DUPLEX, 21 GREY STREET

Statement of Significance

Duplex 21 & 23 Grey Street, is a typical rendered masonry and iron single storey duplex pair dating from the 1902/03. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture.

Physical Description

21 & 23 Grey Street are a single storey rendered masonry and iron duplex pair with an overall symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture. No. 21 is set closer to the front boundary line than no 23. The walls are rendered masonry. Each roof is gabled with the gable facing the street, with a dividing parapet wall and clad with corrugated iron. The front verandah to no.21 is a separate corrugated iron roof supported by round steel posts whilst no. 23 is under a flat roof supported by pairs of round steel posts. There is a low level rendered masonry wall to the front boundary line of no.21 and a low level brick wall to no. 23.

History

This duplex was formerly numbered 23 Grey Street, the numbering changed in 1935/36.
This dwelling is one of a group of five dwellings 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 Grey Street that were built in 1902/03 for the owner Mrs E. H. Fothergill. Mrs Fothergill was the wife of Captain Edward Fothergill, a master mariner who maintained a regular trading run between Fremantle and Melbourne and was at one time the licensed victualler of the Cleopatra Hotel.
This property is half of the duplex at 21/23 Grey Street. The properties were leased to a variety of tenants. The first recorded tenant of this house was Louisa Franks. Later owners were; George York Hubble and Matthew Lewis Moss; William Birmingham and Matthew Lewis Moss; William Birmingham and Edward Henry Fothergill; and in 1945 Edith Margaret Tindale was the last owner who owned all the five properties.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows that these five dwellings were identical to each other. The duplexes at 17/19 and 21/23 were mirror images of each other; 15 Grey Street is the only freestanding cottage. The buildings are brick and each had a verandah at the front and rear. Timber additions at the rear included the bathroom and water tanks were located adjacent to the bathroom. In the back yard of each property were a galvanised iron shed and a timber closet.
A photograph of the place in 1978 shows that the original verandah roof was in place and the house was in good condition. The verandah supports were not original and a low brick wall on the front boundary is also a later addition.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Brown: "Positively contributing to the built environment")
Information from 1982 indicates that little had been done to the house since its original construction.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining but with some alterations.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.