House

Parent Place or Precinct

26077 Salisbury and Rupert Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• As a good representative example of the many 4-5 room brick homes which were built in Subiaco during the early twentieth century to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, senior office workers, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means.
• As a good representative example of the application of materials and detailing which were derived from the Federation Queen Anne style, but which were applied in a more restrained manner that suited the budgets and expectations of the middle classes in Subiaco during the early twentieth century.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses.

Physical Description

• Weatherboard cottage of Federation Queen Anne style, mostly obscured from the street by tall timber fence and mature plantings.
• Hipped-gabled roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting.
• Prominent north-facing gable with a rough-cast rendered face and vertical timber battens
• A second modern, glazed gable is set back from the main frontage at the apex of the roof.
• Dropped, bullnose roof to the verandah.
• Face brick chimney with a plain stepped cap.
• Square edged weatherboard walls.
• Asymmetrical stepped façade with a projecting central wing, with a verandah extending across the façade with a small return to the west elevation with bullnose canopy.
• Main entrance accessed from the side (eastern) verandah.
• French doors opening onto the western section of the verandah.
• This opening has a wide central double hung window, flanked by very narrow double hung windows. These are separated by fluted timber panels.

History

No development took place in the study area until late 1891, when Lots 278, 279, 280
& 281 were subdivided as Deposited Plan 353 (later referred to as DP 2808). This
subdivision included 138 building lots, with frontages to Heytesbury Road, Thomas
Street, Nicholson Road, Rokeby Road, Mackay Street (later renamed as part of Rupert
Street), Paterson Street (later renamed as part of Salisbury Street) and Finlayson
Street. These lots were progressively sold from December 1891 (many to eastern
states investors), but construction on these sites was initially slow. A plan dated
c.1902 shows that, while the Rokeby Road frontage had been largely developed by
that time, only about 15 buildings had been erected along the other frontages.
An analysis of entries in the Post Office Directories and Subiaco Rates Books suggests
that a house on this site had been occupied by Robert and Blanche Don by c.1902.
Robert Don (c.1875-1931) had married Blanche Biggin (c.1875-1939) in Subiaco in
c.1900 and they had at least 3 children: Olive, George and Janet (‘Jean’). Members of
this family lived at 55 Heytesbury Road until c.1919 (after which they moved to Mt
Lawley). Newspaper reports indicate that Robert (who was a plumber) joined the
Metropolitan Water Supply Department in 1909 and in 1913 he was listed in the
Electoral Rolls as a “sewerage inspector”. At the time of his death, Robert was
described as a former chief inspector of the Metropolitan Water Supply Department.
The next long-term occupants were members of the Glendenning family, who lived
here in c.1922-1940. Residents of the house included George Glendenning (a railway
guard), his wife, Susan Glendenning (who died in August 1925), and their daughter
Elizabeth Dickson Adelaide (‘Bessie’) Glendenning (c.1897-1978)(a teacher). In the
Electoral Rolls of 1943 George and Elizabeth were identified as residents of Nedlands.
Furnished bed sitting rooms were being advertised to let at 55 Heytesbury Road in
1949 and through the early 1950s.
An analysis of the readily available information suggests that the primary occupants
of the property from its time of construction until c.1949 included:
• c.1902-1919 Robert Don (plumber, later civil servant - Metropolitan Water
Supply and Sewerage Department) and Blanche Don (domestic duties)
• c.1920-1921 Richard Edwin Roe (motor garage proprietor) and Henrietta Roe
(home duties)
• c.1922-1925 Elizabeth Glendenning (teacher) and her parents, George
Glendenning (railway guard) & Susan Glendenning (home duties)
• c.1925-1940 Elizabeth Glendenning (teacher) and her father, George
Glendenning (railway guard)
• c.1941-1945 Mrs Charlotte Jane Clifton
• c.1946-1947 Mrs Ida Knox.
• 1949 Mrs Kath Brady; Mrs Nance Alves; & Robert Grey

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be used as a private residence.
Authenticity - High: The original external form and detailing of the building is largely intact.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be generally in fair condition (with some elements in poor 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.