House

Parent Place or Precinct

26001 Chesters Subdivision 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 good representative example of the application of materials and detailing which were derived from the Federation Queen Anne style, but which were applied in a more restrained manner that suited the budgets and expectations of the middle classes in Subiaco during the early twentieth century.
• 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.

Physical Description

• Late style Federation bungalow with traditional asymmetric plan form.
• Red brick construction with tuckpoint finish and rendered string course at sill level, roughcast render above the window to the projecting wing.
• Projecting bay has a projecting gable with roughcast render finish with timber detail, boxed window hood with painted shingle finish, boxed bay with multi-paned casements.
• Hipped roof clad with replacement corrugated metal sheeting, continuing down to form the verandah canopy with a slight break of pitch. Brick chimneys.
• Verandah extends across the recessed section of the façade supported on paired timber posts on roughcast rendered piers. Timber frieze between the posts.
• The recessed section of the elevation contains French windows and the main entrance of traditional arrangement.
• The garden is enclosed by a timber scalloped picket fence.

History

The following extract has been taken from the Heritage Assessment of the Chesters Subdivision Heritage Area, Greenward Consulting, August 2014.
James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, purchased Perth Suburban Lots 249 to
252 in October 1891. In the same month he commenced selling residential lots in a
newly subdivided estate laid out as Deposited Plan 366 (extending across Perth
Suburban Lots 251 and 252).
Lot 73 was sold by Chesters in 1892, but no development took place until 1913 when
the vacant site was offered for sale “practically without reserve”. A house was built in
the following year and the high turn-over of occupants suggests that it was primarily
used as an investment property through to the mid-twentieth century.
A description of the house in its early years is found in an advertisement from 1922
(when it was sold by B Burch):
BETWEEN Rokeby-rd. and Kings Park: Charming Tiled Roof Bijou Villa, containing 4 beautiful rooms and vestibule, large bathroom with enamel bath, hand basin, and Unicorn heater, oak and polished Jarrah mantels, fly proof doors, Marseilles tiles, back verandah enclosed with lattice, sleeping out accommodation, large gas stove and No. 1 Metters. Copper and cement troughs, granolithic and asphalt paths, lawns back and front, telephone. Only three minutes from tram. Perfect little home.
Occupants of the property from its time of construction until 1949 included:
• 1915-1917 John Edward Andrews (Clerk)
• 1918-1919 Cyril William Ennis (Clerk)
• 1920-1922 Mrs E Fletcher
• 1923-1925 James Joseph Copley (Shop Assistant)
• 1926 Mrs Bent
• 1927-1929 Miss Eileen Seal
• 1930 Gordon Todd
• 1931-1932 John Burgess
• 1933 Vacant
• 1934-1935 Mrs E M Jones
• 1936-1937 Hugh Macheau Wilson (Civil Engineer)
• 1938-1940 Mrs A Martin
• 1941 Mrs A Martin & Mrs Mary Walder
• 1942-post 1953 William Keir (Printers Machinist)
A plan of the site prepared in 1927 and revised in 1955 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the place has been extended to the rear which has removed services buildings and a verandah across the rear elevation. Aerial photographs confirm that there has been little change to the place since the mid 20th century.
Aerial photographs from the mid 20th century show that the roof was originally clad with red corrugated iron. The additions in the early 1980s retained a red roof cladding when the extensions were undertaken. It is not clear if the cladding is corrugated iron or tile. In 2006, the roof cladding was changed to the current metal roof cladding .

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be used as a private residence.
Authenticity - High: The original external detailing of the building is largely intact and/or sympathetically restored/extended, and the place has been well maintained.

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.