Sloan’s Cottage in Leda has undergone a facelift through Federal funding for a Work for the Dole program coordinated by the Museum of Perth.
In addition to interior renovations, a large vegetable garden now sits alongside the cottage which has been established by trainees and the Museum of Perth’s Heritage Gardens Coordinator Stacey Smithers.
Trainee Tiffany Miles, of Mandurah, helped establish the garden six months ago and the plot now bears a broad range of organic fruit trees and vegetables including banana and mango trees, sweet potatoes, kale, garlic and beetroot using growing techniques likely similar to those George Sloan would have used to farm the site in the early 1900s.
Kangaroo Paw plants donated by the City of Kwinana will feature in a wildflower walk including bush tucker plants on the site.
The floorboards inside Sloan’s Cottage were oiled, and walls repaired and repainted in soft heritage colours of greens and creams.
Mayor Carol Adams said the efforts of trainees and staff breathed new life into the historic building of key significance within the City of Kwinana.
“Sloan’s Cottage was built in 1911 and the land was used to grow various fruits and vegetables, predominantly potatoes and cabbage which were sold at Fremantle markets,” Mayor Adams said.
“The Kwinana Council took over the building in 1954 and allowed former Deputy Mayor of Kwinana Wally Proctor to restore and preserve the building using a government grant in 1975, saving it from the prospect of demolition.
“Heritage listed in 1992, Sloan’s Cottage has had a number of community groups care for it over the years and remains a landmark building in Kwinana.
“It was lovely to see it refreshed on the inside and rows upon rows of produce now planted beside it,” she said.