115 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 house is of brick construction, originally finished with tuckpointing but has subsequently been painted. The rendered band extending around the bay at sill height remains a feature. The bay contains a three section window with timber framed casements and top light windows, with rendered sill.

The main entrance is situated to the western edge of the house within the recessed section of the façade. A further timber and glass panelled door is situated in the eastern section of the façade.

The roof is hipped to the main section of the house and gabled to the central projecting wing. The skillion verandah extends around the projecting section supported on turned timber posts. The deck is timber.

A chimney remains extant on the western plane of the roof.

The garden is enclosed by timber picket fence and timber gates providing vehicular access to the front setback.

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.1915.

The Rate Books contain the following listings:
• 1916/17 William Hepburn – owner/occupier
• 1917/18 William Hepburn – owner & S Singleton (salesman) – occupier
• 1918/19 William Hepburn – owner & John Singleton (civil servant) – occupier
• 1929/30 Helen Miller (home duties) – owner/occupier
• 1935/36 & 1936/37 Edward Peters (railway employee) – owner/occupier

The PO directories list the following occupants:
• 1920 – 1925 Singleton, Jno
• 1926 – 1935/36 Miller, Mrs H L
• 1936/37 – 1939/40 Peters, Edwin
• 1940/41 – 1949 Peters, Mrs Annie

The above information indicates that William Hepburn was the first owner and occupier of the property. The Electoral Roles indicate that grocer, William Hepburn was living in Lawler Street in 1914 but by 1916, William and his wife Louisa May, were living in Redfern Street and William recorded his occupation as a salesman.

The conclusion of the date of construction of the residence as 1915 is supported by the announcement in the Western Mail of the birth of a son for Mr and Mrs Hepburn of Redfern Street, Subiaco.
Aerial photographs indicate that the residence was originally a simple square plan form and a small structure adjacent to the rear of the house. In c1980, a skillion roofed addition was erected across the rear elevation. Since that time the form and extent of the residence have not changed significantly. It is probable that the roof cladding was always metal although may have been darker than its current shade.

Integrity/Authenticity

The finishes to the façade have been altered impacting on the authenticity of the presentation of the house.

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.