This weatherboard and galvanised iron cottage was constructed between 1914-1917. The ‘Wallarah Coal-mining Company’ built this cottage to house its mineworkers.
In 1964 the coal company that had acquired this mining lease ‘Coal & Allied’ decided to subdivide some of its land. The cost of maintaining its housing stock was too great. This house and land was to be purchased by the then tenant Mr J Parker for 400 pounds.
Jack Parker was the son of Kate Aubin whose husband was killed in the Dudley Mine disaster when a party of miners was killed in a underground mine explosion and collapse. Mrs Aubin, Don Robertson’s Grandma, was left with a large family to look after (about 8 children). In 1918 one son (Holla) died from gastroenteritis. Jack Parker married Jean Rhodes who had a daughter Phyllis to a previous marriage. They had one son,” Roy who was mentally and physically handicapped and remained virtually a baby all his life, continually suffering fits till he died in his late thirties”. His mother spent many years caring for her son at home.
Daughter Phyllis moved in after the death of her parents, later Dell Ham, daughter of Phyllis moved in.
The house has been renovated with aluminium windows added and the galvanised iron cladding replaced.
Merilyn and Desmond Murphy purchased the house and used it as a holiday home.