Chris Holyday is the author of Between Beach and Bush book published by Hesperian Press 2020.
Cover of Between Beach and Bush book.
This is
Chris’s history of the Captain’s House at Trigg.
Remember When – The Captain’s House
Many locals will recall a unique
house that sat atop the hill on Bennion Street, Trigg until the early 2000s.
Its unusual name was adopted by the community much earlier – through popular
usage it simply became known as “The Captain’s House.” And yet, its owner-builder
was never a sea captain! Its name came from its round, porthole-look windows
and its “flying bridge” – a second story wheelhouse-type structure and, later,
it had its own chain railing around it! This is the story behind that house and
its builder, Frank Hawkes, as told by his grandson, Will Hawkes.
Frank Hawkes’ family came to
Western Australia from Adelaide, like many others, during the goldrushes, in
1895. Frank was only a five-year old at that time and he went on to become a WA
cycling champion with the Dunlop cycling team and a champion swimmer. He was
injured as a WWI survivor of the Western Front and met his future wife, a
nurse, when he was evacuated to England. After the war, he married in England
where he remained until his wife’s death during WWII. He returned to Western
Australia about 1947. Frank’s father was a wheelwright, and Frank himself was
an excellent mechanic and motorcycle racer, able to turn his hand to any form
of building anything. In January 1948 he attended the Trigg Island Estate land
auction and purchased two blocks fronting Bennion Street, at the top of the
hill. He paid ten pounds for each block. He carefully noted the prices paid for
the blocks on his copy of the auction pamphlet – many others at only ten pounds
each on the future Kathleen Street!
Frank started building caravans
after he purchased his Trigg property. He first built a garage, with the help
of his son Alwyn; it was a high-roofed garage on his Bennion Street blocks, and
he built a caravan inside it. He also took a wonderful series of photos to
record his progress, and these give us a fascinating look at how the land
looked at that time – with virtually no other homes in sight anywhere!
Frank and Alwyn spent two to
three years building the house. Frank placed wheels in the brickwork, as a
frame, to construct his famous round windows. He built his second floor, square
roomed “flying bridge” top floor. Though never a sea captain, Frank could
probably perceive why his house soon became known as “The Captain’s House.” By
the time it was completed, a number of other houses can be seen looking west
from its rounded front lounge windows. In one 1951/52 photo, the Trigg Island
Store (now Yelo) building can be seen clearly at the foot of Bennion Street. It
was proposed to name Haysom Street (formerly Third Street) as Hawkes Street.
However, Frank objected to this and the name Haysom Street prevailed, named
after a member of an early pioneering WA family.
On his passing, Frank left the
house to his two sons, Alwyn and John. His grandson, Will Hawkes, purchased the
home from his father John, and his uncle Alwyn. Plans for a new home were
passed in 2000 and a new build commenced in 2001.
As a final footnote, Will’s uncle Alwyn should also be remembered as a builder of plywood surf skis (not related to the Hawke Surfboards family) and one of the nuns’ rescuers in the tragic July 1947 drownings of Sister Chrysostom and Fred Floyd. That incident forms a chapter in Between Beach and Bush book still available at Tropico Café, Flora Terrace.
Thanks to Will Hawkes for this
incredible story and use of his grandfather’s photo collection, as passed on to
me by Gail Bayly.
These are Frank Hawke’s vintage
pics of the Captain’s House at Trigg.
1948 Frank Hawke’s copy of the January 1948 land auction poster with his pencil notes showing prices paid. Not much in sight over the Bennion Street hilltop at the time of the January 1948 auction. Kookaburra on the water pipe and very few buildings on the coast at Trigg. Alwyn Hawkes with caravan – “How would you like this for your backyard with the sea in the background”. Text and photo by Frank Hawkes. Alwyn Hawkes cooking the dinner. “He doesn’t know I have snapped him by the septic tank and dry well.” Text and photo by Frank Hawkes. Alwyn Hawkes working on his grandfather’s garage. Garage finished and caravans being built. “Neighbour’s houses begin to appear”. Text and photo by Frank Hawkes. The Captain’s House rises on his Bennion Street block. 1951-52 View from the Captain’s lounge room. Building at bottom right is The Trigg Island Store and unofficial Post Office (now Yelo Cafe). The Captain’s House. “How I remember it when I was a near neighbour in 1999 – demolished approx 2000”. Text Chris Holyday.
