Probably built about 1860 by Thomas White, this cottage became the home of the Putland family from 1875, when John Putland junior bought the land. John Putland married Susannah Mashford, nee Heanes, in 1851 and they had nine children (born between 1852 and 1870). Susannah died in December 1878. John continued to live at Rose Cottage with his son George. He did remarry, to Margaret Spencer of Myponga, but that union was not a success and the couple parted by mutual consent. John died on 10 March 1909. John and Susannah are buried in Christ Church cemetery, Yankalilla.

Their son George bought the farm from his father in 1884. George married Harriet Fowler, the daughter of bootmaker John Fowler, and they had seven children, most of whom were born at Rose Cottage. On the death of George in 1945, aged 93 years, Rose cottage was inherited by his daughter Jessie Barton, who sold it in 1972 to Forestry SA.