House

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

House 93 Park Street, Subiaco is of cultural heritage significance to the City of Subiaco:
• The place has aesthetic value as a typical demonstration of the Federation style executed in brick and corrugated iron with remaining details in evidence.
• The place has aesthetic and historic value for its association with the adjacent property at 97 Park Street built by the same owner and exhibiting similar design and details
• The place has historic value for its association with the subdivision and settlement of this portion of Subiaco in the early 20th century.
• The place has social value as a demonstration of a home built for skilled tradesmen and their families in the early 20th century.
• For its contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses
in the portion of Park Street from Olive Street to Townshend Road.
For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron dwelling in the Federation style drawing upon influences from the Victorian and Queen Anne architectural styles. The roof is a hipped and gabled form. The gable element extends over the projecting wing whilst the hipped form extends over the main part of the house. The original cladding has been replaced with colorbond. Tall painted brick chimneys with corbelled flues extend from the south and western planes of the roof.
The house was originally of face brick construction with tuck point finish, rendered below sill level and with rendered bands across the façade. The original finish has been painted over but traces of the tuck pointing remains discernible. The two bands have been painted in a contrasting cream colour maintaining an element of decoration and distinction to the façade. The gable is roughcast render with timber detailing.
The dwelling presents in a traditional form with asymmetric façade. The projecting wing contains the gable roof and a large centrally placed window below. The window comprises a three section opening with large 1-over-1 sash window flanked by narrow side sashes. A skillion style window canopy with timber brackets provides some shade to the opening. The canopy has been reclad to match the roof. The sill is painted cement with a decorative apron below. There are no other features to this section of the façade.
The recessed section of the façade contains the main entrance abutting the projecting wing and a further window to the east of the door. The window is of the same design as the other front window. The door is timber panelled to the lower section and glazed above with matching side panels and a fanlight across the entire ensemble.
The verandah extends across the full width of the recessed section of the façade. The skillion canopy, which is a continuation of the main roof, is supported on turned timber posts. It is likely that the original verandah canopy was separate to the roof and was positioned below the eaves. There is no balustrade and the deck is painted concrete.
A view along the adjacent driveway shows that the original face brick work to the eastern elevation is now painted. There is a small window towards the rear of the building, likely to be the bathroom in the skillion roofed rear section of the house. No other features are present on this elevation.
The shallow front setback, approximately 2m to the façade, is paved and enclosed by a low timber picket fence.

The property is situated in a short stretch of Park Street extending between Olive Street and Townsend Road, which retains much of its traditional character and original building stock.

The road is narrow with wide pavements populated with street trees. The sense of enclosure along the street is strengthened by the high boundary walls that contribute to a sense of privacy and seclusion. The subject dwelling is the last in a small group of similar style dwellings that creates a sense of coherency.

Although the dwellings on the opposite side of the road are of a different architectural style, many present with a moderate to high level of authenticity which contributes to the overall character of the street. Whilst not an intact streetscape, Park Street does present with a moderate to high level of integrity and authenticity with the subject dwelling making a positive contribution to the whole.

History

Subiaco's population increased phenomenally in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in the eastern parts of Western Australia. The increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision and sale. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families. Often lots were purchased as investment properties and retained as empty lots or developed and rented.
A subdivision plan for this portion of Subiaco was approved in 1896. Park Street was named ‘Salisbury Avenue’ at that time but was changed shortly thereafter to Park Street.
Lot 20, the adjacent lot 21 (HN97) and a third lot on the corner of Townsend and Park Street, were acquired by Julia Boddington in 1898. She was the wife of a local agent and stockbroker, James Boddington who presumably purchased the land as an investment during this period of growth in property values.
In 1904, lots 20 and 21 were transferred to moulder, Ernest Horatio Harvey. Because of Harvey’s association with the building trade it is proposed that he oversaw the construction of this house throughout 1904. This conclusion is supported by the first recording of a resident at this house in 1905. No information on the builder or architect of this place has been found in this research. It is proposed that Harvey also oversaw the construction of the adjacent house (97 Park Street) in 1907. It is probable that Harvey built one of the houses first and found an occupant so that the second property could be built.
At the time of the construction Ernest Harvey was living in St Leonards Avenue Leederville with his wife Ethel May Harvey. The couple later farmed in East Wagin and in the 1940s, Ernest Harvey worked as a linesman. No further information has been discovered in this research about Ernest Harvey.
The first resident of 93 Park Street was George Cheffins (Cheffings) (1867-1943). George Cheffins married Margaret Rachel, nee Learmonth (1876-1973) in 1903 and the couple lived in this house for the first years of their marriage.
In 1907, the house was occupied by Robert Wadeson Cragg (c1867-1960) and his wife Mary Elizabeth Miller Cragg. Robert Cragg was a compositor born in Queensland.
In 1914, Mary Cragg became the owner of lot 20 . Robert and Mary Cragg had one son born in 1916 and the couple lived in this house for the remainder of their married lives. Robert died in March 1960, and Mary in April 1960.
In 1929, Mary Cragg became the registered owner of a motor vehicle known as a ‘Whippet’ and it is likely that the garage at the rear of the lot was built at this time. A sewerage plan of the site prepared in 1927 and revised in 1955 show a small asbestos garage at the rear of the lot.
In 1960, the property was transferred to Georg Ulrich Schairer (c1915-1989) a German born cabinet maker who lived at the house for only a few years. The property was transferred in 1964 to John Mackay (c1888-1974) a retired watchmaker and his wife Mabel Josephine Mackay (c1901-1979). After John’s death in 1974, Mabel Mackay stayed on in the house until her death in 1979. The property was then transferred to new owners in 1980.
Aerial photographs from the mid-20th century show that the form and extent of the original house has changed little since that time. There have been additions across the rear elevation at different periods however the original roof form has not been altered. The large shed or garage at the rear of the property has been present since the 1960s.
The front verandah appears to have originally been covered with a separate roof which differs to the current form which shows the extension of the roof cladding from the ridge line to the gutter. It is possible that the verandah was a bull nose style as shown at 97 Park Street.

In c.2018, the lot was divided with a fence to create a separate area accessed from the rear laneway. This division has not been formalised in a legal subdivision.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.