LIMESTONE FEATURE(S), 21 ARUNDEL STREET

Statement of Significance

Use of limestone as part of the Fremantle landscape gives the City coherence and character. Limestone walls are one commonly encountered example of use of this stone as a building material, most of them dating from the 19th century and early years of the 20th century. It is not known how old this particular wall is.

Physical Description

Limestone feature

History

There are two possible reasons for the naming of Arundel St. Edward George Fitzalan Howard, First Baron Howard of Glossop, 2nd son of the 13th Duke of Norfolk, was MP for Arundel in England from 1853-1868. Howard St joins Arundel St, both possibly named for him. The Surveyor Charles Wedge was employed by the Municipality in 1875. His wife was Frances Bethia (Fanny), nee Wrighte, and her father was Arundel Wrighte, a pioneer of Box Hill, Victoria.
21 Arundel Street was originally 25 Arundel Street; numbering changed in 1935/36.
The original cottage on this lot was constructed prior to 1880. Rates books prior this date no longer exist therefore it cannot be established when this cottage was constructed. In 1880, the cottage was owned and occupied by William T John, an accountant and storekeeper. In 1892, the cottage consisted of 6 rooms and outbuildings also existed on the lot. William John and his wife lived at the cottage until 1903.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the lot indicates that the retaining wall was in evidence and formed the lot boundary on the full length of the western boundary of the block. On the boundary facing Arundel Street the wall extends across the full length except for a break on the western side which is the width of a driveway. This provided access to the rear of the lot and continues to do so.
The properties at 21 and 23 Arundel Street are enclosed by limestone walls in 1908 and are separated by a timber fence. Because the cottages were jointly owned from at least 1880 it suggests that the walls were built by the original owner at the time of construction of the cottages.
Ownership of the lot was transferred to Mary Samson at about this time and the cottage was leased out to tenants including George Fredericks (1904), Charles Murray (1905-1906), Mrs Margaret Brunskill (1907), Sarah Bee (1908-1913) and Sarah Spragg (1914- 1920). In the 1930s the cottage was owned and occupied by Annie Davies and then in the 1940s by David Davies. In the 1950s the cottage was owned and occupied by Angelo Merlino and subsequent owners were Joseph Doonan and Ariel and Diana Antonovsky.
The cottage is no longer extant (date of demolition unknown). The limestone wall is evidence of the former cottage.

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.