Today we were very lucky to have Barbara from the Whitehorse Historical Society come to speak to us about the history of Schwerkolt Cottage in Mitcham.

Barbara told us that there were 2 cottages built on the site. The first one was made in 1861 and the second one in 1886. The most people living in the cottage at one time as 12 and the cottage only had 3 rooms!

Johann August Schwekolt arrived in Australia in 1849 from Prussia. He built the cottages out of stone from the nearby quarry. When the cottages were built there was only bush around them. The furniture in the house was mainly made by Mr Schwerkolt. The children did not have toys like we have today. They had one doll, one bike and maybe a tin lid and a stick. At night they read the Bible and sang songs for entertainment.

They did not have electricity, running water, fridges, telephones, televisions, cars or washing machines in the olden days. Their transport was horse and cart and they communicated by sending messages with someone on a horse. Inside the cottage the family communicated through a whole in the wall.

Thank you Barbara you told us alot about Pioneer Life in the City of Whitehorse.