House

Parent Place or Precinct

26335 Hamersley Road Group Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Hamersley Road Group heritage area is of: Aesthetic Value • As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely intact Federation and Inter War residences. • For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1890s and the 1940s. • For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles. Historic Value • As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century. • For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees. • For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1890s to the 1920s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in the gold boom period and shortly thereafter. Representativeness • As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services. Physical Form in the Public Realm • The houses, which (with the exception of two modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1898 to 1921, (and one in 1946) have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, with a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and tile house in a fairly dilapidated condition. The place is of asymmetric plan form with gabled projecting bay to the west side of the façade. The recessed section of the façade is protected by deep verandah. The façade was originally brick and render but the brickwork has subsequently been rendered over making it difficult to determine whether the brick was tuckpointed. The two finishes are separated by a brick dado and all have been painted the same colour. The original timber framed windows have been removed, being replaced with aluminium framed openings, The tiled roof is hipped to the main section of the house and gabled to the bay, clad in dark concrete tiles. The roof continues down to form the verandah canopy, supported on Tuscan style columns, arranged in pairs on top of masonry piers. Decorative iron panels extend between the posts. The deck cannot be seen. The house is in an elevated position, with an open garden. The garden does not have a boundary enclosure but does have a brick and limestone retaining wall to the pavement. A garage has been constructed to the west side of the house, accessed via a concrete driveway.

History

The plan for the subdivision of this portion of Hamersley Road was formally approved by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1891. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1898, Lots in Hamersley Road were advertised for £35. Rate Book research indicates that this place was constructed sometime between 1919 and 1929 – there are no rate books available for this period. This residence first appears in the PO Directories in 1921 with Emerson Wilkinson Allan (c1874-1946) listed as the occupant. It is therefore likely that the house was constructed in c.1920. No further information has been found as to the builder or architect of the place. Emerson Allan is recorded in the Electoral Rolls as a driver. The PO Directories list the following occupants: • 1922 – 1925 John Power • 1926 – 1929 Arthur Bennett • 1930 – 1932 Thomas Tindall • 1933 – 1937 John Drew • 1939 – 1949 Gordon Fist The 1929/30 Rate Books listed W Fist as the owner and Albert Tindall as the occupier. Gordon William Fist was an optician and he had rooms in Brennan’s Arcade, Hay Street Perth for many years. An aerial photograph of the property in 1964 shows the simple form of the original residence. The rear of the lot includes a large separate structure and a carport/garage is evident on the west of the house. The structures have not changed significantly in form or extent since that time.

Integrity/Authenticity

Changes have occurred to the windows and treatment of the façade impacting on its authenticity but the original design intent of the place remains visible.

Creation Date

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