Local Government
Perth
Region
Metropolitan
Location
17 Ord St West Perth
Location Details
Other Name(s)
Office
Construction Date
Constructed from 1908 to 1912
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 28 Aug 2009 |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 | YES | 31 Dec 1999 |
|
Heritage Council | |
| Municipal Inventory | Completed\Draft | 13 Mar 2001 |
|
||
| Local Heritage Survey | Completed\Draft | Category 3 |
Category 3 |
||
| Local Heritage Survey | Adopted | 28 Mar 2023 | Category 3 |
Category 3 |
|
Statement of Significance
The place has historic significance as a grand, two storey residence built in 1899 for Hugh Plaistowe, and reflects the way of life of a wealthier class of people who lived in this location in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
The place represents the change and evolution of residential living in West Perth, where many individual houses dating from the Federation gold boom era were replaced or converted into flats or apartments in the Inter-War period.
It is as a representative example of a residential property in West Perth that has undergone a change of use to commercial/professional offices with the changing character and growth of the City.
Physical Description
Two storey building, originally residential. Complex corrugated iron roof with tall decorative chimneys. Singled gable to street facade with timber screen and finial. Verandahs under separate roofs to either side with timber posts, balustrades and decorative brackets to the ground floors verandah. Arched brick lintels to sash windows with multi-panes to top of windows.
History
West Perth developed as suburban residential area in the late 1890s. From its inception it had the characteristics of a quality neighbourhood. Proximity to the city centre and Kings Park (then known as Perth Park), and the elevated location provided healthy site drainage as well as cooling breezes and views over the city and hills. The area had social status already associated with addresses in nearby Mount Street and access to the city's piped water system. The area was subdivided into large residential lots for development and proceed accordingly. The homes built in West Perth from the early 1900s included prestigious mansions built in prominent locations and smaller working class cottages in the narrower back streets and towards the northern end of the area adjacent to the railway.
Post Office directories show that the house was first listed in 1899 and was allocated street No. 19 in 1903 which changed to No. 17 in 1908. The house was first occupied by Hugh Plaistowe (Silver Plan Confectionary Co), and commensurate with this wealth, it is a very grand house. Hugh Plaistowe was born in London where he worked in his father’s confectionery business. In 1890 the Silverpan Confectionary Co. was established in Marquis Street, West Perth (this street is no longer extant). Plaistowe joined the company in 1895. In 1904 the name was changed to Plaistowe and Co, as a partnership between Plaistowe and Mr J. Hobbs. The company went on the great success in new premises from 1915 which are still extant in Havelock, Railway and Sutherland Streets, West Perth.
By 1920, the house was being run as a boarding house by Mrs L. McGrath. This was common of larger houses in this area, in which proprietors would take advantage of the size and location, and as a response to the demand for housing after World War I. In 1949, when post office directories ceased publication, the occupant was Mrs H. Stovold.
Aerial photos show that by 1965 there is an infill at the back of the house (both stories) which effectively makes the footprint of the building a large rectangle that takes up much of the lot.
The house would have had timber verandahs to both floors. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1994 when it was used for the Young Women's Christian Association of Perth Inc and YWCA of Western Australia shows that there was as separate skillion roof verandah at upper floor level, that had been brick infilled and had timber sash windows and a large, fixed horizontal panes at upper level, and at ground level the east side was the same, and the west wide had a pair of glazed doors. The ground floor windows had a shallow flat concrete awning over, that looked to date from the c. 1950s. The roof has the smaller gable over the original projecting bay, and a larger hip and gable behind. The chimneys were face brick with rendered bands and corbels.
This differs from the 1956 Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan which shows that the house originally had a projecting bay to the east side, and a full length verandah to the street. The plan shows the projecting chimney on the west side (extant) and that the house was considerable in depth, had a cellar, and a large L-shaped verandah at the rear as well as another brick section (likely to be two storeys, as there was an external staircase). A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1994 shows the façade has been altered to have a large timber filled gable, four arched windows on each floor, and small side double storey verandahs. The angle of the projecting bay is evident on the east side of the building, and it seems that the new façade has been designed to give the building an ‘Academic Classical’ style. It was most likely a Federation Queen Anne style house when built. The four tall chimneys are extant.
A real estate advertisement in 2015 for leasing some office space shows that this part has very little original features internally, but it is not certain which part of the building this now is. At 2022 the building is ‘Linq House’ and used for commercial/professional offices.
Integrity/Authenticity
Integrity - Low level of integrity.
Authenticity - Has been restored to original detail.
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Photographs | Landgate | ||
| Visual Assessment | |||
| Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory | City of Perth | 1999 | |
| Post Office Directories | State Library of Western Australia | ||
| Cons 4156/6 | Metropolitan Water Supply Survey Plans | State Records Office of Western Australia | |
| BA1530/5762 | Photo | State Library of Western Australia | |
| 316134PD | Photo | State Library of Western Australia | |
| For lease ad (2015): https://www.realcommercial.com.au/leased/property-17-ord-street-west-perth-wa-6005-501298115 |