Alongside the white house, across a neat lawn, tucked in by the flower beds, is a koornt — a bush shelter long used by Menang people.

The two forms of human homes, long-term and temporary, tell the long story of this place.

But the Albany Historical Society’s Patrick Taylor Cottage is recognised as the oldest surviving dwelling in WA.

The 11-room house is made of mud bricks, woodfired bricks and wattle and daub — woven branches (the wattle) plastered with a mixture of mud, clay, straw and water (daub) to form walls. The floor is of adzed jarrah fixed with copper nails.

It contains and tells the story of the early settlers, giving a glimpse into life of the 1830s.

For the cottage was built in 1832 by John Morley as the homestead for a 97ha block of land. It was the second land title to be granted in the area.

Today, it is home to about 2000 items which reflect settler life in Albany. There are the fineries of English porcelain and silverware, and everyday items which date to the 1600s.

And the cottage also holds the story of Patrick Taylor himself — an orphaned boy, who educated himself and became a respected leader in Albany.

Patrick was born in Scotland in 1807 and sailed for WA in 1833 on the ship James Pattison. Also on board were Sir James Stirling and Lady Stirling, and a “Mrs Bussell senior” and her eldest daughter Mary. Patrick and Mary married in 1837.

Patrick was fanatically religious, chaired town meetings, and clearly had the settlement’s welfare at heart. When, in 1846, the town trust (WA’s first step into local government) failed, it was Patrick Taylor who chaired a public meeting called to deal with the calamity.

All of this washes through my mind as I step out of the deep shade of the cottage’s verandah, and stroll through the garden. There is a monument to three great British mariners (Captain George Vancouver, Lieutenant Matthew Flinders and Lieutenant Phillip Parker King), who all charted chapters in WA’s maritime history. There is a dead tree painted blue, as part of the WA-born mental health initiative to prompt conversations about depression, suicide and wellbeing. At the bottom, there is a tray full of stones, with names and messages written on them.

And then there is the koornt — this traditional bush shelter, used by Menang people.

For this white cottage and the garden around it are merely the venues and backdrop for lives lived on this gently sloping spot.

+ Albany Historical Society’s Patrick Taylor Cottage is open daily from 11am to 3pm. Entry is $6 for adults and $4 for concessions. historicalbany.com.au