House, 84 Olive St, Subiaco

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style
The main façade of this house is partly concealed from view by dense garden planting. However, the visible physical evidence (and comparison with other similar places) suggests that limited decorative detailing was influenced by the Federation Queen Anne style.
The house was of a scale and form generally considered suitable for occupiers such as office workers, retail employees and skilled tradesmen.
Plan form at the street frontage
• Asymmetrical façade, with a projecting wing on the southern side and a verandah across the remainder of the frontage.
Roof form and materials
• Hipped-gabled roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting.
• Louvered gablets at either end of a north-south ridgeline.
• Verge gable over the projecting bay, with a simple pattern of horizontal and vertical timber battens.
• Brick chimney with corbelled cap.
• Mid-twentieth century style, metal framed raked verandah.
Wall materials and finishes to the main facade
• Painted brick (originally tuck-pointed brick).
• Two rendered stringcourses, one at door head height and the other at sill height.
Other detailing to main facade
• Entrance door adjacent to the projecting wing. This has a 4-panel door, traditional moulded architraves, sidelights; highlight; and stained glass panels.
• Pair of double hung windows to the projecting bay. Evidence of a former window hood. Other details concealed from view by garden plantings.
• French doors opening on to the front verandah.
• Two shuttered windows to the Park Street frontage with traditional, curved metal window hoods.
Streetscape setting
• House set back approximately 3.7m from the Olive Street frontage and 2m from the Park Street frontage.
• Lot width approximately 12.2m.
• Side setback of approximately 600mm along the southern boundary.
• No front fence.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this area increased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 91 in 1915, 94 in 1920 and 13 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949.
Perth Suburban Lots 218 and 219 were subdivided as Deposited Plan 214 in the early 1890s. This comprised 52 lots, including 24 lots with frontages to Ivy Street, which extended between Barker and Bagot Roads (renamed as part of Olive Street in c.1901). The Subiaco Rate Books of 1902 & 1905 identified ‘Grogan’ as the owner/occupier of Lot 19. Entries in the Electoral Rolls indicate that the primary occupants at that time were William Grogan (bootmaker) and his wife, Margaret. Like many of Subiaco’s early residents, the Grogan family may have originally occupied a more modest dwelling, which was enlarged as finances allowed:
J MOTTRAM, Architect. Hay-street, Subiaco, invites TENDERS for ADDITIONS to Residence, Subiaco, for Mr W. Grogan, Bootmaker. (July 1905)
and
J MOTTRAM, Architect. Hay-street, Subiaco, invites TENDERS for COMPLETION Villa, corner Park and Olive streets, Subiaco, for W. Grogan, Bootmaker, Hay-st.. Subiaco, at risk of former contractor (J. Locke). (October 1905)
In 1907 the Grogan’s house on the corner of Olive and Park Streets was advertised for sale:
CHAS. SOMMERS has been favoured with instructions from Mrs. Grogan to SELL as above, Lot 219, Subiaco, having a frontage to Olive street of 42ft. by a depth along Park-street of 132ft., on which is erected a neat Brick and Jarrah W.B. House, containing 5 main rooms, kitchen fitted with Dover stove, etc. All the rooms are large and lofty. Front garden, also vines and fruit trees in bearing. The property must be sold on account of the ill-health of the owner. £150 can remain on mortgage if required. Within easy reach of Hay-street tram. Nice position.
Elizabeth and William Broadbridge (plasterer) were living here by 1907, and E Broadbridge was identified as the owner of the property in the Subiaco Rate Books of 1908-1909. No further reference has been found for this family in WA after 1916 and a brief newspaper notice suggests that E.C. Broadbridge sold the house in c.1921.
After 1916, 84 Olive Street had a high turn-over of occupants until at least the mid-twentieth century. A review of the Post Office Directories at 5-yearly intervals (together with reference to contemporary Electoral Rolls) indicates that some of the primary residents during this period included:
 1920: Wilford Norman Terrell (labourer)
 1925: Mrs Mary Beard
 1930: Leonard James Townshend (land agent)
In 1929-1930 the Subiaco Rate Books identified Mrs A Townshend as the owner of the property. This family lived here in c.1927-1934/35.
 1935 & 1940: Mrs Emily Mathieson
 1945 & 1949: Mrs Lily Winifred Ridgwell

An analysis of a historical Metropolitan Sewerage Plan (dated 1927, updated 1955) and historical aerial photographs indicates that skillion additions were constructed t the rear of the house during the 1970s. The footprint of the original house can still be clearly recognised.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium: The authenticity of the house within its streetscape setting has been reduced by the painting of the main façade, and the replacement of the front verandah in an unsympathetic style.

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.