HOUSE, 3 HOWARD STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 3 Howard Street, is a typical limestone, brick and iron double storey house dating from 1888. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of larger houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

3 Howard Street is a double storey, limestone, brick and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with brick quoins. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. The facade has a central front door with side and fanlights flanked either side by timber framed casement window to the ground floor and a central door flanked by double hung sash windows t the upper floor. The double storey verandah has a separate corrugated iron roof and is supported by chamfered timber posts with a simply detailed timber balustrade. There is a limestone and timber picket fence to the front boundary line.

History

This house was formerly numbered 55 Howard Street; renumbering occurred in 1935/36.
This house is part of a duplex that was constructed in 1888 for Captain William Owston who was a master mariner, merchant and owner of several properties in the area. The building was described as an eight roomed residence at this time. The place was occupied by him for a period of years but was later used as a boarding house and the boarding house keeper was Elizabeth Riddle. The property stayed in the Owston family until 1940. It was then transferred to Violet Padreny and a later owner is listed as Myllynen.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows this brick house as a duplex with the building at the west numbered 1 Howard Street. Later evidence shows the house as stone. The duplex has a verandah around three sides of the building and each duplex half had a cellar. The property boundary is defined with stonewalls on all sides except that facing Howard Street. In the back yard of both sides of the duplex are several brick buildings, timber sheds, water tanks and brick closets.
In 1954 an application was received to build a garage on the site. In 1957, an inspection of the place described it as an eight roomed stone house with jarrah floors, the interior walls were plastered and the exterior walls rendered. Outbuildings consisted of a laundry, wc and shed.
In 1964, the front verandah was enclosed to create a new bathroom.
A photograph of the place in 1978 shows this enclosure of glass and brick. The front verandahs have partial enclosures of asbestos cladding over the balustrades.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle")
Prior to 2004 the house was extensively renovated and extended. The external render was removed exposing the stone and brick quoins. The verandah enclosures were removed and new balustrades of timber were installed.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(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.