HOUSE, 6 STAPLES STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 6 Staples Street is a typical timber framed and weatherboard clad with iron roof single storey cottage dating from the 1904 - 1921. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 6 Staples Street is a single storey timber and iron cottage with asymmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are painted weatherboards. Roof is gabled corrugated iron with no eaves. The verandah is under a continuous corrugated iron roof supported by timber posts. Front elevation is asymmetrical with a projecting room and a pair of timber french doors. There is a brick chimney to the side of the building and a timber picket fence to the front boundary line. This building has undergone alterations and rear additions.

History

Bounded in the west by Stirling Highway and in the east by Rule Street, Staples Street is divided by Thompson Road. The area forms part of an original land grant to the Pensioner Guards (lots P57 and P66). On 31 May 1895, Lot P66 was subdivided, while Lot P57 was not subdivided until 26 February 1897.

The street was listed as Davis Street in the Post Office directories between 1898 and c. 1915, and then as Davies Road until 1962. The street name was officially changed in June 1962 in honour of Ronald John Staples who served on the North Fremantle (1940-61) and Fremantle (1961-73) councils. Staples was born in Harvest Road, North Fremantle, in 1910; attended North Fremantle Primary School and Fremantle Boy’s School and worked in clerical occupations.

Staples Street was developed between 1904 and 1920, although some lots remained vacant until the 1940s. The street was predominantly working class, with many male occupants employed on the nearby waterfront, the railways or in the construction industry as sawyers or bricklayers. Buildings in the street are characterised by small, modest cottages on small lots, with building materials ranging from weatherboard and asbestos or fibro cement to brick.

House, 6 Staples Street was built at some time between 1904 and 1921/22, when it was recorded as being a four roomed weatherboard house, owned by Peter Carroll and occupied by Jane Carter. Carroll continued to own the house until at least the mid-1930s. It was used as a rental property throughout this time.

A 1939 diagram shows House, 6 Staples Street as a small weatherboard house, with a full length front verandah and a small laundry addition at the rear.

By 1955, the house was owned by Arthur Kiesey. It changed hands twice between 1955 and 1961, first to a person by the name of Cope, and then to a Mr Hansen. It was occupied by William E Anderson for much of this period. The property changed hands again in the early 1960s, when it was bought by Waldamar and Denise Jochim. It continued to be a rental property. The place has had a number of owners since the early 1970s.

Works to the property have included the addition of a bedroom to the side (1982) and a single storey timber frame addition to the rear comprising toilet, laundry, bathroom, walk in robe and bedroom (1994). Many of the outbuildings (some of which were built after 1939) were demolished at this time.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials).
Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as fair (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.