House

Parent Place or Precinct

26001 Chesters Subdivision Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• As a good representative example of the many 4-5 room brick homes which were built in Subiaco during the early twentieth century to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, senior office workers, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means.
• As a good representative example of the application of materials and detailing which were derived from the Federation Queen Anne style, but which were applied in a more restrained manner that suited the budgets and expectations of the middle classes in Subiaco during the early twentieth century.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses.
• For its association with the rapid development of Subiaco in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

• Single storey Federation Queen Anne house with traditional asymmetric plan form.
• Brick construction with tuckpoint finish with rendered band at sill level.
• Hipped roof with gable to projecting wing. Roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting. Gabled detail is not original but in keeping consisting of smooth plaster finish with timber battens and finial.
• Three timber framed casements to the projecting wing with awning above supported on timber brackets with a corrugated metal raked awning.
• Full height sash window to the recessed section of the façade located to the north of the main entrance.
• The main entrance abuts the projecting wing and consists of traditional timber and glazed door with flanking side panels/lights and fanlight.
• Bullnose verandah canopy across the recessed section of the elevation supported on turned timber posts with simple timber frieze.
• Garden is enclosed by stone boundary wall with tall piers and metal fencing panels.

History

The following extract has been taken from the Heritage Assessment of Chester's Subdivision Heritage Area, Greenward Consulting, August 2013.
James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, purchased Perth Suburban Lots 249 to 252 in October 1891. In the same month he commenced selling residential lots in a newly subdivided estate laid out as Deposited Plan 366 (extending across Perth Suburban Lots 251 and 252).
No development took place on Lot 91 until c.1912, when Lots 91 and 92 were developed with what were either identical or very similar houses – suggesting that they may have been constructed by the same builder as a speculative development.
The new house on Lot 91 was entered in the Rates Book under the name of Charles Servante (Civil Servant and later Chief Clerk of the Charities Department). This was Charles Victor Padley Servante (generally known as Victor), who lived with his wife, Mabel, in Robinson Street, Subiaco, until his death during the 1918 influenza pandemic.
60 Salisbury Street was used as a rental property for several years, but was later occupied by Victor’s widow, Mabel Servante, in 1925-27 and again from 1931 until the 1970s which suggests that the property was owned by the Servantes.
Occupants of the property from its time of construction until 1971 included:
• 1915 William Tapson Cotton (Civil Servant)
• 1916-21 James Henry (Civil Servant)
• 1922-23 John Bond Coatham (Insurance Superintendent)
• 1924 John Donovan
• 1925-27 Harriett ‘Mabel’ Servante (Widow)
• 1928 Fred Glasson
• 1929-30 Harold Epstein
• 1931-post 1971 Harriett ‘Mabel’ Servante (Widow)
A plan of the site prepared in 1927 and revised in 1955 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the place has not been significantly altered since that time. Aerial photographs confirm that the additions were undertaken largely in the 1980s and the red corrugated iron roof cladding was replaced at that time. The form and extent of the original building can still be readily determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be used as a private residence.
Authenticity - Medium to High as the main facade has been reduced by the painting of the
original brickwork.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

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.