Rifle Cottage

Constructed in 1914 on a 1,627 m² block, this heritage-listed Federation brick-and-tile bungalow once formed part of the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and the original signal station complex. It’s located next door to the residence formerly known as the Gun House.

Internally, aside from features such as timber floors and high ceilings, the Rifle Cottage largely presents as a typical modern residence, with little remaining evidence that reflects its military origins.

By contrast, the exterior of the property has retained its original appearance. Despite various restorations over the years, the building’s external form and character have been preserved, largely due to the strict requirements applied to heritage-listed properties.

The garden and landscaping have also been significantly improved, particularly when compared with the condition of the property at the time of its sale in 2011. An article featuring the former owners, Wendy and David Radcliffe, describes the considerable effort they invested in restoring the garden to a style commonly found in Fremantle between 1880 and 1940. Their work was recognised in 2015, when the garden was opened to the public as part of the Open Gardens Australia event.

Rifle Cottage - 62 Tuckfield Street, Fremantle (2011)

History

Rifle Cottage was originally designed to accommodate two officers and their families and shares many architectural similarities with the neighbouring Gun House.

The residence was constructed with two bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a dining room and a kitchen, with a fireplace installed in each room. A room referred to historically as the “man’s room” was accessed from the rear verandah, while a wash house was located at the rear of the building.

During World War II, the cottage was occupied by single officers. This arrangement continued until the early 1950s, when the internal layout was altered to convert the building into a single-family residence.

The name Rifle Cottage is believed to have originated from its occupants, who used it to distinguish the house from the Gun House next door, which was significantly larger and carried greater status (Defence Housing Authority, 1996).

In 2001, while the cottage was vacant, a proposal was submitted to lease Rifle Cottage for residential use and short-stay accommodation.

Sales history

Records indicate that the Department of the Army sold Rifle Cottage to a private buyer on 19 March 2011 for $1.89 million. It was then leased in December 2017 and December 2023 before being sold again for $3.5 million. At the time of sale, the residence comprised of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and three car spaces.

Heritage Listed

Rifle Cottage has been recorded on four heritage registers at local, state and national levels:

Listed on the Register of the National Estate on 28 September 1982.
Entered on the Register of Heritage Places on 9 May 1997 and made permanent on 2 September 1997.
Recorded on the City of Fremantle Heritage List on 8 March 2007.
Classified on the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004, before being removed on 17 September 2015.

References

The Heritage Homes of the Australian Defence Force - Defence Housing Authority (1996)

Fremantle Army Barracks