The Account House
Gaze up at the curved lintel of this handsome building and you’ll spy the initials of the first harbour master, William E. Cudlip (thanks goodness for that middle initial or it would look like quite a different building!) and the year 1840, when this building was erected as his accounts house.
Following his official appointment in 1825, with completion of the harbour, William was given no fixed salary. Instead he was granted 10% of all harbour dues and 5% of property rentals. Over the following years he acquired buildings around the harbour and purchased the harbour itself in 1843, but was declared bankrupt by 1848.
A view of the Inner Harbour showing the Commercial Hotel and, to the right, the Account House. In the early years the harbour did not make money for its owners, mainly because it was an ‘open’ harbour. That meant when winter gales came from the South West boats were known to be wrecked even when in port. On June 1, 1855 Harvey & Co purchased the Harbour and built an extra breakwater and pair of jetties to block the entrance – and after this things improved. After operating as William Cudlip’s account house, this building was also used as a customs house.
The harbour in the 1940’s. The Account House is the building with the large wooden door behind boat PZ165. After operating as William’s account house, this building was also used as a customs house for a brief period, hence the name of the art gallery housed here today. The upper floor is a holiday property.