Strathalbyn Dollar Cottage restoration a real ‘hoot’

While Strathalbyn’s ‘Dollar Cottage’ may have cost owners Evan and Denise Higgins (pictured) a pretty penny for restoration work, its history is unequivocally priceless.

Built circa 1860 by James Close, the heritage-listed house and associated shop adds much character to the corner of North Parade and Melville Street. 

While Strathalbyn’s ‘Dollar Cottage’ may have cost owners Evan and Denise Higgins a pretty penny for restoration work, its history is unequivocally priceless.

Built circa 1860 by James Close, the heritage-listed house and associated shop adds much character to the corner of North Parade and Melville Street.

A distinctive curved parapet roof, brick coping and stone rubble walling draws passers-by to its more than 160-year-old charm.

The corner butcher’s shop was once kept by William Close before the house was occupied during the 1870s by the Church of England’s Rector, and was also used as a doctor’s residence.

Jump to early 1900s, and the building’s name was changed to ‘Dollar’ by Scottish settlers, the Westwoods.

“Well-known guru of growing trees, Betty Westwood, I believe was actually born here and also died here,” Mr Higgins said.

“We purchased it off of her niece after she passed away, and it was in basic condition, and wasn’t hooked up to town sewerage.

“All the kids who grew up in Strath would call this ‘Hoot Hall’.

“Betty had a thing for owls and it was filled with owl bookends, paintings, and little owl figurines.

“They used to do excursions from school here and Betty would talk to the students about trees.”

Considered a labour of love, the first restoration phase took about six months to complete.

“It took quite a while because all the walls were cracked and we had to redo the ceilings,” Mr Higgins said.

“We did a new slate roof in 2015, new veranda roofs, did the back and painted all the inside, and also did up the floors because it had been unkempt for quite a few years.

“A lot of the front bricks have been replaced, we put in new grout, and fixed a big crack up through the middle of it, as they used to use cement render and that is really hard and doesn’t let the moisture breathe.

“That was a big tidy up, and we got it acceptable so we could rent it out.”

The couple, who now reside at Nairne, used to own the house across the street, which they also lovingly restored to its former glory.

“For 12 years we lived in the house across the road and did that one up,” Mr Higgins said.

“Every day I would drive to work, look at the (North Parade) property from a side view and would think ‘if that ever came up for sale, I would be interested’.

“Despite getting bogged down in paperwork… if somebody doesn’t do it (restorations), they just fall in a heap and the little dog boxes built these days don’t last.

“We did get a grant from the Department of Heritage to do this project, which was meant to be dollar for dollar, but with COVID and the price of materials going up, we stopped counting.”

Administering a delicate approach, Peter Russell from Russell Stonework did the stone repairs and repointing, and Robert Blackmore from Blackstix executed roof and building work.

Mr Higgins recently put a community call-out on social media seeking more information on the building’s sign panel.

“We want to get the sign writing redone, but have no clue on what it used to say,” he said.

“Because Betty was here for such a big chunk of time, I was thinking of maybe putting Hoot Hall up there.

“We are also hoping to one day have a plaque so people can read about its history.”