House

Parent Place or Precinct

26335 Hamersley Road Group Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Hamersley Road Group 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 intact Federation and 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 1890s 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 1890s to the 1920s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in the gold boom period and shortly thereafter.
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 two modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1898 to 1921, (and one in 1946) 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, with a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and terracotta tile residence with traditional asymmetric planform to the façade.

The house is of brick construction with a limestone plinth. The brick is tuckpointed to the lower two-thirds of the elevation and rendered above, the differences in treatment marked by a projecting brick dado.

The prominent projecting wing feature contains a boxed bay with four casement windows to the street elevation and a single casement to the return. The windows look like they have been replaced. The canopy above the window is tiled on timber brackets. The gable feature is enlivened by roughcast render and timber batten detail.

The recessed section of the house is accessed via five concrete steps to a concrete verandah deck. The canopy is a skillion form supported on timber posts on masonry piers.

The roof to the street elevation comprises a pair of gables, the smaller one over the projecting wing and the larger one over the main section of house. Both have the same roughcast and timber batten detail. A single rendered brick chimney remains extant.

The garden is enclosed by low rendered wall with tall piers and palisade style panels.

History

The plan for the subdivision of this portion of Hamersley Road was formally approved by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1891. However, the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1898, Lots in Hamersley Road were advertised for £35.

Rate Book research indicates that this place was constructed sometime between 1919 and 1929, there are no rate books available for this period. It first appears in the 1926 PO Directories so it was likely constructed c1925.

Certificates of Title information shows this lot was purchased by local builder Harold Norman Oglesby in January 1923. He also purchased the adjacent two lots (lot 79 and 81). Oglesby was a Subiaco resident who is noted in the local press for undertaking many projects in Subiaco during the 1920s. It was not uncommon for builders to take on small speculative projects within a relatively confined district. It is probable that he oversaw the construction of the three properties at 240, 242 and 244 Hamersley Road.

In February 1924, Oglesby advertised for a carpenter to undertake a ‘fixing job for a property in Hamersley Road near Federal Street’.

Although not conclusive, this work may have been in readiness for the sale of this property because in March 1924 the property was transferred to chemist, Harry Sandercock living at 240 Hamersley Road.

The 1925 Electoral Rolls record chemist Harry/Henry Sandercock (c1877-1947) living at this residence with his wife Amelia Patricia Sandercock, nee Burlinson (c1872-1958). The couple married in 1908 and it is possible that Amelia Burlinson was related to the Burlinson family which lived at the corner shop at 230 Hamersley Road.

In 1930, the property was transferred to engineer and farmer James Henry Riches (c1865-1936). James Henry Riches (c1865-1936) and his wife Matilda Riches (c1864-1948) are likely to have been related to Jack Sims Riches who lived across the road at 247 Hamersley Road during the time they occupied this house. The property remained in the Riches family until at least the 1960s.

The PO Directories list the following occupants:
• 1926 – 1928 Sandercock, Harry
• 1929 Vacant
• 1930 – 1932 Mrs Riches
• 1933/34 – 1935/36 James Riches
• 1937/38 – 1946 Mrs M Riches
• 1947 –1949 Chandler Albert
An aerial photograph of the property in 1964 shows the form of the original residence. The rear of the lot includes the original WC and shed/garage.

The skillion roof addition across the rear was originally clad in corrugated iron and in c1990 an addition was constructed across the rear which replaced the cladding with tiles to match the remainder of the residence. The addition retained and extended the roof line. A new structure was built to adjoin the former shed/garage. Further additions were undertaken in c2016.

Integrity/Authenticity

The place retains a high degree of authenticity. The windows appear to have been replaced but are in keeping with the architectural style of the property and do not detract from its presentation or contribution to the proposed heritage area.

Condition

Good

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.