HOUSE, 9 SHEEDY STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 9 Sheedy Street, is a single storey timber and iron house dating from 1899. 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 an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 9 Sheedy Street is a single storey timber and zincalume house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are timber framed with painted weatherboard to dado height, and fibrous cement sheeting above. The roof is hipped and clad with zincalume. The façade is symmetrical with a central front door flanked on either side by timber framed windows. The verandah is under the main roof but at a different pitch. There is a rendered brick and timber picket fence to the front boundary line. Vegetation in the front yard prevents further description of the front elevation.

History

Sheedy Street was originally part of Wardie Street. The name was changed in 1982 in honour of a family that lived at 9 Sheedy Street between c. 1890 and c. 1990.

House, 9 Sheedy Street was built in 1899. The weatherboard cottage was built for Michael Sheedy, a tailor. The Sheedy family retained ownership of the house until c. 1990. In 1920/21, the house was listed as being owned and occupied by Margaret Sheedy. In 1927/38, the house was owned by the Estate of Margaret Sheedy, Ownership was soon changed to Winifred Sheedy, who lived in the house until shortly before her death in 1991.

Michael and Margaret Sheedy and their three children migrated to Australia from Lancashire, England, in 1896. They landed in Albany, where Agnes and the children stayed for three months while Michael found accommodation in Fremantle. As it was the height of the gold boom, rental accommodation was hard to find so Michael purchased some land in South Fremantle and set about having a house built. The Sheedy family were the first to build in the street, which at the time was bush and sand. The first two rooms were built by Mr Webb and the second two by Mr Ross.

Michael Sheedy worked as a tailor for Healy and Fontaine in High Street, Fremantle. Margaret was also a tailoress, but worked from home. Winifred (Winnie) Sheedy worked at William Detmold’s (later Spicer’s Ltd) stationers in William Street, Fremantle. She retired in 1959. Winnie died in 1991, a few years after the street was renamed to honour her family.

A diagram dated 1954 shows a weatherboard house with a full length front verandah and centrally located front path. At the rear of the house were a weatherboard sleep-out or laundry and verandah. The rear section of the yard was fenced off and contained a fowl run and shed.

The new owner of the house (c. 1991) applied to the City of Fremantle for permission to demolish the cottage and replace with a two storey residence. (Physical evidence shows that the demolition did not proceed - 2008)

This place was included in the "Heritage Study South Fremantle", prepared by John Taylor Architects, for the City of Fremantle, June 1993. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

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 fair to 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.