House

Statement of Significance

The place is a good representative example of a house of the early 20th century designed to a style and scale to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means.
This place has aesthetic value for its remaining form and some detail demonstrating a simple expression of the Federation Bungalow style.
For its association with the rapid development of Midland in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

A single storey timber framed and weatherboard cottage with some alterations that impact on its original presentation and design intent.
The original hipped roof form has been retained although the cladding has been changed to decromastic tiles from the original corrugated iron. The two brick chimneys have been retained. The verandah canopy which is skillion in form has also been reclad with decromastic cladding.
The original presentation of the cottage included a symmetrical façade which has been altered due to the boxing out of the western end of the front verandah to create additional internal accommodation. The original design included a single central entrance door flanked by sash windows. The eastern 1-over-1 timber framed sash window remains extant as doe the entrance ensemble comprising a timber panelled door with timber and glazed side lights and fanlight above. The western section of the former verandah has been enclosed with a lightweight cladding and includes a timber ledged door to the east elevation and louvered openings to the front.

History

In 1886, the Midland Railway Company took up significant landholdings in the area and established its operations to build a railway north to Geraldton. The townsite of Midland Junction was gazetted in 1890 and private investor James Morrison, subdivided and sold large parcels of land to new settlers. With gold discoveries in the mid 1890s, Midland Junction became a hub of the state road and rail system and was a logical site for the government railway workshops which relocated there in 1904.
Byers Road was named in honour of William Byers Wood, successful butcher and business man of Guildford who was Mayor of Guildford between 1891 and 1892. A tender for the curbing of the road in 1901 indicates that the area was being developed in the first years of the 20th century.
From the readily available information this house was built c1907 and the first occupant was John Patterson. It is possible the place was constructed prior to this date but future research of primary sources would be required. The occupation of this house changed regularly throughout the first half of the 20th century.
•1908-1909 John Patterson
•1910-1912 Alex Stewart
•1913 Harry Floyd
•1914 John M Leslie
•1915 William Henry Wright
•1916-1919 Mrs E Begley
•1920 Thomas Hornblow
•1921-1926 Ernest Oma
•1927-1928 William Henry Wright
•1929-1930 James Neilson Roberts
•1931-1939 John Edward McCarthy
•1940-1954 George Boag Bond Jnr, painter
Long standing occupant in the 1930s was railway employee, John Edward McCarthy and his wife Ruby Ruth Robena McCarthy who subsequently moved into 40 Byers Road in 1940.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the place was occupied by painter George Boag Bond Jnr and his wife Anne Hunter Getty who married in 1934. George had previously lived with his parents at 45 Sayer Street and like many Midland families settled nearby.
A survey of the property prepared in 1939 shows that the house had a galvanised iron structure and a small verandah at the rear of the house with a well and pump adjacent.
Aerial photographs from the mid 20th century indicate that the larger addition across the rear of the house which is still apparent, in its extent, was constructed in the 1950s. The roof was originally clad with corrugated iron and the current decromastic cladding was applied in the mid 1970s. In c2007, the front and western side of the site was cleared and paved and a new structure was constructed adjoining the rear elevation. The extent and form of the original residence can still be determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity: Moderate due to loss of original fabric and detail.
Integrity: High as the place continues to be used as a residence.

Condition

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