Four Houses

Statement of Significance

This lively and coherent group of houses, at 51, 53, 55 and 61 Walcott Street are variations on the Federation and Interwar Bungalow style, with 61 being an exemplar of the Interwar Bungalow style and the others being representative of the variety of the Federation Bungalow style.

Physical Description

This group of four single storey buildings are variations of the Federation and Interwar Bungalow styles, with simple and dominant roof forms, sheltering verandahs and detail subordinated within the overall effect. The group provides a lively and cohesive piece of streetscape from the Federation period, with consistent setbacks, variation in height, variation of hipped and gabled roofs, attached and detached verandah roofs and the unadorned (51) to the considered timber and render detailing of the Interwar Bungalow (61). Residential -short garden setbacks behind low fences None apparent

History

No. 51 is first listed in the Post Office Directories in 1905 with George Davies as the occupier who lived at the dwelling until 1909. The residents of the dwelling over the times included Harry Speight (1910), Mrs. B. Laffer (1913), Walter A. Garrett (1915), George J. Davies (1916-1917), George J.Winzer and Mrs. H. Winzer (1918), Smith Wood (1919), Robert R. Baldock (1930), Flor McMillan (1935), Eric Simonsolin (1940) and Mrs. Marie New (1949). The dwelling was originally numbered No. 27 before 1916. A Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage & Drainage Department (MWSSD) Plan dated 1953 shows that No. 51 was built within the front portion of the subject lot, however as additions has been erected in a later stage, the dwelling has since extended its border. The dwelling at No. 53 was built circa 1907 with the first resident, Bernard Lee, listed in the Post Office Directories in 1908. James Lowry lived at No. 53 between 1909 and 1913. The dwelling was then occupied by Richard Mason (1915), Mrs H. Winzer (1916-1917), Mrs. R. Teplitzky (1918), John H. Coffen (1920) and Walter Hastwell (1935-1949). The dwelling changed its street number from No. 31 to No. 53 in 1916. The original interior layout of the dwelling has a central hallway which divides the dwelling into four rooms that accommodates two bedrooms, a lounge and dining room. A back verandah was constructed in 1939. No. 55, originally numbered No. 33 before 1916, appears on the 1897 PWD Sewerage Plan and is the earliest residency listed in the Post Office Directories in this section of Walcott Street between Gerald and Roy Streets. The first occupant of No. 55 was George H. Seymour who is listed in 1901-1902. The subsequent residents included John E. Medley (1905-1910), Maurice W. H. Norton, journalist (1913-1920), Mrs. Rosalie Wilson (1930), Joseph W. Wyatt (1935) and Harry Weeks (1949). No. 61 is a large brick house on the corner of Roy Street. The dwelling is not shown on the 1897 PWD Sewerage Plan and is first listed in the Post Office Directories in 1930. John P. D. Le Tessier is listed as the occupant in 1930 and the other residents over the years included Wilford Morton (1935) and Lenehan Hurley (1940-1949). A Certificate of Title indicates that the first proprietor of the subject lot is the Perth Benefit Building Investment and Loan Society (Permanent) which acquired the land in 1930. The subject land then transferred to Michael Henry Lenehan Hurley in 1935, Charlotte Kathleen Hurley in 1949 and Raymond Harry Weeks in 1979. The change of use from single house to office building of the subject dwelling was approved by the Town in 2003.

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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.