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Mills' House - Port Fairy - Historic Area

Other Name Captain John Mills' Cottage Location 40 - 42 Gipps Street, PORT FAIRY VIC 3284 - Property No B1633 File Number B1633 Level State

[1/6] B1633 Captain Mills House Port [2/6] B1633 Mills Cottage [3/6] B1633 Captain John Mills House [4/6] B1633 Captain Mills [5/6] B1633 Captain Mills [6/6] B1633 Mills Cottage Plaque

Statement of Significance

A well preserved timber cottage with open work cast iron verandah posts and elevated blue stone wall; reported to have been built by Captain John Mill, a Launceston whaler who sailed in Victorian waters from the 1820s and became harbour master at Port Fairy 1853.
Mills' Cottage was erected most probably in three stages on land within James Atkinson's Special Survey and leased from him by Charles Mills and subsequently purchased by John Mills. The centre weatherboard section was possibly erected prior to 1845, with the rear section being constructed after that date. The front section, possibly of pre-fabricated construction, was erected c. 1853. Originally this section had a canvas front verandah and the present verandah was presumably erected soon after.
Mills' Cottage at Port Fairy is one of the oldest extant building in Victoria and is of paramount importance in the heritage of the State. The complex of timber buildings dates from the first period of settlement in Port Fairy and survives virtually intact, demonstrating early building techniques in Australia. John and Charles Mills, as whalers, sealers and costal traders, were amongst the earliest settlers in Western Victoria. Charles Mills is associated with the cottage in its earliest years and John Mills with its later history until 1871.
Mills' Cottage survives virtually in original condition and is a property of the National Trust of Australia (Vic)