House

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• As a good representative example of the many 4-5 room brick homes which were built in Subiaco during the early twentieth century to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, senior office workers, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means.
• As a rare and unusual example of the application of limestone as a building material, and detailing which derived from the Victorian Georgian style, which reflect the origins and preferences of the original owner, Bridget Snigge from South Australia.
• For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses.
• For its association with the rapid development of Subiaco in the early 20th century.
For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style
162 Barker Road was designed as a simple symmetrical cottage and does not clearly represent any of the major architectural styles of the period. It is however, typical of many 4-room stone cottages built in South Australia from the mid-nineteenth century until around WWI. It was designed to a scale and form generally considered suitable for occupiers such as office workers, retail employees and skilled tradesmen.
Plan form at the street frontage
• Symmetrical facade. This features a central entrance door, flanked by windows to each of the front rooms.
Roof form and materials
• Hipped roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting.
Note: the modern rear additions feature prominent small gables with decorative battens and finials.
• Bull-nosed verandah roof.
Wall materials and finishes to the main facade
• Roughly hewn limestone block walls, ruled as ashlar stonework.
• Tuck-pointed brick quoins.
Other detailing to main facade
• Centrally located 4-panel entrance door, traditional moulded architraves, highlight, narrow sidelights and stained glass panels with a floral motif.
• Single, full height double hung window to each front room. These have a kick-plate, moulded timber transom and highlight over.
• Chamfered square timber verandah posts.
Streetscape setting
• House set back approximately 4.5m from the Barker Road frontage.
• Lot width approximately 10.1m.
• House built up to the east boundary with a parapet wall. Original house setback approximately 800mm from the west boundary.
• Front yard enclosed by acorn-topped picket style fence and gates.
• Parking hardstand at the south-west corner of the site.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this area increased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 91 in 1915, 94 in 1920 and 13 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949.
Perth Suburban Lot 208 was subdivided as Deposited Plan 1125 in the mid 1890s. This comprised 42 lots of which Lot 41 was subsequently developed as 162 Barker Road. From the readily available information this cottage was built in c.1902 and the first known owner/occupant was a widow, Bridget Mary Snigg (nee Molloy)(c.1839-1919), who had moved to WA from Caltowie South Australia. In the Electoral Rolls of 1903, 1906 & 1909 Bridget and 2 of her children, Kate (Catherine Mary) Snigg and Patrick Bernard Snigg (draper), were identified as the residents. In her obituary it was stated that Bridget returned to SA in c.1911 to live with her sons in Petersborough.
No direct documentary evidence has been found to confirm who built the house but the Snigg family may have had a strong influence, as the form, materials and detailing were typical of many 4-roomed cottages built in South Australia in the late nineteenth-early twentieth century. The choice of stone for the cottage was unusual (although not unique) for Subiaco.
While she departed WA in c.1911, Bridget continued to own the property until at least 1917-1918. There continued to be a high turn-over of occupants through until at least the mid-twentieth century (with the majority staying for around 1-4 years), suggesting that it was primarily occupied as a rental property. A review of the Post Office Directories at around 5-yearly intervals (together with reference to contemporary Electoral Rolls) indicates that some of the primary residents during this period included:
 1915: Mrs H G Hatch
 1920: Mrs Bertha Mailer
 1925 & 1930: Mrs Mary Miller
Mrs Miller was one of the longest tenants during this period, living here in c.1921-1930.
In the Rate Book of 1929-1930, the owner was listed as E Coyle.
 1935: Thomas H Percy
 1940: Robert J Moore
 1945-1949: Doug Harwood (turner)
By the early-mid 1950s, Douglas and his wife, Ida, had moved to 136 Bagot Road.
A plan of the site prepared in 1954 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the original footprint of the residence is approximately a third the size of the current building. The original simple cottage featured a verandah across the rear of the building with small timber enclosures on the ends of the verandah. A wash house and brick water closet were located in the middle of the back yard.
Aerial photographs of the place since the mid 20th century indicate that the roof was previously clad with red corrugated iron. In late 2017, all but the original cottage was demolished and an extensive addition constructed incorporating a two storey portion. These significant later additions are visually prominent but have not obscured the extent and form of the original residence.
162 Barker Road was adopted on the City of Subiaco Local Heritage Survey in 2003. It has been assessed as level 2 (very important to the heritage of the City of Subiaco).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: the place remains in its original function as a residential dwelling.
Authenticity - Medium to High: The external form and detailing of the original building appears to be largely intact, although the roof materials have been renewed and chimneys removed. The large rear additions are clearly ‘separate’ from the original cottage, but the prominent gables and decorative gable detailing have impacted on its presentation to the street.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

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.