House

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

House 97 Park Street, Subiaco is of cultural heritage significance to the City of Subiaco:
• The place has aesthetic value as a typical demonstration of the Federation style executed in brick and corrugated iron with remaining details in evidence.
• The place has aesthetic and historic value for its association with the adjacent property at 93 Park Street built by the same owner and exhibiting similar design and details
• The place has historic value for its association with the subdivision and settlement of this portion of Subiaco in the early 20th century.
• The place has social value as a demonstration of a home built for skilled tradesmen and their families in the early 20th century.
• For its contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses
in the portion of Park Street from Olive Street to Townshend Road.
For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron dwelling in the Federation style drawing upon influences from the Victorian and Queen Anne architectural styles. The roof is a hipped and gabled form. The gable element extends over the projecting wing whilst the hipped form extends over the main part of the house. The original cladding has been replaced with colorbond. Tall painted brick chimneys with corbelled flues extend from the south and western planes of the roof.
The house was originally of face brick construction with tuck point finish, rendered below sill level, and with rendered bands across the façade. The original finish has been painted over but faint traces of the tuck pointing remain discernible. The two rendered bands have been painted in a contrasting white colour creating an element of decoration to the façade. The render to the lower section is textured and painted. The gable is roughcast render with timber detailing and a turned timber finial.
The dwelling cannot be clearly seen form the street due to the presence of a high rendered boundary wall.
The dwelling presents in a traditional form with asymmetric façade. The projecting wing contains the gable roof and a large centrally placed window below. The window comprises a three section opening with three 1-over-1 sash windows. An enclosed awning extends across the opening with corrugated cladding and timber brackets. The sill is painted cement with a decorative apron below.
The recessed section of the façade contains the main entrance abutting the projecting wing and a further window to the east of the door. The door is timber panelled to the lower section and glazed above with matching side panels and a fanlight across the entire opening.
The verandah extends across the full width of the recessed section of the façade. The bullnose canopy is located below the eaves of the façade with approximately three brick courses separating the canopy from the eaves. The canopy has been reclad. The canopy is supported on turned timber posts with carved brackets and a timber frieze between the posts.
A parapet wall extends along the eastern side of the property. The eastern side of the property and the west wall is unpainted brickwork.
The front setback is predominately paved with some planting.
The property is situated in a short stretch of Park Street which retains much of its traditional character and original building stock. The road is narrow with wide pavements populated with street trees. The sense of enclosure along the street is
strengthened by the high boundary walls that contribute to a sense of privacy and seclusion. The subject dwelling is between two similar dwellings creating a sense of group value. Whilst not an intact streetscape, Park Street does present with a moderate to high level of integrity and authenticity with the subject property making a positive contribution to the whole.

History

Subiaco's population increased phenomenally in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in the eastern parts of Western Australia. The increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision and sale. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families
A subdivision plan for this portion of Subiaco was approved in 1896. Park Street was named ‘Salisbury Avenue’ at that time but was changed shortly thereafter to Park Street.
Lot 21, the adjacent lot 20 (HN93) and a third lot on the corner of Townsend and Park Street, were acquired by Julia Boddington in 1898. She was the wife of a local agent and stockbroker, James Boddington who presumably purchased the land as an investment during this period of growth in property values.
In 1904, lots 20 and 21 were transferred to moulder, Ernest Horatio Harvey. Because of Harvey’s association with the building trade it is proposed that he oversaw the construction of this house throughout 1907. This conclusion is supported by the first recording of a resident at this house in 1908. No information on the builder or architect of this place has been found in this research. It is proposed that Harvey also oversaw the construction of the adjacent house (93 Park Street) in 1904. It is probable that Harvey built one of the houses first and found an occupant so that the second property could be built.
At the time of the construction Ernest Harvey was living in St Leonards Avenue Leederville with his wife Ethel May Harvey. The couple later farmed in East Wagin and in the 1940s, Ernest Harvey worked as a linesman. No further information has been discovered in this research about Ernest Harvey.
The first resident of 97 Park Street was civil servant Henry John Wear (c1875-1942). He married Barbara McMillan in 1908 and the couple lived at this house until 1910.
In the following years the house was occupied by a series of tenants who lived there for relatively short periods.
• 1911-1912 Charles Ziesler, Fire Adjuster
• 1913 Lionel Victor Morrison, Metalwork Instructor
• 1914 Adrian Ernest Craig, Mechanic
• 1915-1920 James C.W. Parker, Horse Driver
• 1921-1932, Harry Bergin, Salesman
• 1933, C.C.R. Roper, Grocer
The occupants of the house were generally skilled tradesman which demonstrates the demographic of this part of Subiaco during the mid-20th century.

In 1934, Leslie and Alma Stewart, originally from South Australia, moved into the house. Leslie Stewart (c1897-1969) worked as a mechanic and motor lorry builder and in later years a cow examiner. Alma Stewart maintained the household and raised their family.

In 1913, ownership of the property had been transferred to Catherine Janet Yeates, nee Hinkley (c1868-1952) the wife of Charles Samuel Sparks Yeates (c1872-1961) the assistant Government Astronomer working at the Observatory in Kings Park. The Yeates family lived at 441 Rokeby Road Subiaco.

In 1963, Leslie and Alma Stewart purchased the property they had lived in since 1934. Alma Stewart continued to live at the home after Leslie’s death in 1969. Family members lived nearby and following Alma’s death in 1978 the family took over the ownership of property.
Aerial photographs from the mid-20th century show that the form and extent of the original house has changed little since that time. There have been additions across the rear elevation at different periods however the original roof form has not been altered. The roof cladding was green corrugated iron which was replaced with zincalume in 2004. The rear of the property has been largely undeveloped and features some large mature trees which have been present since c1948.

Condition

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

Uses

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.