DUPLEX, 15 LITTLE HOWARD STREET

Statement of Significance

Duplex, 13 & 15 Little Howard Street is a single storey limestone, brick and iron duplex pair dating from 1897. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of Fremantle. It is historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

Duplex, 13 & 15 Little Howard Street is a single storey limestone, brick and iron duplex pair with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with brick quoins. The roof is hipped with a dividing parapet wall and clad with corrugated iron. The original brick corbelled chimneys are intact. The front facade to each duplex half has a front door with fanlight and a double hung sash window. The front verandahs are under a separate corrugated iron bullnose roofs. Both verandah roofs are supported by chamfered timber posts. The duplexes are raised above the ground level and there are two separate sets of concrete steps leading up to the verandah level. There is a low level limestone wall to the front boundary line.

History

The street was formerly known as Old Cemetery Road, and a continuation of Howard Street, which was named after Lord Edward Howard, grandson of Lord John Russell, British Prime Minister 1842.
Duplex 13-15 was formerly 33-35 Little Howard Street; the numbering changed in 1935/36.
The duplex at 13/15 Little Howard Street was built for William Lohoar in 1897 as an investment property. At the time of their construction each half of the duplex consisted of four rooms. Lohoar leased out the two halves of the duplex to various tenants and owned the property until at least 1916. The first tenants of the duplex as recorded in the Post Office Directories for 1898 were William B McNaughton and Mrs W Lohoar. The available information does not record which tenant occupied which half of the duplex.
William Lohoar was a Fremantle Councillor from 1904 to 1915.
A long term tenant of 13 Little Howard Street in the early 20th century was tram driver Charles Fagburg.
The 1908 sewerage plan of this site shows this brick duplex is a symmetrical design with the two halves a mirror image of each other. The dwellings have front verandahs across the full width of the front façade. At the rear of 13 Little Howard Street was an addition and in the back yard were two galvanised iron sheds and a timber closet.
The duplex was connected to mains sewerage in 1914.
Between the years 1929 and 1943 and possibly longer, the duplex was owned by Catherine May Healy. Subsequently the ownership of the duplex was mostly split except for a period in the mid 1980s when both halves were owned by one person, Denis Michael O’Keefe. Other owners of 15 Little Howard Street have included; Mary Ann Brady; William and Henrietta Shepherd; Peter Reginald Lander; Mary and Frederick Adeane; Sven and Jennifer Silburn and Valma Jean Heaney.
A request was made in 1977 to gain separate strata titles on the properties.
A photograph of the duplex taken in 1979 shows that the building was in relatively poor condition although many of the original features were intact. The roof was corrugated iron one both sides although the roof of 15 Little Howard Street was in a worse condition. Decorative timber detailing is evident between the main roof and the verandah roof. Portion of the front verandah of 15 Little Howard Street had also been enclosed with a structure of asbestos and a three paned casement window. The verandah roofs appear to be of an original form but again that of 15 Little Howard Street was more deteriorated. The verandah floors were concrete and accessed from a set of concrete steps from the street. A front boundary wall of stone was rendered. The stone façade of both halves of the duplex is painted with some signs of deterioration. 13 Little Howard Street had some decorative ironwork on the verandah supports which was probably not original.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle")
In 1986, a request was made by Mr C. Edwards to construct a brick workshop on the lot but this was refused.
In March 1988, plans were submitted to the City of Fremantle to extend and renovate 15 Little Howard Street.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.