Explore this fantastic piece of Canning’s history at the heritage-listed Woodloes Homestead. Located on Woodloes Street in Cannington on the banks of the Canning River, Woodloes Homestead was built in 1871 by wealthy British architect Francis Bird. This beautiful 19th-century Victorian-Georgian home, surrounded by magnificent trees and a landscaped garden, is the oldest residential building in Canning and one of the earliest designed homes in the Swan River Colony.
Still standing as a complete house, Woodloes Homestead is designed with a central corridor with doors opening at the front and the rear to allow air circulation back when there was no air conditioning. The jarrah timber fittings along the doors we see today are a testament to the Mason and Bird Timber Company, which Bird started with his partner. The house then fell into a state of disrepair until it was restored and reopened as a museum in 1978.
The lovely volunteer took us on a tour and shared many stories about this time capsule. There are six rooms on the ground floor, an attic room, and a cellar.
The rooms are beautifully curated to showcase daily life from the past. They house a large collection of colonial and post-colonial artefacts, which the kids were fascinated by. There is also a small collection of Bird’s family material and Canning’s history to read about.
The kids were intrigued by all the vintage toys in the children’s bedroom at the attic (beware, it’s a pretty steep climb of stairs).
Stepping outside, you can find an open veranda on all four sides of the house.
It is worth spending time walking around the grounds and looking at the gardens. The gardens at Woodloes consist of plants planted by Bird, including English roses, fig, oat, olive, and peppermint trees, and the relatively rare Bunya Pine tree, which is magnificent.
There is also what remains of a Blacksmith’s Workshop.
Woodloes Homestead is also home to a popular wedding venue- Woodloes Homestead Chapel, aka Church with a Chimney. Built in 1890, the former Cannington Congregational Church had to move in 1988 to make way for the Albany Highway widening. This is a replica here reconstructed using some of the original materials at its site.
In total, it took us about an hour to tour the museum. Entry is free, and donations are welcome. Some walkways are narrow and uneven, but they are still pram-friendly. Public toilets with baby change tables are available, and free parking is located inside the compound.
Woodloes Homestead
39 Woodloes St, Cannington, WA 6107
Opening hours:
1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from March to December
2pm – 5pm
woodloeshomestead.wixsite.com/website
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Mum of two girls and working as a registered nurse. Originally from Singapore, I have spent the last 17 years in Perth where I raised my beautiful girls. After being a mum, I find passion in exploring new places and doing new activities with my kids. Besides mummy duties, I find joy in pretty dresses and books.
