Cockman House is a family home completed in 1860 and now cared for by the City of Wanneroo. The visit is part house museum, part local story: three generations lived here, and the City has added games, audio and a story-trail app for visitors of different ages.
| Visit detail | What the City currently says |
|---|---|
| Admission | Free |
| Regular season | Sundays in March to May and September to November, 1.30pm to 4pm |
| Entrance | Ancestor Retreat, off Woodvale Drive |
| Important check | The same page also shows a “closed for winter” notice; confirm the next open Sunday |
| Access | Front section accessible for some wheelchairs; steps inside and at the rear |
Check the opening before setting out
The City of Wanneroo's Cockman House page lists free public admission on seasonal Sunday afternoons. As checked on 25 September 2026, a winter-closure banner remains above the spring schedule. The banner may be stale, but a date on a schedule does not prove that the next visit is running. Call the City or use its current notice before travelling. School visits on other weekdays are by prior arrangement, not general public opening.
Inside the house
The Cockman family lived here from the early years of the Swan River Colony into the late twentieth century. Rather than racing through rooms, follow one family's story across a few objects and ask how a home would have changed across generations. The City provides a virtual tour and Play Trails story app if you want context before arrival or need an alternative when it is closed. The building has kept enough of its domestic scale for a short visit to feel manageable with children.
Entrance and practical access
Navigate to the Ancestor Retreat entrance, not simply a search result for “Wanneroo house”. The City says the front rooms are accessible from the main door, although larger powered chairs may not fit. A step leads down to the kitchen and further wooden steps reach the back veranda; the rear may also be approached over path and grass. Both public toilets are described as wheelchair accessible. Ask the City about the specific chair or route that matters to you before booking a group outing.
Bring a picnic if the weather suits, but plan for a different indoor activity if the heritage house is shut. See Perth historic sites for places with alternative visitor days. An exact reusable licensed photograph of Cockman House was not verified for this package, so no image is presented as the house.
