DUPLEX, 7 JOHN STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

Former Duplex, 7-9 John Street, is a modified stone and iron two storey cottage dating from the 1890s. 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 North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a modified example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

Former Duplex, 7-9 John Street, is a single storey (with second storey addition) limestone and iron former duplex with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The duplex has been substantially altered with much of the internal divisions being removed. It is now one building. Walls are limestone with face brick quoins and reveals. Roof is hipped and gabled corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate corrugated iron roof with gable features central to each former duplex half and timber finials. Verandah is supported by square timber posts. There is a small limestone wall along the front boundary. There is a large second storey weatherboard addition to the now combined duplex.
The duplex has been converted to commercial use and is part of Pier 21.

History

John Street was the main road surveyed through the parcel of land granted to Lt. Con. John Bruce in 1857. The land remained undivided and undeveloped until after John Bruce’s death, when his widow arranged for it to be auctioned as residential lots. A land sale was held in October 1890 to dispose of the estate of John Bruce. A large attendance resulted in all 88 lots being sold, for sums ranging from £21 to £102, at an average price of £33/16/0, well above the anticipated price. Towards the end of 1891, the new owners approached the Fremantle Council requesting that scrub be cleared so that they could access their blocks, and it is likely that this is when John Street, which had been marked on survey diagrams from at least 1833, was actually created. The area at this time was known as ‘Brucetown’. Pensioner Road, which ran from Stirling Highway (then Bruce Street) to the ocean and beach along the route of current Tydeman Road between Stirling Highway and the railway, and continuing beyond this point at the same angle, was renamed John Street in the late 1890s, being the continuation of the current John Street. This name remained until towards the end of the twentieth century, when roads were realigned to accommodate the expansion of Fremantle Port, and the current alignment of Tydeman Road was constructed.

The present John Street, from Stirling Highway to the Swan River, developed as a predominantly residential area, with the exception of the Gresham Hotel (to 1934) and the North Fremantle Oval (later Gilbert Fraser Reserve). At the western end of the street a number of prominent homes were built, while the eastern end was characterised by workers cottages. Long residential blocks on the south side of the street, east of the oval, had a number of cottages built along their rear boundary, facing the water. These were reported to have flooded frequently. The street overall fell into disrepair in the decades following World War Two, with many of the larger residences used as boarding houses and the cottages rented out. Many German and Polish migrants took up residence in this period. From the 1980s, gentrification of the area began, with older places either being restored or demolished to construct higher density housing. In the 1990s, most of the older houses at the eastern end of the street were demolished to allow for new waterside developments, most notably Pier 21.

Duplex, 7-9 John Street was constructed c.1892 for W.E. Fenner, of Carnarvon, and Frederick Stanley. The place was owned by the Fenner family until 1965, but they do not appear to have lived there. Mary Fenner, also of Carnarvon, owned the place from 1897 to her death in 1939, followed by Bertram Stanley Fenner (wool sorter) to 1965. Desmond Clive Pearse then owned the duplex until 1980. Frederick Stanley resided at the duplex until c.1919, and may also have owned his portion of the building. A 1939 plan shows a brick and stone duplex with front and rear verandahs, and a large laundry behind 9 John Street, presumable to serve both residences.

By the 1980s, the place was in disrepair and uninhabitable. The party wall between the two residences had been demolished in places, and water penetration was exacerbating deterioration. An application in 1986 to create 16 short-stay apartments on the site was approved on the condition that the duplex was retained. Plans and photographs at this time show the place as two residences mirroring each other, each with a passageway along the central wall, two bedrooms at the front, followed by a lounge room and then a rear kitchen, with bathroom/ laundry facilities in an enclosed corner of the rear verandah. Each of the front rooms retained its original fireplace, as did the kitchens and lounge rooms, with double chimneys serving these rooms. Externally, the place was rendered with a smooth concrete finish, showing signs of damp. There was some discussion as to whether it would be more appropriate to demolish the structure and rebuild it. It is not clear whether this took place. Photographs in 1996 show the place to have the same structure as in the 1980s. The front bedrooms have had French doors installed to provide an entrance to the side of each residence, and all render has been removed to reveal a rough limestone finish with red brick quoining. A timber second storey has been added, fitted snugly in the roof space between the four chimneys, and the place appears to have been extended to the rear.

This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate degree of integrity (original intent unclear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored, some loss of fabric and previous unsympathetic alterations).
Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining.Some loss of 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

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