Atwell House

ATWELL HOUSE

The land on which Atwell House at Lot 38 Alfred Cove stands was originally granted to Alfred Waylen. After subdivision it changed hands several times. Alec Munsie of Applecross had a dairy at Alfred Cove on part of the land now covering the Atwell House area. In 1925 the 1.25 hectare site was acquired by Walter David Atwell after his horse, Great Applause won the Perth Cup. Walter David Atwell (1872-1948), stable keeper and horse trainer, was born at Fremantle, son of Henry Atwell who was sent to Western Australia in 1863 aboard the convict ship Merchantman after receiving a life sentence for forgery. Walter began work as an engine fitter but by 1908 was a stable keeper at Forrest Street, East Fremantle. In 1921 he was established as a race horse owner, trainer and breeder at The Kennels, Hardy Road, Belmont. 

Walter joined the WA Hunt Club at an early age and became Master of Hounds for thirty years. For a time, the dogs were kennelled at the 22 acre dairy farm. After his mare Great Applausewon the 1926 season Perth Cup, actually run on 30 December 1925, Atwell reputedly spent the proceeds on building a new house which he named Great Applause in honour of the champion mare. Older residents of Melville remember seeing the name plate at the entrance to his property. The brick residence with tiled roof and dressed stone foundations had front and rear verandahs and contained a large entrance hall, four rooms, an internal bathroom and a kitchen with a wood stove, built in cupboards and a pantry. The dining room was fitted with leadlight cupboards and the lounge had a domed ceiling. Other features of the house were its leadlight windows and nine stone pillars supporting the front verandah. Outhouses comprised six stables, a feed house and garage of jarrah weatherboard and galvanised iron, a milking shed, a stone dairy and several cowsheds. In addition to Great Applause other horses carrying Atwell colours included Old Chum (winner Western Steeplechase, Boulder, 1909), Liberation, True Shot and Princess Smiles (Imperial Stakes, 1924). The Atwell family milked a large herd of cows and sold in bulk to other retailers. Straying cattle were a common problem and in 1939, in an effort to reduce the risk of accidents in busy times, the Roads Board prohibited the driving of cattle and sheep on all local roads between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. In 1940 Atwell's entire herd of 52 cows was impounded by the ranger and released only after a poundage fee of 13 pounds 5 shillings was paid. One anecdote suggests that Rome Road which runs from Canning Highway to Leach Highway could be a corruption of "Roam". According to a local dairyman's daughter Mrs Smith, late of Mudge Street, Myaree, who grew up in the area, it was where local dairymen ran their cattle and let them loose to roam. Many of the other street names in the area are named after politicians who were in office during the construction of the road from Perth to Fremantle.

Mr and Mrs Atwell had four sons including the well-known sportsman Mal. Later, the house, now known as Atwell House, was acquired by the Metropolitan Regional Planning Authority and leased to the City of Melville as part of the Arts Centre Complex.

· Jenny Wildy from MHS archives