It's amazing what little treasures you can find tucked away in the suburbs. This one's a gem.
Schwerkolt Cottage is a fascinating, original (1888) pioneer's stone cottage set in a beautiful garden setting spanning 2.2 hectares. Complete with barn, smithy, wine cellar, smokehouse and museum, the cottage adjoins
Yarran Dheran, a beautiful bushland park home to an abundance of wildlife and the Mullum Mullum Creek Trail.
One of three cottages built by August Schwerkolt, it's made from rocks and wood quarried from alongside the Mullum Mullum Creek. While its original features remain, it has been restored to museum standards so that the public can enjoy a snapshot into life of a bygone era. Its three rooms are furnished in the style of the period, and a true sense of nostalgia floats over you as you meander through.
The museum houses a fascinating collection of historical memorabilia, including around 3,600 photos, 4,000 artefacts, documents, maps, newspapers, and costumes worn in the era – plenty of material to give you a real sense of the lives lived by those before us. You can also see the original agricultural machinery that was used to farm the vast orchards.
It's worth spending an afternoon there. Between a souvenir shop, BBQ facilities, a well-equipped children's' playground, and endless opportunities to explore the nearby bushland, creek and
walking trails, it makes for a wonderful afternoon out and about with the family.
If you live in the area and would like to check out other attractions and events of cultural and historical significance, click
here.
