Nutcote was the harbourside home of famed children's author May Gibbs of "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie" fame. It was built in 1924-25 for May Gibbs and was designed by renowned architect B. J. Waterhouse who veered from his usual Arts and Crafts style to design this Mediterranean style cottage. It is now a house museum furnished as it was in May's time with some original pieces and works of art.
The house sits on a steep terraced slope which runs down to the harbour and the garden features native Australian shrubs and trees and an English cottage-style garden. At the top of the site next to the road is the old double garage which has now been converted into a shop at street level and a lower tea-room facing the top gardens.
The interior of the house is in the Early English / Baronial style favoured at the time with dark-stained timber joinery and jarrah floors. There is a large living room with arched windows at either end, carved rafters, recessed bookshelves and rough-cast stone coloured walls opening onto the balcony where arches and iron railings frame the harbour view and lower garden. May's artist's studio with double doors off the living room is interconnected with the small bedroom and dressing-room. There is also a dining room facing the harbour as well as an original 1920's kitchen and bathroom.
Under the house there are spaces looking out on the harbour that are currently used as AV, children's party and exhibition rooms.
There is a small terrace that serves as a tea-room space and adjoins the tea-room ktchen and the public toilets.
On either side of the property are Federation and Arts and Crafts houses of a similar or earlier era and the street facade and facing street have contemporary or renovated architecture.