‘Bronte’ Sea Pilots Cottage and ‘Whitehall’ Guesthouse



Address: 11 Learmonth Street
Suburb: Queenscliff

1927

A particular site having undergone successive development, Whitehall stands on the former grounds of Bronte, one of Queenscliff’s earliest surviving sea pilot cottages. Built c.1853 and having maintained a large landholding since its inception, Bronte’s primary orientation was towards Hesse until subdivision and Whitehall’s construction in 1927 subjugated this address. Ironically, further development and subdivision of the sites Hesse Street frontage now to sees Whitehall having lost its place within the streetscape. The rear facades of both Bronte and Whitehall can be seen from Learmonth Street.

Amongst its role as a Guesthouse, it is said that Whitehall had been requisitioned during WII as accommodation for the Women’s Signal Corps. (Queenscliffe Historical Museum, 2015)

As of October 2015, the Heese Street allotment remains vacant for redevelopment having recently been cleared of the Queenscliff Private Nursing Home.

(Lovell Chen Architects. ‘Individual Property Citation’, Queenscliffe Heritage Study, 2009).