COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 69 THOMPSON ROAD

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

Commercial Building, 69 Thompson Road, is a brick and tile single storey administration building dating from 1940. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the commercial building stock located within North Fremantle. The place has historic value for its associations with Burford & Sons, soap and candle manufacturers. It was the factory's office and administration building.

Physical Description

Commercial Building, 69 Thompson Road, is a single storey brick and tile commercial building constructed in the Inter War period. Walls are painted brick and roof is hipped and half gabled with terracotta tiles. There are protruding brick sections to the double, timber panelled front doors and to the adjacent window. Other windows are set back in the line of the main wall. Windows are large, multipaned sash. There is a curved bay window on the Burford Place elevation. There are timber elements on roughcast render to the half gables. There are low garden bed walls and mature trees in front of the building.

History

Thompson Road was named for George Thompson (1838-1874), Fremantle's first town clerk (1871-73). The street is mainly residential, with some commercial development at the northern end between Alfred Road and McCabe Road. The majority of the houses were built c. 1900. Only a few lots on the street remained vacant in the 1920s.

Commercial Building, 69 Thompson Road was built c. 1940 for Burford and Sons and was their office/administration building. Burford and Sons (later Lever-Kitchen-Burford) operated a large candle and soap making factory between Thompson Road and Rule Street (then Bay Road) between 1905 and 1946. [See the entry for 51 Rule Street (former Burfords Factory) for more information.]

From 1982 to c. 1998 the building was used by Mustard Catering. In 1998, an application to convert the building to four residential units and one mixed unit (café and short term accommodation) was approved.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials).
Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric.
(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.