117 Redfern Street

Parent Place or Precinct

26270 Sadlier and Redfern Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Sadlier and Redfern Streets heritage area is of:
Aesthetic Value
• As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely Inter War residences.
• For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1920s and the 1940s.
• For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles.
Historic Value
• As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century.
• For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees.
• For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1920s to the 1930s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in this period.
Representativeness
• As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services.
Physical Form in the Public Realm
• The houses, which (with the exception of three modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1920s to 1940s, have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, within a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

The roofline is hipped and gabled. The main roof sweeps down with a slight break of pitch to form the verandah canopy that extends across the full width of the façade. The projecting section of the façade has a gabled roof. The roof has been reclad with zincalume.

The house is of traditional asymmetric planform to the façade incorporating a slightly projecting bay to the western section. The three section timber framed casement opening to the bay is protected by the verandah canopy which cuts across the gable feature.

The recessed section of the elevation contains a further three section window and the main entrance. The windows are multi-paned casements and the entrance consists of a timber and glass panelled door, with narrow matching side panels.

The verandah is supported on rendered masonry piers with paired timber posts. The deck is painted concrete.

The garden is mainly lawn and is enclosed by timber picket fence.

History

This portion of Redfern Street was subdivided for residential lots in 1891. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1896, lots in the Redfern Estate, Subiaco were advertised in the local press as ‘Good Building Lots, near the railway line’. The subdivision was managed by Alfred Axon, the local branch manager for the NSW company, Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. Axon was also a significant individual investor in Subiaco property.

Despite the early subdivision it was not until the 1910s that the first lots were occupied in this portion of Subiaco. Analysis of Rate Books and PO Directories indicates that this place was likely constructed c.1925.

The Rate Books contain the following listings:
• 1929/30 Elsie Parkhouse – owner & Herbert Wood (signalman) – occupier
• 1935/36 & 1936/37 Elsie Parkhouse – owner/occupier. A note in the Rate Books indicates that this was a War Service Home.

The PO directories list the following occupants:
• 1926 – 1927 Parkhouse
• 1928 – 1932 Wood, Herbert
• 1933/34 – 1935/36 Brooks, Robert
• 1936/37 – 1949 Parkhouse, Mrs Elsie

From the above information it is apparent that Elsie May Parkhouse (c1895-1959) was the first owner and occupant of this residence. Elsie Raitt married Victor Roy Parkhouse in 1924 and it is probable that this was the couple’s first home. Victor Parkhouse (c1891-1928) sadly took his own life in 1928, leaving Elsie to raise two children. At that time the family was living in Keightley Road, Subiaco. Victor had served with the AIF and the accounts of his death stated he was suffering depression resulting from his inability to find work, and heart trouble as a result of his war service.

Elsie appears to have continued leasing the property to tenants before being able to move back into the property in the 1930s. The reference to the property being a War Service Home is consistent with Victor Parkhouse’s service record.
Aerial photographs of the property indicate that in the mid 20th century the place had a simple square plan form, a corrugated iron roof, a garage on the front boundary and several structures in the back yard. This remained the form of the place until the late 1980s when an extension of the house was constructed across the rear elevation. The addition extended the pitch of the roof in two stages. The residence has not been significantly altered in form or extent since that time.

Integrity/Authenticity

The house has been rendered which impacts on the authenticity of its presentation. The original design intent of the place remains discernible

Condition

Good

Uses

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.