Office

Parent Place or Precinct

04173 Lawrence Avenue Precinct

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance because it reflects the way of life of the wealthier residents of Perth in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
It has aesthetic significance as a fine example of a Federation Queen Anne style residence and contributes to the visual quality of the streetscape.
The place is a representative example of the changing character and growth of the City, being a former residence that has undergone a change of use to commercial/professional offices.
The significance of the place is increased because it remains substantially intact and is the last remaining example on Prowse Street of a bygone era.

Physical Description

Single storey brick building, originally residential. Half hipped, corrugated iron roof with tall decorative rendered chimneys. Two prominent flying gables with decorative half-timbered effect facing the street. Verandah under separate roof with timber posts and original bay windows facing the street.

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.
The 1897 Perth Town Plan shows no Prowse Street and little housing. Prowse Street was sometimes called Colin Crescent. The Post Office Directory first lists No. 2 Prowse Street in 1924. In 1930 it was 38 Colin Crescent, before changing back again to 2 Prowse Street by 1935. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1953) shows a brick house with a full-length front verandah, part of a row of six houses on this part of Prowse Street. This house is now the only one remaining and is surrounded by modern office complexes and apartments. It is a red brick, double gabled house in the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture, and from the street presents as intact.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low level of integrity.
High level of authenticity. Largely as originally constructed with detail intact.

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.