House, 106 Bagot Rd, Subiaco

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style
Typical of many modest but well built 2-3 bedroom suburban houses of the early twentieth century, 106 Bagot Road incorporated some restrained elements of the Federation Queen Anne style. It was designed to a scale and form generally considered suitable for occupiers such as office workers, retail employees and both skilled and unskilled tradesmen.
Plan form at the street frontage
• Symmetrical facade. This features a central entrance door, flanked by shallow, rectangular window bays to each of the front rooms.
• Parapet wall along western boundary.
Roof form and materials
• Hipped roof with a small gable over each of the window bays.
• Corrugated metal roof sheeting.
• Roughcast render finish to the face of the gables.
• Painted brick chimneys with smooth rendered detailing.
Wall materials and finishes to the main facade
• Painted brick walls (originally tuck-pointed face brick).
• Rendered stringcourse at approximately 2m above floor level.
Other detailing to main facade
• Centrally located 5-panel entrance door with traditional moulded architraves, highlight, sidelights and stained glass panels.
• Single full height, double-hung window with kick plate to each of the window bays.
• Recessed arch to the parapet wall at the eastern end of the verandah.
Streetscape setting
• House set back approximately 2m from the Bagot Road frontage.
• Lot width approximately 10.1m.
• Zero setback on the western side of the house, narrow walkway along the eastern side.
• Front yard enclosed by a timber picket fence.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this area increased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 91 in 1915, 94 in 1920and 13 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949.
Perth Suburban Lot 220 was subdivided as Deposited Plan 1552 in 1896 and advertised as the “Parkerville Estate”. This comprised 38 lots with frontages along the eastern side of Townshend Road (between Barker and Bagot Roads), part of the southern side of Barker Road, part of Salisbury Avenue (renamed as part of Park Street in 1901) and part of the northern side of Bagot Road. Lot 35 was subsequently developed as 106 Bagot Road.
Entries in the Subiaco Rate Books show that a house had been built on this site by 1903, when ‘D Palmer’ (David Pringle Palmer, upholsterer) was the owner/occupier. The Post Office Directories did not include street numbers for Bagot Road until 1906, however, based on an analysis of the sequence of entries, #106 appears to have been occupied by Joseph William Fairbanks (carpenter) in c.1904-1907 (owner not determined).
The 5-room brick villa was offered for sale in late 1906-early 1907. By 1907-1908 it had been purchased by E Southee, who was still identified as the owner in the Rate Books of 1929-1930. It seems likely that this was Emma Marry Southee, the wife of Hubert (aka Herbert) Guy Southee, a pharmacist who operated chemist shops in Subiaco in c.1907-1922 and again in the early 1950s. Southee rented the property to David Thompson Smith (Manufacturers Agent) in c.1909-1923, before living here for a time in c.1924-1928.
By 1932, 106 Bagot Road had been occupied by Mrs Jane Moss (widow). After Jane died in March 1933, the house continued to be occupied by her daughter, Vera Isobel Moss (c.1894-1976). Vera was a dressmaker, who, in March 1932, advertised that she had returned from the eastern states and would see old and new clients at 106 Bagot Road. In the Electoral Rolls of 1943, Vera was listed here together with her brother, Arthur Moss (auto engineer). In 1949, she was listed here with another brother, John Baden Powell Moss (farm hand).
In 1953 the house was offered for sale for £2,500.
An analysis of a historical Metropolitan Sewerage Plan (as revised in 1927 and 1955), and historical aerial photographs, shows that the form of the house has remained relatively unchanged since at least the mid-twentieth century.

Integrity/Authenticity

The authenticity of the house within its streetscape setting has been reduced by the painting of the original face brickwork. Other than this, the external detailing appears to be largely intact and/or sympathetically restored/renovated.

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.