HOUSE, 1 ARUNDEL STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 1 Arundel Street, is a typical masonry and iron single storey house dating from 1885. 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 Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

1 Arundel Street is a single storey, rendered masonry and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are rendered masonry. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. The facade has a central front door with fanlight flanked either side by later replacement timber framed casement windows with three sashes. The verandah has a separate hipped corrugated iron roof and is supported by ionic columns. There is a low brick wall to the front boundary.

History

There are two possible reasons for the naming of Arundel St. Edward George Fitzalan Howard, First Baron Howard of Glossop, 2nd son of the 13th Duke of Norfolk, was MP for Arundel in England from 1853-1868. Howard St joins Arundel St, both possibly named for him. The Surveyor Charles Wedge was employed by the Municipality in 1875. His wife was Frances Bethia (Fanny), nee Wrighte, and her father was Arundel Wrighte, a pioneer of Box Hill, Victoria.
House, 1 Arundel Street was formerly 49 Arundel Street; the numbering changing in 1935/36.
1 Arundel Street was built between the years 1885 and 1890 for the owner and occupier James Clarke Howson. Howson was the son of shipbuilder Robert Howson who operated a boatyard and shipbuilding business from the land bound by Arundel, Howard and what is today known as the Esplanade. Robert Howson was a noted shipbuilder who was contracted by merchants J & W Bateman to build luggers for the north west of the colony.
James Clarke Howson was a carpenter and it is assumed that he worked for his father at the boatyard which was located adjacent to the cottage.
The cottage was originally three rooms in size but was added to in 1896 to make it a four room cottage.
James Howson lived at the cottage until 1900. Subsequent occupants were John Dowell (1901 to 1902), John Avis Rattey (1903), Frank Gregg (1904), A Hales (1905), Miss Eliza Finnigan (1906), Albert Tuxford (1907 to 1913), Edward Baker (1914), Horace M Saddler (1915), Albert Bickerdike (1916), Herbert Tyson (1917), Robert C Woods (1918 to 1919) and John Alex MacGregor (1920).
The 1908 sewerage plan of the building shows that at the rear of the building were two weatherboard additions and a small verandah. At the rear of the lot were a galvanised iron shed and a brick earth closet. Its relationship with the original boatyard is clearly demonstrated in this plan which shows the proximity of the boatyard in the adjacent block.
A photograph taken of the place c.1980 shows that the verandah posts had been replaced and the verandah enclosed by a metal balustrade. The low red brick wall had been built on the front boundary.
In July 2005, the place was for sale and a real estate photograph shows the roof cladding in good condition and front façade substantially unaltered apart from the new verandah posts.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining but with some alterations.
(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.