Signed copies of ‘Between Beach and Bush‘ book are available at Tropico Cafe North Beach.
Thanks
for sharing your Trigg history Chris Holyday.
Chris Holyday is the author of Between Beach and Bush book published by Hesperian Press 2020.
This is Chris’s history of the Captain’s House at Trigg.
Remember When – The Captain’s House
Many locals will recall a unique house that sat atop the hill on Bennion Street, Trigg until the early 2000s. Its unusual name was adopted by the community much earlier – through popular usage it simply became known as “The Captain’s House.” And yet, its owner-builder was never a sea captain! Its name came from its round, porthole-look windows and its “flying bridge” – a second story wheelhouse-type structure and, later, it had its own chain railing around it! This is the story behind that house and its builder, Frank Hawkes, as told by his grandson, Will Hawkes.
Frank Hawkes’ family came to Western Australia from Adelaide, like many others, during the goldrushes, in 1895. Frank was only a five-year old at that time and he went on to become a WA cycling champion with the Dunlop cycling team and a champion swimmer. He was injured as a WWI survivor of the Western Front and met his future wife, a nurse, when he was evacuated to England. After the war, he married in England where he remained until his wife’s death during WWII. He returned to Western Australia about 1947. Frank’s father was a wheelwright, and Frank himself was an excellent mechanic and motorcycle racer, able to turn his hand to any form of building anything. In January 1948 he attended the Trigg Island Estate land auction and purchased two blocks fronting Bennion Street, at the top of the hill. He paid ten pounds for each block. He carefully noted the prices paid for the blocks on his copy of the auction pamphlet – many others at only ten pounds each on the future Kathleen Street!
Frank started building caravans after he purchased his Trigg property. He first built a garage, with the help of his son Alwyn; it was a high-roofed garage on his Bennion Street blocks, and he built a caravan inside it. He also took a wonderful series of photos to record his progress, and these give us a fascinating look at how the land looked at that time – with virtually no other homes in sight anywhere!
Frank and Alwyn spent two to three years building the house. Frank placed wheels in the brickwork, as a frame, to construct his famous round windows. He built his second floor, square roomed “flying bridge” top floor. Though never a sea captain, Frank could probably perceive why his house soon became known as “The Captain’s House.” By the time it was completed, a number of other houses can be seen looking west from its rounded front lounge windows. In one 1951/52 photo, the Trigg Island Store (now Yelo) building can be seen clearly at the foot of Bennion Street. It was proposed to name Haysom Street (formerly Third Street) as Hawkes Street. However, Frank objected to this and the name Haysom Street prevailed, named after a member of an early pioneering WA family.
On his passing, Frank left the house to his two sons, Alwyn and John. His grandson, Will Hawkes, purchased the home from his father John, and his uncle Alwyn. Plans for a new home were passed in 2000 and a new build commenced in 2001.
As a final footnote, Will’s uncle Alwyn should also be remembered as a builder of plywood surf skis (not related to the Hawke Surfboards family) and one of the nuns’ rescuers in the tragic July 1947 drownings of Sister Chrysostom and Fred Floyd. That incident forms a chapter in Between Beach and Bush book still available at Tropico Café, Flora Terrace.
Thanks to Will Hawkes for this incredible story and use of his grandfather’s photo collection, as passed on to me by Gail Bayly.
These are Frank Hawke’s vintage pics of the Captain’s House at Trigg.
Signed copies of ‘Between Beach and Bush‘ book are available at Tropico Cafe North Beach.
Thanks for sharing your Trigg history Chris Holyday.
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