HOUSE, 22 NORFOLK STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 22 Norfolk Street, is a typical rendered masonry and iron single storey house dating from the 1870s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The place is an example of an original residential building which retains its original form but is extensively altered internally and externally.

Physical Description

Single storey rendered building with a Colorbond hipped roof. The dropped verandah is supported by metal columns (not original) and is fronted by an translucent corrugated sheeted awning, which extends onto masonry piers and low wall balustrade with a portico style entrance (not original).

History

Norfolk Street is named after the English county, as per Essex and Suffolk Streets.
This house has been consistently referred to as 22 Norfolk Street - the renumbering of the street in 1935/36 did not affect this property.
This building was constructed in the 1870s for the owner William Jose who was a former sapper in the Royal Engineers and operated a grocery store in Norfolk Street. The family owned a significant landholding in the street and lived in the residence attached to the store. The family operated the business together.
This cottage was one of several buildings constructed on the lot and the rates books do not differentiate when each building was constructed. Therefore the exact date of construction has not been confirmed. The Jose family owned the property until 1893 when it was transferred to Mrs S Sainsbury and then Henry James William Higham who owned the property until the mid 1920s. During this time a long term occupant was James Foley from 1907 to 1922.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows the brick house has an ‘L’ shaped design with a front verandah. At the rear is an ‘L’ shaped verandah part of which is enclosed with timber. A timber bathroom is attached to the rear of the house. In the back yard was a brick closet and the majority of the lot boundary is defined with a stone wall.
Ivan Vilicich owned the property from the 1920s to the 1940s. Later owners of the property were Maria and Ivan Vilicich; Gabrielle Baillieu; and Giuseppe, Margaret and Vincent Salmeri.
In 1962, the front verandah roof of this house was replaced by a flat concrete roof by builder F. Amara for the owner Gino Lapegna.
In 1978 the building was photographed and the place was in relatively good condition. The front doors and windows appear to be original. There was a low brick wall on the front boundary which is of a later origin. The roof was corrugated iron and the front façade was rendered. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle")
In 1988, the house was photographed prior to its conversion to a restaurant. Immediately before this the building had been used as a shop. The proposed restaurant conversion was designed by architect Ian Brownfield for the owner Mr Nguyen.
In 2004, the Register Committee of the Heritage Council of WA considered the property was unlikely to pass the threshold for entry on the State Register of Heritage Places.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining but with some alterations.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as 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.