Historical information

Pills Cottage about halfway from Cottles Bridge to St Andrews near 1575 Heidelberg-Kinglake Road, St Andrews.

William John "Bill" Pill was born on 19th June 1894 at Diamond Creek

He was brutally murdered on 21st December 1958 age 64, in his cottage.

His father was John Henry Pill, born 24 November 1856, Lalone, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, He died 21 December 1930 at Cottles Bridge,

His mother was Jessie Ann Whatmough, born 6th June 1870. She died 21 August 1921.


William John "Bill '' Pill, grew tomatoes on his rich two and a half acres. In 2024 his second cousin Steve Whatmough recalled visiting Bill in 1957 with his parents (Eric and Nancy Whatmough) and Bill showing them his tomatoes.

He had a very large aeroplane propeller set up at one end on his tomato crop. He would run the propeller on frosty mornings to keep away the frost damage. His tomatoes would ripen early and would receive a premium price for them.

The cottage consisted of two buildings. The one closest in the right side of the photo was the kitchen. The second building that also has a chimney was his bedroom and living room.

Physical description

35 mm colour positive transparency
Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)