Rectory

Statement of Significance

257 Baker Road, Subiaco is of cultural heritage significance:
 For its role as the residence for the adjacent St Andrew’s Anglican Church since its construction in 1912.
 As part of the only pre-WWI church and rectory complex in Subiaco that is still being used for the original purpose.

Physical Description

257 Baker Road was constructed in the Federation Queen Anne style, but important stylistic details have been obscured by renovations undertaken in the 1970s. Key elements of the present building include the:
 Asymmetrical plan.
 Gable-hipped roof.
This has a prominent gable to the main (northern) façade, but the original decorative detailing of this element has been replaced by a plain panel. Based on other similar houses in Subiaco it is possible that there was originally a second smaller gable over the rectangular bay window on the eastern side of the main façade.
The roof is now clad with corrugated metal sheeting, but was clad with tiles when the Conservation Plan was prepared in 2000
 Two face-brick chimneys (one on either side of the house), each with a rendered projecting cornice and cap.
 Painted brick walls (originally face brick)
Note: The main façade does not appear to have included common contemporary detailing such as tuck-pointing or rendered string courses.
 Projecting wing at the western end of the street frontage.
This has a pair of individual double hung windows with a continuous flat rendered lintel and a continuous flat rendered sill. The upper sashes have 9 small panes of glass and the lower sashes a single pane.
 Central entry (flanked by the projecting wing on the western side and a shallow rectangular window bay on the eastern side).
The entrance door features sidelights (fitted with obscure glass) and stained glass highlights.
 Shallow projecting window bay on the western side of the main façade.
Public views to this area are obscured by the boundary wall and garden vegetation, but glimpses of the windows suggests that they are similar to those of the projecting wing (see above).
 Return verandah, stepping across the main façade and returning along the western side.
This was reconstructed in the 1970s and has a shallow raked roof, square timber posts and a slatted timber soffit. Information in the Conservation Plan suggests that it follows an earlier footprint. There are two openings along the western side, a single door (opening from the study in the front wing) and a pair of French doors (opening off the living room).
Single storey additions and alterations were made to the rear of the house in the 1970s.
The front yard is bounded by a high painted brick wall, backed by mature shrubs and trees, which combine to obscure public views of the façade. The side (western) façade is visible in views along the side driveway and across the adjacent church grounds.
The surrounding streetscape is mixed, with a combination of contemporary and late twentieth century houses and units, and (towards Rokeby Road) commercial development.

History

On 13 March 1883, the Western Australian government announced it would survey a section of the Perth Commonage into suburban lots and that these would be made available for private sale. The subject site subsequently formed part of Perth Suburban Lot 223.
In the wake of the gold rushes, the population of Subiaco began to develop rapidly in the mid-late 1890s:
Twelve months ago the residents of Subiaco, the inmates of the Orphanage excepted, probably did not number more than fifty souls, all-told, the suburb could boast of no railway station buildings and no station master, and was sans schools, sans churches, sans everything.
And
However, with the discovery of gold a change came o'er the scene. Land for building purposes within the city boundaries gradually approximated boom values, and, not slow to take advantage of the occasion, the holders of Subiaco suburban areas lost no time in subdividing their properties and in placing them in the market on cheap and easy terms. The result was that hundreds of those small lots were eagerly grabbed up, mostly by working men, and men of small means and provident habits, desirous of making homes for themselves and of saving rent. The results of these operations have been simply marvellous, the population of Subiaco, which in growing daily being just now from 800 to 1,000 persons …….
Up to within the last week or so the various churches have been holding services on Sundays either in the open or under the cover of a rude marquee improvised for the occasion. Now, however, the Presbyterians are conducting their services in a public hall recently erected by private enterprise, and capable of holding about 200 people, while the Wesleyans are on the eve of erecting a little bethel on their own account. (March 1896)

In the period 1896-1906 the first permanent churches were established in the area as follows:
 1896 – Subiaco Wesleyan (Methodist) Church erected in Broome Road (later Hay Street)(near the corner with Axon Street). Since demolished.
Replaced by the new Subiaco Wesleyan Church at 233 Bagot Road in 1906. Since demolished.
 1897-1898 – Presbyterian Church erected at 315-317 Bagot Road. Adjacent manse built in 1907.
 1897 – Church of England Mission Hall (later names St Andrew’s Anglican Church) built at 371 Broome Road (later Hay Street). Since demolished.
Replaced by the present St Andrew’s Anglican Church at 259 Barker Road in 1906-1907. Adjacent rectory built in 1912.
 1898 – St Joseph’s Catholic Church built for the Sisters of St John of God and also used as a school (West Leederville). When St Joseph’s Parish, Subiaco, was created in 1901 this was also used as the first Parish Church. Since demolished.
 1900 – Church of Christ constructed at 260 Bagot Road. This is still extant (albeit with a modern façade)
 1903 – Rosalie Wesleyan (Methodist) Church erected in Keightley Road (near the south-west corner of Rosalie Street). Since demolished.
 1905 – Jolimont Wesleyan (Methodist) Church erected at 18 Jersey Street. Since demolished.
 1906 – Congregational Church erected at 179 Bagot Road. Since demolished.
As noted above, the first Anglican Church in Subiaco was built on Hay Street in 1897. With an increasing congregation (reflecting the rapid suburban development of Subiaco), land for a new Anglican Church was acquired on Barker Road in c.1905 and the first stage of the present church was built in 1906-1907.
In August 1911, Lots 1 & 2 of Deposited Plan 1369 (adjoining the eastern boundary of the church site) were purchased by the Diocesan Trustees of the Church of England. Plans for a new rectory were then prepared for this site by Herbert Parry, an architect whose father had been the Anglican Bishop of Perth (1876-1893), and whose practice included the design of a large number of Anglican Church buildings.
The plans had been accepted and put out for tender by the beginning of November:
TO BUILDERS. TENDERS will be received until NOON on WEDNESDAY, November 15, for the ERECTION of a RECTORY in Barker-road, Subiaco, for the Diocesan Trustees of the Church of England. No Tender necessarily accepted. HERBERT PARRY, A.W.A.I.A., Architect, T. and G. Chambers, St. George's-terrace, Perth.
A tender for £775 was accepted in January 1912 and the house was constructed during that year.
The first occupant was the Rev. Robert John Craggs who lived here from c.1912 to 1919 (and who had previously lived at 369 Barker Road). Subsequent entries in the Post Office Directories indicate that the Rectors of St Andrews (and the occupants of the house) then changed every 1-6 years through until at least 1949.
Major renovations and repairs were undertaken in the 1970s, including the construction of a new verandah along the north (front) and west facades (following the footprint of an earlier verandah), the addition of a family room at the rear and the erection of a 1.8m high courtyard wall to the front boundary. These works, valued at $2000, were designed and constructed by a local builder and parishioner, R. J. Davies.
A Conservation Plan was prepared for the Church and Rectory in 2000. This concluded that St Andrew’s Anglican Church and Rectory was the only pre-WWI church and rectory complex in Subiaco still being used for their original purpose.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be occupied as a church residence.
Authenticity - Moderate: The original external detailing was altered by renovations undertaken in the 1970s, including the painting of the face brickwork and construction a new verandah.

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.