Office

Parent Place or Precinct

04173 Lawrence Avenue Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 19 Lawrence Avenue, built 1902, has historic and aesthetic significance for its Federation Queen Anne style of architecture, and its contribution to the visual quality of the streetscape.
It has historic significance because it reflects the way of life of the working people of Perth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Physical Description

Single storey house with gable end on the corner.

History

West Perth developed as suburban residential area in the late 1890s. From its inception it had the characteristics of a quality neighbourhood. Proximity to the city centre and Kings Park (then known as Perth Park), and the elevated location provided healthy site drainage as well as cooling breezes and views over the city and hills. The area had social status already associated with addresses in nearby Mount Street and access to the city's piped water system.
The area was subdivided into large residential lots for development and proceed accordingly. The homes built in West Perth from the early 1900s included prestigious mansions built in prominent locations and smaller working class cottages in the narrower back streets and towards the northern end of the area adjacent to the railway.
Lawrence Avenue was originally called Colin Place and then Colin Crescent. The 1897 Perth Town Plan shows no houses on this road at the time. There was also no Prowse Street and this general area was not developed with housing. The Post Office Directory shows Colin Place being named in 1898. Prowse Street was originally called Colin Crescent and for a time Colin Place was deemed part of Colin Crescent. The house at No. 19 was built in 1902 in the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture. A long-term resident was the Ward family who were there until c. 1925. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan dated 1916 shows a substantial brick house on a triangular lot, with a corner truncated entrance, a projecting bay to Lawrence Avenue and a half-length front verandah. There was a brick building, possibly a garage, on the Prowse Street boundary. At 2022, the house is used for commercial use/health services. It appears to have had a recent refurbishment which has impacted the original fabric. The brick walls have been rendered and struck to appear as limestone blocks. There is a new roof, metal decorative frieze (not original or inkeeping with the style) and the verandah is tiled.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low level of integrity.
Low level of authenticity.

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.