House, 117 Bagot Rd, Subiaco

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style
117 Bagot Road is typical of many modest but well built 2-3 bedroom suburban houses of the 1920s, in that it displays some restrained elements of the Inter-War California Bungalow style. It was designed to a scale and form generally considered suitable for occupiers such as professional men, office workers, retail employees and skilled tradesmen.
Plan form at the street frontage
• Asymmetrical façade, featuring a projecting wing on the western side, and stepping back in two stages on the eastern side. The first setback was designed to form an entry vestibule.
Roof form and materials
• Hipped-gabled roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting.
• One hip of the main roof extends over the open north-east corner, creating a deep porch.
• Prominent verge gable with a flush panel face and vertical timber battens (crossed by an additional horizontal batten which was previously used to mount electrical cable connections).
• Exposed rafters
• Face-brick chimney with rendered cap.
Wall materials and finishes to the main facade
• Painted brick (originally tuck-pointed brick) to about 2.1m, with a roughcast panel to the upper portion of the wall.
Other detailing to main facade
• Triple casement window to the projecting wing, set under a simple raked window awning. The window is boxed out from the wall over a row of brick ‘brackets’ and features leadlight with a mixture of clear glass and a simple coloured glass floral motif.
• Entrance door located at the first setback, with half-height sidelights and no highlight. Leadlight glazing with a mixture of textured glass and a simple coloured glass flower motif.
• Single square window to the second setback, featuring leadlight with a mixture of textured glass and a simple coloured glass flower motif. Simple raked brick sill.
• Masonry piers at each corner of the verandah, capped by pairs of robust square timber posts.
Streetscape setting
• House set back approximately 3.5m from the Bagot Road frontage.
• Lot width approximately 10.1m.
• Minimal side setbacks.
• Front yard enclosed by a painted brick wall over a rendered plinth.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this area increased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 91 in 1915, 94 in 1920 and 13 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949.
Perth Suburban Lots 243 to 246 were subdivided as Deposited Plan 352 in the early 1890s. This comprised 141 lots of which Lot 2 was developed as 117 Bagot Road. This property was first listed in the Post Office Directories in 1929 and the first known occupant was James Gustav Gage (boilermaker), who remained here until c.1932. Mrs A Gage (James’ wife, Agnes Emma Gage) was identified as the owner in the Rate Books of 1929-1930 and was still the owner in 1935-1936 (by which time the family were living at 22 Townshend Road).
From c.1934, 117 Bagot Road became the long-term home of the Fennell family. Eric Leslie Fennell (salesman) (c.1898-1966) and Florence Ellen Maney (c.1899-1970) were married in Perth in c.1930 and had at least one child, Guy. Brief newspaper articles indicate that Eric was working for the International Harvester Co. in the late 1930s, and for West End Motors in the mid-late 1940s. Eric and Florence both remained at 117 Bagot Road until (or near) the end of their lives.
An analysis of historical aerial photographs suggests that major additions were constructed at the rear of the house in the 1970s. A red roof (possibly an original tiled roof) was replaced with new corrugated metal sheeting in the mid-late 1980s. The footprint of the front portion of the house has remained relatively unchanged.

Integrity/Authenticity

The authenticity of the house within its streetscape setting has been reduced by the painting of the original tuck-pointed brickwork. Other than this, the external detailing appears to be largely intact and/or sympathetically restored/renovated.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the buildings appear 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.