HOUSE, 4 JOHN STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 1/4 John Street, is a single storey limestone and zincalume house 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 Fremantle. It is historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is a modified example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

Note: This house's address is 1/4 John Street - only the front house on the lot is included on the Heritage List and the MHI.

House, 1/4 John Street is a single storey, rendered limestone and replacement zincalume house. It was likely built in the Victorian Georgian style (documentary evidence supports 1892 as the date of construction), as the front elevation suggests, with the verandah under a separate roof, although a replacement roof has added a gable and a side carport under the main roof, making the house appear more like a Federation Bungalow. The walls are rendered. The roof is hipped and gabled and clad with zincalume. The verandah has a separate roof supported by timber posts with decorative timber brackets. There is a high rendered and timber picket fence and vegetation to the front boundary line.

History

John Street was the main road surveyed through the parcel of land granted to Lt. Con. John Bruce in 1857. The land remained undivided and undeveloped until after John Bruce’s death, when his widow arranged for it to be auctioned as residential lots. A land sale was held in October 1890 to dispose of the estate of John Bruce. A large attendance resulted in all 88 lots being sold, for sums ranging from £21 to £102, at an average price of £33/16/0, well above the anticipated price. Towards the end of 1891, the new owners approached the Fremantle Council requesting that scrub be cleared so that they could access their blocks, and it is likely that this is when John Street, which had been marked on survey diagrams from at least 1833, was actually created. The area at this time was known as ‘Brucetown’. Pensioner Road, which ran from Stirling Highway (then Bruce Street) to the ocean and beach along the route of current Tydeman Road between Stirling Highway and the railway, and continuing beyond this point at the same angle, was renamed John Street in the late 1890s, being the continuation of the current John Street. This name remained until towards the end of the twentieth century, when roads were realigned to accommodate the expansion of Fremantle Port, and the current alignment of Tydeman Road was constructed.

The present John Street, from Stirling Highway to the Swan River, developed as a predominantly residential area, with the exception of the Gresham Hotel (to 1934) and the North Fremantle Oval (later Gilbert Fraser Reserve). At the western end of the street a number of prominent homes were built, while the eastern end was characterised by workers cottages. Long residential blocks on the south side of the street, east of the oval, had a number of cottages built along their rear boundary, facing the water. These were reported to have flooded frequently. The street overall fell into disrepair in the decades following World War Two, with many of the larger residences used as boarding houses and the cottages rented out. Many German and Polish migrants took up residence in this period. From the 1980s, gentrification of the area began, with older places either being restored or demolished to construct higher density housing. In the 1990s, most of the older houses at the eastern end of the street were demolished to allow for new waterside developments, most notably Pier 21.

A two-room stone cottage was constructed at 4 John Street in 1892 for Samuel Bigwood Duffield. Rate books suggest that it may have been extended to four rooms within the next two years. By the 1920s, when further rate books are available, the place was recorded as a four-room stone cottage. From 1901 the place was owned by Lydia Duffield, spinster. Lydia Duffield is recorded as owning a number of other properties in North Fremantle from the 1890s to the 1920s. The place appears to have been an investment property, rented out to various tenants. From 1931, it was owned by Ethel Croker, Evelyn Robertson (married woman) and Albert Arthur Hill (medical practitioner). Arthur Hill does not appear to have lived at the place. He retained ownership until 1947, when the place was sold to Katherine Stevenson, who owned it until her death in 1959.

The northern portion of the Lot was subdivided from 1901 and sold separately, but does not appear to have been developed.

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).
Medium degree of authenticity with some 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.