DUPLEX, 40 ATTFIELD STREET

Statement of Significance

Duplex 40 & 42 Attfield Street, is a typical limestone, brick and iron single storey elevated duplex pair dating from 1906/07. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

Duplex 40 & 42 Attfield Street is a single storey limestone, brick and iron duplex pair with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. It is part of a group of six originally identical duplex cottages, all having subsequently undergone alterations to the front facade. The walls are limestone with brick quoins to no. 40 and a smooth render over the limestone and brick to no. 42. The roof is gabled with a dividing parapet wall and clad with corrugated iron to both. The gable ends have decorative timber detailing. The original corbelled chimneys are intact. The front facade to each duplex half has a front door with fanlight and replacement windows to each. No. 42 has timber shutters. The front verandahs are under separate roofs with a corrugated iron bullnose roof supported by square timber posts with decorative timber frieze and balustrade to no. 40 and a pitched corrugated iron roof supported by round steel posts with a metal balustrade to no. 42. The duplexes are raised above the ground level at the front boundary and there are two separate sets of steps leading up to the verandah level, timber to no 40 and concrete to no. 42l. No. 40 has a brick paved parking area and no boundary fence. No. 42 has a low level face brick wall to the front boundary with a grassed garden area behind.

History

No 40 was formerly 46, part of Duplex 46-48 Attfield Street. Numbers changed in 1935/36.
Duplex 40-42 Attfield Street is one of three that was built in 1906/07 for Mary Ferres as an investment property. She owned the properties until at least the 1930s. It is noted in some sources that the duplexes were built for the staff of the private home which subsequently became the Skye private hospital. The duplex was leased out to various tenants over the years. In the first year of its construction, Frank or Francis Rowe, a secretary, occupied this residence. Later occupants were Philip John Clarkson, Cyril Cheek and Thomas E Woods.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows this brick duplex is one of three duplexes built adjacent to each other at 36/38, 40/42 and 44/46. Their similarity of form suggests they were all built at the same time for the same owner and probably the same builder. The duplexes have a simple rectangular form and each dwelling has a front and rear verandah. A pedestrian access way is located between the three dwellings. In the back yard of each dwelling was a brick closet. A stone wall is apparent on the front boundary and all the other boundaries are fenced.
Photographic evidence from the 1940s shows that the stone duplex had tuckpointed brick quoining on a stone façade, turned verandah posts and balustrades. The verandah roof had alternating dark and light coloured sheets of corrugated iron. Decorative lace work was also present on the bullnosed verandah. A stone, masonry and timber fence was present on the front boundary with a cyclone mesh gate. The roof gable on the side of the duplex also had decorative timber detailing.
A photograph of the place c.1980 shows that the corrugated iron roof for the main building and verandah will still in evidence although the design of the verandah roof had been changed to a flat sloped style. The verandah balustrades, turned posts and decorative lacework had been replaced with metal posts and decorative metalwork. The front façade had been painted. The front fence had been removed to make way for a carparking.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium to high degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining but with some alterations.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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