105 Redfern Street

Parent Place or Precinct

26270 Sadlier and Redfern Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Sadlier and Redfern Streets 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 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 1920s 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 1920s to the 1930s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in this period.

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 three modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1920s to 1940s, 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, within a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron residence that has been significantly altered. Aerial views of the property appear to indicate that a wide gable that was the full width of the house was the original roof form. This was altered in May 2010 to incorporate the current roof form of gable and hip. The roof has been clad in zincalume.

The façade is of asymmetric plan form with the main entrance in the recessed side section. This side addition was constructed during the 2008-2010 works.

The street facing elevation contains two windows, arranged in banks of three timber framed casements with non-original prominent bullnose canopies above.

The garden is enclosed with timber picket fence.

History

This portion of Redfern Street was subdivided for residential lots in 1891. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1896, lots in the Redfern Estate, Subiaco were advertised in the local press as ‘Good Building Lots, near the railway line’. The subdivision was managed by Alfred Axon, the local branch manager for the NSW company, Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. Axon was also a significant individual investor in Subiaco property.

Despite the early subdivision it was not until the 1910s that the first lots were occupied in this portion of Subiaco. Analysis of Rate Books and PO Directories indicates that this place was likely constructed c.1925.

The Rate Books contain the following listings:
• 1929/30,1935/36 & 1936/37 Alfred Powell (French polisher) – owner/occupier
The PO directories list the following occupants:
• 1926 – 1949 Powell, Alfred

The above information demonstrates a close association between this place and the Powell family. Alfred Powell, (c1893-1979) had lived with his parents and siblings in Rose Street Subiaco until marrying May Sarah Dunwoodie (c1895-1972) in 1917. The couple lived at this house for the majority of their married lives, from 1925 until the 1970s. Alfred recorded his occupation as a French Polisher for all of that period.Aerial photographs indicate that in 2006 the rear of the lot was cleared and major additions were undertaken throughout 2008 and 2010. The roof form to the original part of the house was altered at this time and a complex hipped roof added to the entire house. Since that time the place has not changed significantly in form or extent.

Integrity/Authenticity

The façade has been painted which impacts on the presentation of the place, the roofline has been altered and the canopies to the windows and verandah are non-original.

Condition

Good

Uses

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.