HOUSE [FMR DUPLEX], 99-101 ATTFIELD STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 101 Attfield Street (former Duplex 99-101 Attfield Street, is a typical single storey timber framed and weatherboard clad duplex pair dating from 1897. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of Fremantle.

Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the South Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

This place contributes to the community’s sense of place as evidenced by it being identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Positively contributing to the character of Fremantle")

Physical Description

House, 101 Attfield Street is a former duplex (99-101) now amalgamated into one house. The house is a single storey timber and iron house constructed in 1897 in the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are timber framed and clad with timber weatherboards. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. There is a dividing wall visible through the roof line. The front facades have a timber front door and double hung sash windows. The verandah is under a separate concave corrugated iron roof supported by chamfered timber posts. There is a scalloped frieze to the edge of both the roof and verandah. There is a timber picket fence to the front boundary line.

History

Attfield St is named after Dr George Attfield, Imperial Surgeon 1854-1879, who qualified in London in 1850. He attended Fremantle Gaol and was Superintendent at Fremantle Lunatic Asylum. Attfield married a daughter of Surveyor-General Roe. He died in Brighton UK c1923. The street was developed from the late 1890s, with the majority of the houses dating from the first two decades of the twentieth century.
Duplex, 99-101 Attfield Street was built in 1897 for William Caple. The rate book for that year records two cottages, each of three rooms, on the lot. The first occupants of No. 99 were George Ellis, a carpenter, and Theophilus Markham, a carter. The two cottages are shown on a Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated 1908 as weatherboard cottages with front verandahs, and galvanised iron extensions to the rear.
William Caple owned the cottages until c. 1920, when they were purchased by Miss M McKean. Between c. 1925 and 1945, the cottages were owned by Martin Clarke. They were rented to tenants during this time.
The cottage at 99 Attfield Street was condemned in the 1950s. It is not known if the house was demolished or if the two duplexes were incorporated into a single residence. A Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated 1954 shows a single residence on the lot. This was a wide weatherboard house with a full length front verandah. There were no additions or verandahs at the rear.
Catherine McKean held possession of the rental property until c. 1950, at which time it was bought by Margaret Dearle. The cottage was then owned by the Horsman family until the mid-1990s.
A Heritage Assessment was prepared in May 2010 by the City of Fremantle for a DA submission to Council for alterations to include a bathroom, window and skylights.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining.
(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

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.