House, 124 Aberdeen St, Northbridge

Statement of Significance

The place has interest as a good example of a Federation Queen Anne style of residential building with fine detailing and original front fence.
The place forms a part of a group of residential buildings and contributes to the historic character of the area.
The place reflects the expansion and development of residential and commercial buildings on the city fringes during the rapid population increase of the 1890's gold boom and the early years of the twentieth century.
The single storey residence set back from the street with a low front fence forms part of a streetscape that contributes to the community's sense of place.
The place is a rare as an example of a well-maintained late nineteenth and early twentieth century residential building, with original features intact, still extant within proximity to Perth City centre.
The place is representative as an example of a modest residential building dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Physical Description

Asymmetrical residential building, tin gables embellished with stucco decoration, face the street. Distinguished by prominent chimneys and return verandah with ornamental timber fretwork and eaves decoration. Woven wire fence and iron gate.

History

In the early years of the Swan River colony the area to the north of Perth (now known as Northbridge) was low lying and swampy and was therefore settled more slowly than the better land closer to the river. It was also further from the river port and the main means of transport. Northbridge is an inner suburban area, named because it is just north of Perth across the railway bridge. It was approved as a suburb name in 1982. In 1854 some of the swampy land to the north of Perth was drained producing some fertile land for farming and later subdivision. The land was subdivided into allotments circa 1860. Land in the area was taken up by discharged soldiers, artisans and small landholders. The area at this period was characterised by small cottages and businesses. In 1881, the railway from Fremantle to Guildford was opened and became the main transport route. From that period commerce and trade tended to be more fashionable with smaller commercial enterprises and manufacturing to the north. It was less fashionable to live north of the railway line, however the area was close to the city and during the 1890's and early 1900's was substantially redeveloped with further subdivision of lots and mixed residential and commercial development. A number of trade and community organisations had their origins in the area at this time. Over the years the population of the area changed as people relocated to suburban areas of the city. As a result, Northbridge became the home for successive migrant communities. for example, communities including Greek, Italian, Chinese and more recently Vietnamese migrants have settled here as property remained relatively cheap and had the advantage of being close to the city. These communities have over the years given this area a distinctive character, generally recycling the existing buildings rather than redeveloping the area. (Extracted from M. Pitt Morrison and J. White in C.T. Stannage, A New History of Western Australia; U.W.A. 1981 and Michael Bosworth, Thematic Historical framework, City of Perth Unpub. 1995). The homes built in Perth the 1890's and early 1900's were generally larger and more elaborately detailed than the earlier simple cottages there replaced. Although influenced in their design by homes of Victoria in particular, due to the influx of migrants from the eastern states, houses in Perth tended to be constructed as single detached, or sometimes pairs of attached houses, rather than the extensive rows of terrace houses found in eastern Australia. Houses were generally single storey brick with corrugated iron roofs. Some more prestigious homes had slate or tiled roofs. Stucco decoration was popular as was wrought iron lace and timber fretwork. There were many people listed at this property in the Wise’s Post Office directories during the twentieth century. During the 1930s the property was used as a boarding house and it was advertised as “superior board and residence for men, with private family, soft washing, walking distance to city” and “board and lodgings men, 1 pound, ladies 15 shillings, pensioners 12/6. Also rooms unfurnished opposite park and post office.”

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of authenticity as it is largely intact.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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