House

Parent Place or Precinct

26335 Hamersley Road Group Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
• For its aesthetic value as a representative example of a well designed Federation era weatherboard cottage.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact streetscape of early twentieth century houses.
• For its historic value as a demonstration of the period in which Subiaco underwent rapid development in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

294 Hamersley Road is a single storey timber weatherboard cottage with a corrugated steel hip and gable roof displaying characteristics of the Federation Bungalow style of architecture. The residence has an asymmetrical form with a projecting bay addressing the street. The pitched roof has two ridge gablets and a painted brick chimney with brick corbelling set to the rear of the dwelling. The projecting bay has a roughcast rendered finish and features a scrolled leaf and shield detail in moulded plaster. A corrugated steel bullnose verandah extends along the recessed portion of the front facade. The verandah is supported by square timber posts with a decorative timber valance. A timber framed entry door is painted orange and features a highlight and sidelight. A double hung timber framed window is located within the verandah while three casement windows are located within the projecting bay with a timber framed awning above. The cottage is set close to the front boundary with a narrow front garden. The place is enclosed to the front by a face brick pier fence with steel infill and a central steel gate. The place is serviced by a rear laneway.

History

The following extract has been taken from the heritage assessment of 294 Hamersley Road, Subiaco, prepared by Greenward Consulting, October 2018.
A plan dated c.1902 shows 4 buildings in the general vicinity of numbers 286, 290, 294 & 296 Hamersley Road. Street numbers were first included for Hamersley Road in the 1908 WA Post Office Directory, which identified residents at numbers 286, 290, 292, 294 & 296. Three more houses were constructed along this part of the street in the mid-1920s (Numbers 283, 287 and 300); a double-fronted shop was built in c.1934 (Number 298/298a); while the last of the pre-WWII development took place in c.1940 (Number 282).

In 1903, the Subiaco Rate Books listed a house on Lot 39, which was owned and occupied by F. Hubber. Frederick Charles Hubber (c.1870-?) and Florence Sibthorpe Langlois (c.1873-1957) were married in Perth in September 1899, and they had at least 6 children in the period c.1900-1908: Frederick Lee (born c.1900); Ronald Claude (c.1902); Clarence Langlois (c.1903); Gladys Florence (c.1905); Beatrice Rose (c.1907) and John Herbert (c.1908). Members of this family were living in Alvan Street, Subiaco, in c.1902 and at 294 Hamersley Road in c.1903-1910.
Walter Gilbert Kensitt (c.1882-1970) and Mary Elizabeth (“Mollie”) Cullen (c.1888-1917) were married in Subiaco in April 1910 and they were living at 294 Hamersley Road when they announced the birth of a son in December of that year. In the Rates Books of 1910/11 Walter was identified as the owner of the property, which was located next door to the home of Mary’s parents, John and Clara Cullen (296 Hamersley Road). The Kensitt family remained here until c.1917, but had moved to 262 Hamersley Road by the time of Mary’s death in September of that year (as a result of complications following the birth of their 3rd son).

The property was then purchased by the Warman family, who established it as their long-term home. William Henry Warman (c.1876-1949) and Charlotte Millen (c.1873-1954) were married in Leonora in c.1903 and this couple had at least 3 children: Wallis Charles (born c.1904, died in infancy); Cyril Ernest (c.1906) and Nellie Gwendoline (c.1909). At some stage following William’s death in July 1949, Cyril Ernest Warman (c.1906-1985) and his wife, Winifred Mary Warman (nee Birch) (c.1905-1991), moved in with Charlotte and 294 Hamersley Road was still listed as their address in the Electoral Rolls of 1980.

Historical aerial photographs indicate that the house has been extended to the rear, but that footprint and roof form of the front part of the house have remained largely unchanged since at least the 1960s.
The primary occupants of the property from its time of construction until at least 1980 included:
• c.1903-1910: Frederick Charles Hubber (driver) and Florence Sibthorpe Hubber (domestic duties) By 1913, Frederick was working as a labourer in Hopetoun while Florence was living in Railway Road, West Subiaco.
• c.1910-1917: Walter Gilbert Kensitt (carpenter) and Mary Elizabeth Kensitt (home duties)
• c.1918-1949: William Henry Warman (labourer) and Charlotte Warman (home duties)
• c.1949-1954: Charlotte Warman (widow)
• c.1954 until at least 1980: Cyril Ernest Warman (carpenter) and Winifred Mary Warman (home duties).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High
Authenticity - High

Condition

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