House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as a Victorian Georgian/Federation era house dating from 1894.
The place has historic significance as a very early surviving example of a house from this era.
It represents the changing character of West Perth from primarily residential to commercial/professional offices and has increased significance for its relatively intact appearance.
It makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey double fronted building, originally residential. Hipped corrugated iron roof with tall corbelled chimney. Verandah under separate corrugated iron roof with timber posts. Sash windows and timber panelled front door.

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. Douro Place was listed as Douro Park in 1893. The house at No. 12 was first listed in 1894, occupied by Robert Salter. It was originally No. 26; numbering changed in 1908.The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1953) shows No. 12 as a brick house with a full-length front verandah.
The house is a single storey, red brick, double fronted building, with a hipped corrugated iron roof with tall, corbelled chimney.
The verandah is under a separate corrugated iron roof with timber posts. There are timber sash windows and a timber panelled front door. Aerial photos show the house was extended to the rear c. 1990 and reroofed in 2018.
A 2018 real estate advertisement online shows that the interior has many original features such as high ceilings with the original picture rails and decorative cornices, fireplace and mantlepiece, with a new addition to the rear. The floor plan shows that the house was originally four or six rooms with a central passage.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity. Largely as originally constructed with some restoration to original detail.

Condition

Fair - Good

Uses

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.