House

Parent Place or Precinct

26001 Chesters Subdivision Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• As a good representative example of a well designed and detailed “gentleman’s villa” of Subiaco dating from the early 20th century.
• For its aesthetic value as a good representative example of a well-designed Federation Queen Anne villa of the early 20th century, designed to a style and scale suited to the professional/business classes.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses.
• For its association with the ongoing development of Subiaco in the early 20th century period.
• For its association with the local builder and developer Francis (Frank) Robbins.

Physical Description

• Federation Queen Anne style house of single storey construction with asymmetric plan form to the façade.
• Brick construction with tuckpoint finish which has been painted over. Two rendered stringcourse band enliven the façade.
• Shallow bay with two timber framed sash windows with decorative sill apron. There is a projecting gable above this window with roughcast render and timber detailing and supported on decorative moulded brackets.
• The bullnose verandah extends across the full extent of the façade and returns along the side elevations. The canopy is supported on turned timber posts and has a curved valance.

History

James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, purchased Perth Suburban Lots 249 to
252 in October 1891. In the following year he commenced selling residential lots in a
newly subdivided estate laid out as Deposited Plan 504 (extending across Perth
Suburban Lots 249 and 250).
21 Chester Street remained undeveloped until 1912 when it was transferred to Agnes
Alexandra Robbins, wife of a local building contractor, Francis (Frank) Robbins. The
house was then constructed and used as the Robbins’ family home until 1923, after
which they moved to Thomas Street, Nedlands.
In December 1923, 21 Chester Street was offered for sale as a “Superior Subiaco Brick
Residence” under the name “Mt Erica”.
For the next twenty years it was occupied by a divorcee, Mrs Mary Powell. At the
time of her divorce, in May 1923, it was reported that Mrs Powell had been abandoned by her husband in 1916 and had maintained herself and her children by
keeping lady boarders and school children. It seems likely that she continued to
operate a boarding house when she moved to 21 Chester Street and was certainly
letting a self-contained flat in the 1930s:
FURNISHED Flat, bedroom, enclosed sleep-out, sitting room,
kitchenette, garage. Phone 5514. 19 Chester-st, Subiaco (1932).
and
Large Well Furn. B.S. Room, kitchenette, sleepout, refined home,
near King’s Park, 21 Chester-st, Subiaco. (1939)
At some stage in the mid-1940s Mrs Powell moved to Union Street, Subiaco, with her
youngest daughter, Poppy, and the house was then occupied by Mrs Powell’s older
daughter, Kathleen Florence Graham.
A plan of the site prepared in 1927 and reviewed in 1954 for the purpose of planning
sewerage and water supply services shows that the property has not changed
significantly in extent although the rear verandah and galvanised iron additions have
been replaced.
Aerial photographs of the place since the mid 20th century indicate that the rear
additions were undertaken in the1970s. The extent and form of the original residence
are still clearly evident.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: the place remains in its original function as a residential dwelling.
Authenticity - High: The original external form and detailing of the original building is largely intact.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in fair to good condition.

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.