Mrs Watson's Cottage, Heritage-listed stone ruins in Lizard Island National Park, Australia

Mrs Watson's Cottage is a stone ruin in Lizard Island National Park consisting of footings and sections of wall from a five-roomed building about 14 by 10 metres, built in several stages. The ruins lie roughly 60 metres from Watson's Beach and 35 metres north-west of Ferrier's Creek at Watson's Bay.

The stone building was probably raised by a beche-de-mer processing party of Europeans, Chinese and South Sea Islanders who settled at Watson's Bay in 1860 and abandoned the venture in October 1861. In 1879 Captain Robert Watson and P.C. Fuller set up a processing station on the bay and may have used or adapted the structure, though they also put up their own buildings. The ruins are popularly tied to the deaths of Mary Watson, her baby and two Chinese employees in 1881.

The site reflects Indigenous presence spanning thousands of years, with evidence of occupation and use across different periods. Captain James Cook recorded hut structures and large shell mounds here during his 1770 voyage along this coast.

The ruins can be explored within Lizard Island National Park, where walking paths and signs help visitors reach and understand the historic site. Bring water and sun protection as the location is exposed with little natural shade.

Mary Watson escaped with her baby and wounded employee Ah Sam in a cut-down iron tank used for boiling beche-de-mer, reaching No. 5 Howick Island, where all three died of thirst. Her diary's last entry is dated 11 October 1881; the tank was long displayed at the Queensland Museum.