Residences: Hobbs Avenue, Inter-war California Bungalow Group

Statement of Significance

• The place has aesthetic value as a largely intact streetscape developed during the interwar period in the Inter-War Californian Bungalow style.
• The place has aesthetic value for its avenue of mature trees and regular setbacks to the houses.
• The place has historic value for its association with the establishment and development of Como in the interwar period for residential development.
• The place has historic value for its association with W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd, who was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Hobbs Avenue, Como.

Physical Description

The Hobbs Avenue Inter-War California Bungalow Group includes 11 freestanding dwellings on Hobbs Avenue between Throssell Street and Canning Highway. The group is located diagonally opposite the Collier Primary School at 17 Hobbs Avenue, which opened in 1948 following World War II.

Each dwelling has been built in the style typical of the Inter-War California Bungalow with range of asymmetric low pitched tile roofs and exposed projecting rafters. Roof gables, hips and window canopies provide interest to each elevation, including some dwellings exhibiting jerkinhead gable roofs with timber detailing. Walls are exposed brick and/ or have a painted rendered finish. Each dwelling has a verandah oriented towards the street contained beneath the primary roof. A range of verandah posts are present, including pylon-shaped tapering upwards from a wide base with decorative infill rendered panels.

Places have been modified to accommodate residential development including additions and alterations, car parking structures and swimming pools. The majority are single storey.

History

Hobbs Avenue was named in honour of architect and WWI soldier, Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot HOBBS KCB KCMG VD FRIBA (24.8.1864 - 21.4.1938). It was created through the subdivision of what was the eastern portion of EH Comer’s property (270 acres on title 386/172) which, unlike the western portion, continued to be held unsubdivided by Comer until his death in 1916. The property was sold by his executor in 1919 to William Padbury, a merchant, of Guildford. Padbury was most likely a property speculator, and his plan of subdivision into 799 lots, each approximately ¼ acre, was approved in May 1921. The subdivision was bounded by South Terrace,
George Street (later Blamey Place), Thelma Street and Fremantle Road (later Canning Highway).

This section of Hobbs Avenue was developed during the inter-war period during which the California Bungalow house design was a popular design. Part of the appeal of this design was its simplicity which became affordable and through growing a number of pattern books, available to the average person.

From the readily available information these residences were built between 1935/36-1940. Information on each place including the first occupants is detailed in the table below. Later occupants have not been determined.

Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the majority of those residence along the northern side of Hobbs Avenue, being, Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. In 1937, W. Wainwright Brown was fined £3 with £2.6.6. costs for commencing construction on Hobbs Avenue before laying the plans and specifications before the South Perth Road Board.

Northern side of Hobbs Avenue

No. 6 House was designed for G Millman in 1937/38 at a cost of £600.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as George Spicer.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.

No. 8 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1935/36 at a cost of £725.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Fredrick K. Lyons.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

No. 10 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1935/36 at a cost of £650.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as T.J Morris.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

No. 12 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1937/38 at a cost of £800.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Harry A. Jackson.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.
Garage has since been enclosed into the dwelling.

No. 14 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1935/36 at a cost of £600.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Jonathon A. Smith then Harris.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16.
Garage has since been enclosed into the dwelling.

No. 16, Lot 2 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1936/37 at a cost of £700.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Fredrick V. Smith.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

No. 18, Lot 1 House was designed for W.W Brown in 1936/37 at a cost of £750.
Wises Post Office Directory 1939/40 indicates the resident as Ernest E. Buckhold.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
Contractor W. Wainwright Brown & Co Ltd Cannington was responsible for the development of Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18.

South side of Hobbs Avenue

No. 7 House was designed for S Perica in 1937 at a cost of £700.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Thomas W. Martin.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow with Spanish Mission Revival influences.

No. 9 House was built by Lucas in 1940 at a cost of £600.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
The place has been modified to include a carport in front of the dwelling.

No. 11 House was built before 1938 as present in 1938 Metropolitan Water Works Board Plan.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.

No. 13 House was built for Mr T.A Grainger in 1938 by the Workers Home Board.
Wises Post Office Directory 1938-1940 indicates the resident as Thomas W. Grainger.
Good example of an Inter-War California Bungalow.
The place has been modified to include a rear two-storey addition.

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.