House

Statement of Significance

The place was of aesthetic significance as an example of a residential building dating from period around the turn of the century. The increasing affluence of the community following the gold boom is reflected in the increased use of decoration.
The place was of aesthetic significance as an integral component of a group of residential buildings representing the pattern of settlement in Perth from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries.
The place was of historic significance because it reflects the way of life of the working people of Perth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
The place is of historic significance because it reflects the changing pattern of residential occupation in the area and in particular the influence of migrants from a number of different ethnic backgrounds.
The place was a representative example of a residential property in Perth dating from the late nineteenth century.

Physical Description

Single storey residential building with steeply pitched roof with front gable. Roof extends over verandah which has been altered. Decorative age board to gable. rendered chimneys with corbelling. Building has been demolished.

History

In the early years of the Swan River colony the area to the north of Perth (now known as Northbridge) was low lying and swampy and was therefore settled more slowly than the better land closer to the river. It was also further from the river port and the main means of transport. Northbridge is an inner suburban area, named because it is just north of Perth across the railway bridge. It was approved as a suburb name in 1982. In 1854 some of the swampy land to the north of Perth was drained producing some fertile land for farming and later subdivision. The land was subdivided into allotments circa 1860. land in the area was taken up by discharged soldiers, artisans and small landholders. The area at this period was characterised by small cottages and businesses. In 1881, the railway from Fremantle to Guildford was opened and became the main transport route. From that period commerce and trade tended to focus more fashionable with smaller commercial enterprises and manufacturing to the north. It was less fashionable to live north of the railway line, however the area was close to the city and during the 1890's and early 1900's was substantially redeveloped with further subdivision of lots and mixed residential and commercial development. A number of trade and community organisations had their origins in the area at this time. Over the years the population of the area changed as people relocated to suburban areas of the city. As a result, Northbridge became the home for successive migrant communities. for example, communities including Greek, Italian, Chinese and more recently Vietnamese migrants have settled here as property remained relatively cheap and had the advantage of being close to the city. These communities have over the years given this area a distinctive character, generally recycling the existing buildings rather than redeveloping the area. The homes built in Perth the 1890's and early 1900's were generally larger and more elaborately detailed than the earlier simple cottages there replaced. Although influenced in their design by homes of Victoria in particular, due to the influx of migrants from the eastern states , houses in Perth tended to be constructed as single detached, or sometimes pairs of attached, houses, rather than the extensive rows of terrace houses found in eastern Australia. Houses were generally single storey brick with corrugated iron roofs. Some more prestigious homes had slate or tiled roofs. Stucco decoration was popular as was wrought iron lace and timber fretwork.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Creation Date

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Last Update

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