HOUSE, 114 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 114 Stirling Highway, is an altered stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1920s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area.

Physical Description

House, 114 Stirling Highway, is a single storey stone and iron cottage with symmetrical facade constructed in c1926. Walls are limestone. The cottage has been extensively altered. It appears to have originally been an asymmetrical plan cottage built in stone. The additions to the front extend beyond the original house line. When the property was re-roofed the extensions and original cottage were included under the pyramidal form with a Dutch gable. The extended front portion of the building has aluminium framed windows.

History

The portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’.

Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side.

Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway.

In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use.

House, 114 Stirling Highway was constructed c.1926 for owner Ralph Jeffries. The site had been undeveloped to this time. The 1927/28 rate book records a brick house on the site. The property remained in the Jeffries family until the mid-1950s, when it was purchased by Mrs Doris Hoare. (The Hoare family had also owned 115 Stirling Highway since before the 1920s.) Mrs Hoare retained ownership until at least the early 1980s.

A 1939 diagram shows House, 114 Stirling Highway as being brick, with a full length front verandah wrapping around to the half the length of the southern façade. There was also a full length rear verandah and paths leading down the north and around the back of the house. Like No. 115 to the north, the house had a shortened backyard and a tennis court extended across the rear of both lots.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low to Medium degree of integrity (original intent not clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, later unsympathetic alterations additions and materials).
Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as poor (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.