The red brick and tile house on Kalgoorlie Street, Mt Hawthorn looks like any other, but behind the suburban facade lies a special story.

Anzac Cottage was built in just one day by the people of Perth.

It was intended to be a practical monument to the diggers who had died fighting at Gallipoli the year before, as well as a home for one of the wounded returning men.

The keys to the cottage were given to Private Cuthbert John Porter and his wife Annie on April 16, 1916.

One hundred years on, Private Porter's granddaughter Anne Chapple said she was immensely proud of the family home's rich history and wanted its story to be known.

Anzac Cottage in 1916 and 2016. ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia and 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

"Just after the Gallipoli landing there was an organisation in Mt Hawthorn called the Mt Hawthorn Progress Association, which had formed to do things like make sure that the tramways travelled to the area," Ms Chapple said.

"They heard about the Gallipoli landing and were fired with patriotic spirit — as they all were in those days — and decided to build a war memorial.

"While they were in the planning stage, my grandfather, who had been wounded at Gallipoli, returned home."

The association learned that Private Porter could no longer work because of his war wounds. He and his wife were living in a rented house.

"[The association] talked about it and decided that the war memorial would be a practical memorial — a home for a wounded soldier and his family," she said.

"When they started out they were just going to do a little timber house with a tin roof, but they had so many offers of assistance and donations that in the end they could afford a brick and tile home."

Anne Chapple, granddaughter of Private Porter, for whom Anzac Cottage was built. ( 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

Thirty volunteers showed up to clear a bush block one Saturday in January 1916.

A week later, 70 horse-drawn drays brought the donated building materials from the city to Kalgoorlie Street.

And finally, on Saturday February 12, 200 volunteer workmen gathered on site to construct the home.

The convoy of building materials goes to Anzac Cottage, and building progress by 2pm on February 12, 1916. ( Supplied: State Library of Western Australia )

"They began early [at the same time as the Anzacs landed at Anzac Cove] and they then worked all day," Ms Chapple said.

"I suspect what they did was most of the exterior."

Over the coming weeks, the interior of the house would be finished before the keys were handed over to the Porters.

"My grandfather was quite embarrassed," Ms Chapple said.

"He actually caused a letter to be written to the War Council at that time, saying that he didn't feel that he deserved it and there were others more deserving.

"However, as people were those days, they thought that meant he was a very humble man and he really deserved it.

"When he took possession of the house, he was too shaken from shell shock to even respond to the speeches, and he asked somebody else to speak on his behalf.

"He was a pretty shattered man after the war and his experience."

(L to R) Private Porter, c1914, on the front step of Anzac Cottage, and Annie Porter with grandson Ted in the garden. ( Supplied )

Three of the Porters' four daughters were born in the front bedroom, and all four girls shared the tiny second bedroom.

Still, having a house rent-free for life made the world of difference to Ms Chapple's grandparents and their daughters — and they never forgot it.

"My grandmother had had a difficult childhood and they had both emigrated from England in 1911, so they didn't have any immediate family around," she said.

"So to have this house ... they were just so grateful.

"My grandparents were very diligent at making sure the house and garden were maintained because they really honoured this gesture."

They also always welcomed soldiers to their home.

"They were always welcome to come here and have a nice hot meal with the family," Ms Chapple said.

Anzac Cottage's entrance and the memorial where a service is held every year. ( 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

But war had left permanent scars on Private Porter.

"I remember him as a very quiet man; he was very difficult to get to know," Ms Chapple said.

"He used to sit in the kitchen and occasionally he would tell us something and laugh, but he wasn't the sort of person you could get close to."

Inside Anzac Cottage, with the original stained glass and Porter family photographs. ( 720 ABC Perth: Emma Wynne )

By 1964, both Private Porter and his wife had died and their daughters married and living in their own homes.

"It was rented out to other people," Ms Chapple said.

"During that time it fell into very bad disrepair and was almost at the point of being bulldozed."

By then, the actual ownership of the cottage had also become unclear.

Eventually, the State Government stepped in and offered the cottage to the Vietnam Veterans Association to use as their headquarters.

"We are forever grateful to the Vietnam Veterans Association; they restored the cottage to the state that it is today, even down to the colours on the walls," Ms Chapple said.

Once a month, Ms Chapple conducts a tour of the house, while every Anzac and Remembrance Day an evening memorial service is held in the front garden — continuing a tradition Private Porter started.

"Every Anzac Day at 4.30am, my mother can remember hearing his footsteps," Ms Chapple said.

"My grandfather would go and raise the flag in the front garden.

"They were very honoured and I am so proud of this rich history in my family. I am very lucky."