House

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• For its aesthetic value as a good representative example of a cottage of the late nineteenth century, designed to a style and scale 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 s good representative example of the application of materials and detailing of the Victorian Georgian style, in Subiaco during the late nineteenth century.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact streetscape of early twentieth century houses.
• For its association with the rapid development of Subiaco in the late 19th century.

Physical Description

• Single storey brick bungalow.
• Brick construction with rendered and painted façade with painted string courses at sill and mid-window height.
• The windows are timber framed arranged in a distinctive pattern of four small top hung windows in a vertical arrangement flanking two larger panes. The window to the left of the entrance has a slightly different arrangement across its lower panes but is of similar style.
• Hipped roof clad in zincalume with separate skillion verandah canopy extending across the façade, supported on turned timber posts with a lace frieze between the posts.
• Traditional styled entrance door of timber panel with panelled and glazed side lights and fanlight above.
• Paved and lawned front garden enclosed by timber picket fence.

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. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families. Subiaco was a popular and logical location for development and the increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. The area that is now known as the ‘Subiaco Triangle Precinct’ attracted the construction of a range of dwellings, including timber cottages, semi-detached houses, two to three bedroom free-standing brick dwellings and substantial villas.
This portion of Bagot Road was formally approved for residential subdivision in 1891 and an early sewerage plan of the area suggests this cottage was present on the site c1897. Further research is required to confirm the date of construction and builder. The earliest available information indicates it was occupied by labourer, Austin Duffy. Little information has been discovered about the origins of Austin Duffy and his wifeMinnie. The couple lived at this house until 1928 and during that time Austin Duffy designated himself as a road contractor and submitted tenders for works in Subiaco. Between 1906 and 1907, Reverend Patrick Verling, the first parish priest for St Joseph Subiaco was listed at this address. Rev Verling went on to have a distinguished career in the Catholic Church in Western Australia. Interestingly the house was occupied in 1929 by Rev Canon Edward S Clairs, a longstanding member of the Anglican Church in Western Australia. Other occupants of this cottage stayed for only short periods suggesting the place was an investment property.
A plan of the site prepared in the 1927 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the simple cottage had a verandah across the front elevation and none at the rear. A water tank was located close to the back of the house alongside a timber washhouse. A galvanised iron shed and a brick water closet were located on the back property boundary. Aerial photographs of the place since the mid 20th century indicate that the form and extent of the original residence can still be readily determined despite additions in the late 1960s and most recently in late 2016.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity - Moderate: The original external detailing of the building is largely intact apart from the painted brickwork which has reduced the authenticity. Painting can potentially be removed but the process may damage the brickwork. The front windows may also be later insertions.
Integrity - High: The place continues to be occupied as a private residence.

Condition

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