House

Parent Place or Precinct

26335 Hamersley Road Group Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as a good example of the architectural style typical of the area and period. It has historic significance reflecting the development and settlement of the area.

The Hamersley Road Group heritage area is of:
Aesthetic Value
• As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely intact Federation and Inter War residences.
• For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1890s and the 1940s.
• For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles.
Historic Value
• As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century.
• For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees.
• For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1890s to the 1920s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in the gold boom period and shortly thereafter.
Representativeness
• As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services.
Physical Form in the Public Realm
• The houses, which (with the exception of two modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1898 to 1921, (and one in 1946) have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, with a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and zincalume property with a traditional asymmetric planform to the façade.

The house presents almost in its original state with the exception of the replacement roofing materials. The roof is hipped to the main section with vented gablet to the apex. There is a separate gable roof to the projecting wing section of the façade. A bullnose verandah canopy extends across the full extent of the elevation, positioned below the eaves. All roofs have been reclad with zincalume. The brick and rendered corbelled chimney remains extant.

The house is of brick construction with tuckpoint finish and rendered bands at sill level and rendered decorative under-sill apron.

The window to the bay is a three-section opening, comprising one large pane with top hung casement above. The windows to the recessed section of the elevation are 1-over-1 double hung sashes. The entrance is located at the abutment of the recessed and projecting sections and consists of the traditional arrangement of timber and glazed panel door, similar side panel and fanlights to the entire.

The verandah canopy is supported on turned timber posts. The deck is concrete.

The garden is enclosed by a low hedge with central gateway and path to the front door of the house.

The house is in very good condition.

History

This portion of Subiaco bound by Hamersley Road, Derby Road, Heytesbury Road and Federal Road was designated as Perth Suburban Lot 260. This large landholding of five acres was acquired by the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company Limited in 1890. This company was based in New South Wales but was very active in the development of Perth’s metropolitan area in the 1890s.

The plan for the subdivision of this portion of Hamersley Road was approved by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1904. However, the land had been subdivided for residential sale some years previously. Lots had been transferred to new owners from 1892.

This lot was transferred to Matthew Boland in 1892. The Rates Books record that the property was under the ownership of Alfred Hayles in 1916. (Hayles lived at 266 Hamersley Road in 1916). The property was transferred to Frederick and Louise Orriss in 1917 and the PO Directories record a house at this site in that year.

Frederick Orriss (c1882-1961) an insurance agent, married Louie Fountain (c1884-1962) in 1912. They lived at the house until 1920 but may have retained ownership of the property when they relocated. In 1918, a baby girl was born to the couple at this residence.

The PO Directories list the following occupants:
• 1917 – 1920 Frederick Orriss
• 1921 - 1923 Claude Hunter
• 1924 - W Brunning
• 1925 - Thos Cambridge
• 1926 – 1929 Jno Evans
• 1930 – 1932 Mrs Wells
• 1933/34- Arthur Webb & Thos Prater
• 1934/5 – 1949 L C Ashton

The 1929/30 Rate Books list John Evans as the owner and Arthur Webb (agent) as the occupier. A long term occupant from the 1930s was labourer, Leslie Cyril Ashton (c1907-2005). Leslie and his wife Mabel lived at the house until at least 1968.

Condition

Good

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.