Friends of Biddle Cottage Project
Roxanne Chapman, Robyn Taylor and Sue Speck
General meeting
Yankalilla Library Meeting Room
Sue, Robyn and Roxanne talked about various aspects of the project to restore Biddle Cottage. Biddle Cottage was built on Parawa Road in about 1863 for James and Ann Biddle who had arrived in South Australia on the Forfarshire in 1848. Its current owners, Mark and Roxanne Chapman (Mark is a direct descendant of the Biddles) had been increasingly concerned about the cottage’s deteriorating condition, particularly of the southern wall, and the risk of the roof collapsing. They were prepared to commit funds to restore it but were unsure where to start.
A pivotal moment occurred when their neighbours from across the road, Robyn and Paul of Gully House, approached them and offered to help. From their experiences restoring Gully House, they could offer not only encouragement but also help them with connections to tradespeople and professional training. The initial priority was to stabilise the remaining structure and protect the walls.
In February 2025, the first working bee was held, and another vital element of the project was realised, the offering of unskilled volunteer labour! At this working bee the slate roof tiles were removed individually and stacked on palettes. The extended Chapman clan were there, and the children helped, de-nailing timber and sorting rocks. Robyn explained the importance of using lime mortar to fill in the gaps in the walls. YDHS members Brun and Jay brought out their metal detectors and conducted a workshop in the grounds, unearthing several treasures. The Friends of Biddle Cottage group was formed!
By the end of a second working bee in June, all the slates were off, and the rooms cleaned out. The original stone-paved passageway was found.
The ripple effect of this project is much bigger than the restoration itself in the sense of pride that members of the Friends of Biddle Cottage can feel that they are helping to save a valuable part of the region’s heritage, and in the reforging of friendships and strengthening of community.
