House

Parent Place or Precinct

24362 Shenton Park Conservation Area

Statement of Significance

No. 28 Smyth Road Shenton Park, a single storey stone cottage, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
•The place has historic value for its association with the subdivision and development of Shenton Park in the late 1890s.
•The place has aesthetic value as a simple example of the Victorian Regency style executed in stone.
•The place is a rare example of a stone cottage built in the 19th century in Shenton Park.
•The place has social value as a demonstration of the form of a simple workers cottage built in the late 19th century

Physical Description

No. 28 Smyth Road is a single storey painted brick residence with contrasting quoins to the two edges of the frontage. It presents with a symmetrical façade, a centrally located door with windows to either side. It has a corrugated metal hipped roof with a rendered brick chimney displaying a decorative crown. The house appears to have been recently restored incorporating new roof coverings and refreshed paint finishes.

History

Rates books for 1897 show builder, Charles Kerslake living in Park Street Subiaco. The post office directories for 1897 list Charles Kerslake as living in Karrakatta, from 1897 which was the name for this part of Subiaco. It is therefore probable the house was built in 1897 possibly by Kerslake although this is not confirmed. The choice of stone for the cottage is unusual as the majority of cottages built at this time in Subiaco were timber or possibly brick. Charles Kerslake is consistently referred to as a labourer in the electoral rolls however the description as a builder in 1897 suggests he may have been responsible for the construction of this cottage, however this has not been verified. It is speculated that Charles Kerslake, born and raised in Tasmania was more familiar with stone buildings and preferred that material for his family home.

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.