House, 44 Angelo St, South Perth

Statement of Significance

• The place has a high degree of aesthetic value as a demonstration of a dwelling in the Inter-War Old English architectural style.
• The place has historic value for its association with the expansion of the South Perth area, in particular the period of growth in the inter-war years.
• The place is a representation of life in the post-depression years, where predominantly wealthy Anglo-Saxon homeowners, sought to display their respectability.
• The place is associated with prominent Western Australian Architects Hobbs, Forbes and Partners, established in 1905 by Joseph Talbot Hobbs, EH Dean-Smith and WJ Waldie Forbes.
• The place is associated with Major Hugh Annan Corbet the third Deputy Master of The Perth Mint, and a Major and a Military Censor for the Australia Army Intelligence Corp during World War I.

Physical Description

The following information is largely drawn from the assessment documentation prepared for the inclusion of the place in the State Register of Heritage Places in 2023.

The subject residence is located at the north-west corner of Angelo Street and Forrest Street, South Perth. The residence historically occupied 2 lots, with the house on Lot 44 and the garden on Lot 42.

The house is a large free standing two storey brick and tile residential home constructed in 1934 on sandstone footings in the Inter-War Old English architectural style. The house is of picturesque asymmetric massing, with imitation half-timbered gables and upper storey, a steeply pitched tiled hip roof, imitation lime wash brick walls and tall chimneys. Diamond patterned leadlight casement windows frame the four-centred arch entryway that orientates towards Forrest Street.

History

The following information is largely drawn from the assessment documentation prepared for the inclusion of the place in the State Register of Heritage Places in 2023.

Angelo Street was named around 1877 after Edward Fox Angelo (1836-1902), RM, Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of the Military Forces in the colony.

In 1934 Major Hugh Annan Corbet, the third Deputy Master of The Perth Mint, purchased a parcel land encompassing 42 and 44 Angelo Street on 28th August 1934 with initial plans to build a house on the 44 Angelo Street lot as a retirement home and use the lot at 42 Angelo Street as a backyard.

Corbet commissioned architectural firm Hobbs, Forbes and Partners to design the large two storey brick and tile home to accommodate his family. On 20 October 1934 a tender of £1,739 proposed by Mr A Woodhouse for the erection of a bungalow for Major HA Corbet in South Perth was accepted with the commissioning architects being Hobbs, Forbes & Partners.

There is evidence to suggest Sir Joseph Talbot Hobbs and Major Hugh Annan Corbet were friends and members of the same social circle. This includes the following:
• In October 1929 JJ Talbot Hobbs and Hugh Annan Corbet attended a garden party hosted the Lord Mayor on behalf of the City of Perth to commemorate the Centenary of the State and the City.
• On the 20 April 1934, both men were appointed Commissioners of the Peace by Sargent James Mitchell Lieutenant- Governor at the same ceremony.
• Both men were joint vice-presidents of the WA branch of the Overseas League, and in 1936 JJ Talbot Hobbs was President of Perth Legacy Club and Corbet was his Vice-President.

Hugh Annan Corbet
Hugh Annan Corbet was the original chairman of Melville Roads Board from 1901 to 1904 after it was renamed Melville Road District in 1901.25 During World War I he served as a Major and Military Censor for the Australian Intelligence Corps. From 1928 - 1936, Hugh Annan Corbet served as the Deputy Master at The Perth Mint. During this time, gold production was at an all-time low, and gold prices were increasing. As the Deputy Master (the equivalent of the CEO today), H A Corbet realised The Mint could help the thousands of prospectors who, because of the Depression, were driven by unemployment to try their luck. He published ‘Hints to Prospectors
and Owners of Treatment Plants’ in 1933. This was popular all over Australia and grew in size and scope through its ten editions. Hugh Annan Corbet was married to Margaret Sophia and together they had 4 children, Effie, Eva, Frances and John. Both Mrs Corbet and Major Corbet died in April 1949 and the house has changed hands multiple times following their passing.

O’Hara Family
From 1974 – 2022 House, 44 Angelo Street, South Perth was owned and occupied by the O’Hara family. During this time, minimal changes were made to the house with a kitchen renovation and addition of a sunroom taking place in the 1970’s and a further bathroom renovation and ensuite addition taking place in the 1980’s. Many of the original internal features remain intact and the exterior is largely unchanged.

John Talbot Hobbs
The subject residence is closely associated with prominent architectural firm Hobbs, Forbes & Partners. John Talbot Hobbs, was a prominent Western Australian architect who designed many well-known and significant residential, commercial and public buildings in Western Australia, also designed many fine houses in Perth and its suburbs.

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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.