Drummond Cove brings together a historic group of holiday cottages and a coastline where protection and beach stabilisation are important issues. There may also be osprey sightings, and an informal boat launching area whose access is affected by erosion. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding what matters most to you: local history, the coast and beach, or nature and a possible boating excursion?
A rare cottage ensemble
As a historic ensemble, Drummond Cove has aesthetic significance: the individual cottages are vernacular in style, modest in size and built from similar materials. Those interested in architecture can understand the ensemble through these three features—design, scale and materials—rather than viewing the town’s history solely through a single building.
Drummond Cove is also a rare example of an earlier way of providing leisure and holiday accommodation. Due to rapid development and the increased commercial value of coastal property, this form is no longer found elsewhere in Western Australia. The cottages’ built form is thus connected to a story of how holiday accommodation on the coast was once designed.
One specifically named place is Captain Drummond's Cottage (Mary Drummond's Cottage, Seaview (fmr)). Heritage Place No. 3802 is located at the corner of Bayside Bvd and North West Coastal Hwy in Drummonds Cove. The different names refer to the same Heritage Place and help identify this specific point of reference in the town’s history.
Coast, beach and boat access
A new groyne and a reinforced seawall protect Drummond Cove’s foreshore for local beachgoers and tourists. Two structures built in 2018, together with sand replenishment, have stabilised a section of the popular beach. The information relates both to protecting the foreshore and stabilising a section of the beach. As coastal conditions can continue to change, it is sensible to check the current situation when planning a specific visit.
Nature and further cultural history
Remains of a shell midden are located at the northern tip of Drummond Cove. This landmark, precisely located at the cove, adds another cultural history aspect to the story of the holiday cottages.
Ospreys can be seen at Drummond Cove. Their presence naturally varies, so a sighting is a possibility, not a reliably schedulable activity. For travellers interested in wildlife, this offers a different focus from the town’s built and historic features.
An informal boat launching area lies south of the John Batten Community Hall on Whitehill Road. Foreshore erosion along Whitehill Road affects access. If you plan to use the area, check current local advice beforehand. For planning purposes, this is a different consideration from osprey watching: here, restricted access is the key factor, while there, wildlife presence varies.
Discover more destinations: Leeming, Kendenup, Jurien Bay, Bramley, York, Donnybrook, Stratham, Preston Beach.
For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.
