HOUSE, 20 PEARSE STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 20 Pearse Street, is a typical limestone and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area.

Physical Description

House, 20 Pearse Street, is a single storey limestone and iron cottage with an asymmetrical facade designed in a Federation Bungalow style. Walls are limestone with tuck pointed red brick quoins and reveals. Roof is hipped and gabled corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate corrugated iron bull nose roof. Verandah has a timber balustrade. Front elevation is asymmetrical with a protruding section with a single timber sash window with sidelights and a recessed section with similar window and front door with top and side lights. The verandah in front of the recessed section of the cottage. There is a low level rendered brick wall to the front boundary.

History

The majority of Pearse Street was created as part of a circa 1890 subdivision by William Edward Marmion of Fremantle and James Grave, Edward Keane, Edmund Gilyard Lacey and Frederick Charles Monger Perth. The subdivision occurred when North Fremantle was experiencing rapid development and there was a demand for inexpensive housing close to industry and the railway line. Originally called Mason Street after local land developer and jeweller, Frederick Mason, the street was renamed Pearse Street in 1922/23 (only a year after Mason died) in recognition of George Pearse, Fremantle Councillor (1875-1881) and founder of the Pearse shoe and boot factory in Swan Street.

Many the street’s original occupants were working people who had jobs in nearby industries. Homes were modest in scale of brick, stone or weatherboard. Many of the buildings were owned by absentee landlords who leased the cottages to long and short-term tenants. The street has suffered from a poor reputation during its life, at one time known colloquially as ‘Pong Alley’. The short, narrow street has remained a residential street since its formation.

The stone, brick and iron cottage at 20 Pearse Street (formerly 20 Mason Street) was built between 1897 and 1913 for an unidentified owner. The land was originally part of a larger landholding, lots P46 and P41, that were subdivided in 1890.

In 1921, the place was recorded as a four-roomed stone house. From 1921 to 1935 the house was owned and occupied by Annie Hill. The place continued to be owned and occupied by the Hill family until at least 1961.

In 1940, the cottage had a weatherboard addition on the full length of the northern side. A galvanised iron shed joined this addition and a water tank was located close to the rear of the house. A pathway joined the house to the property behind it on Jewell Parade, which had an asbestos garage. An earth closed was located in the northeast corner of the property. The cottage was connected to the mains sewerage system in 1949. In 1979, the front verandah was partially enclosed with a brick wall.
In 2004 the limestone and brick walls were painted and rendered and there was a solid masonry balustrade with masonry columns to the verandah. In 2016 the walls have been restored to limestone with tuck pointed brick quoins. There is a timber balustrade and posts.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored).
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

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