Like Kalamunda, the development of the "Lesmurdie" area is closely tied to the exploitation of the Jarrah forest in the region by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company Ltd. In 1897, Mr Archibald Sanderson, a Perth journalist commenced the acquisition of a number of these properties, with a view to building up a "rural retreat" and he named his property "Lesmurdie". Lesmurdie Cottage was a shooting-box in Banffshire, Scotland, near Dufftown and was let to Mr Sanderson's father for shooting. It was in memory of this cottage that Sanderson applied the name to his property.