HOUSE, 64 WRAY AVENUE

Statement of Significance

House, 64 Wray Avenue, is a typical rendered masonry and tile single storey house dating from 1925. 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 Inter War Californian Bungalow style of architecture.

Physical Description

64 Wray Avenue is a single storey, rendered masonry and tile house with an asymmetrical facade designed as an example of the Inter War Californian Bungalow style of architecture. The walls are rendered masonry. The roof is hipped and gabled and clad with tiles. There is a gabled porch supported by timber posts on rendered masonry piers. There is a rendered masonry and metal wall to the front boundary line.

History

Wray Avenue was originally Hampton Street. The named was changed to avoid confusion with the intersecting Hampton Road. It became Alexander Road, after Laurence Alexander, Mayor 1901-1902, and a representative of Falk & Co. The street name was again changed to avoid confusion with Alexandra Road in East Fremantle, and became Wray Avenue in 1923. It was named for William E Wray, at one time with the Education Dept as Truant Inspector, and a resident of the street. He was on the Fremantle Tramways Board and Mayor of Fremantle, 1914-1918.
House 64 Wray Avenue was built in 1925 for the owner and occupier, William Cleave Robinson Alexander Doig. Builder F. W. Spurr constructed it for £870. It is assumed that the leadlight window in the house with the wording ‘Cleavedon’ was installed at the time of construction and gave the name to the house.
William (known as Cleave) Doig was born in Fremantle in 1890 to John and Agnes Doig (nee Robertson). On leaving school he entered the wool, hide and skin industry. In 1915, he enlisted for service with the 16th Battalion AIF, and was wounded several times. After the war he undertook a twelve months wool course at Bradford, England and on his return to Australia established a Fellmongering business in conjunction with J. Dalgleish. This business was later floated into the West Australian Tanners and Fellmongers Limited and Cleave Doig was appointed manager.
The Doig family have been closely association with sports, most particularly football and the South Fremantle Football Club. Cleave Doig was at one time President of the club.
Cleave married Inez McNeece, daughter of John McNeece who was a well-known Fremantle architect and surveyor. It is claimed that he is the architect of the house although no conclusive proof has been found to verify this. The Doigs owned and occupied the property until 1947 when it was transferred to their son, also Cleave Doig. Cleave Doig Snr died in 1968 and the property was owned by Cleave Doig Jnr until 1972 when it was transferred to family member Inez Kate Doig. During this time family members most often occupied the property.
Later owners were Robert Cleave Camarda; Aisla and Andrew Hall and in 2005 Lisa Del Borrello.
In 1971, plans were prepared by architect, Raymond Jones for renovations and extensions to the kitchen and bathroom at the rear of the house. These renovations were subsequently undertaken.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Yellow: “Contributing to the unique character of Fremantle”)
A photograph of the property at this time shows that the house was in relatively good condition with most original features, including the garage, intact. A brick wall on the front boundary is a later addition.
Real estate photographs of the house in the 1980s show that timber scalloping had been installed from the roof line of the verandah to create a degree of privacy. Descriptions of the property at this time indicates that most internal features were intact and renovations had been undertaken.
In 1984 and 1994 No. 64 Wray Avenue was placed on the market for $87,000 and $249, 000 respectively.
A photograph of the house in 1994 shows that a low pitched corrugated iron roof double carport had been constructed in the front yard. The brick wall on the front boundary had been altered with the addition of full height brick pillars and painted timber pickets to fully enclose the property.
In 2005, the owner Lisa Del Borrello commissioned architect Jennifer Moen to prepare plans for extensions and alterations to the house. The renovations consisted basically of the addition of an en-suite on the western elevation and a rear addition consisting of a new kitchen, dining and living rooms and an external storeroom.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(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.