House

Parent Place or Precinct

26002 Kershaw Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Kershaw Street Heritage Area is of cultural heritage significance within the City of Subiaco for the following reasons: • As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong heritage character, featuring a narrow avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely intact Federation and early Inter-War vials. • For its retention of many good, representative examples of Federation Queen Anne villas (which collectively illustrate a gradual evolution in architectural detailing between 1904 and c.1918). • For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles. • As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing considered appropriate for the families of professional men, such as merchants, bankers and civil servants in the early twentieth century. • For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residences of senior professional men and business owners existed side by side with the smaller residences of more junior employees in early twentieth century Subiaco. • For its association with the subdivision of this area by James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, in 1892. In this context it also represents the status of Western Australia as a place of opportunity during the gold rush era of the late nineteenth century – attracting significant investment from the eastern states. • For its association with the efforts of James Chesters as a local land agent and property developer, following his move to Western Australia in 1905. • For its association with Joseph (Joe) Totterdell, who was responsible for the construction of many Subiaco houses (including some in Kershaw Street), and who, for a brief period (1916-17), lived at 25 Kershaw Street (one of his development properties).

Physical Description

7 Kershaw Street was designed as a single storey house in a Federation Queen Anne style, but with some elements (such as the chimneys and detailing to the parapet at the end of the verandah) more reminiscent of late Victorian detailing. It has stretcher-bond brickwork to the side walls and tuck-pointed, Flemish-bond brickwork to the main façade. The corrugated metal, gabled-hipped roof features three tall, painted-brick chimneys with projecting mouldings and arched-brick heads. The window bay to the front verandah is capped by a gable at the main roofline, with a roughcast and ‘half-timbered’ face over a deep, moulded, rendered panel. A bull-nosed verandah (which is set back only about 2m from the street) extends across the front of the house, and returns along the southern side to create a recessed entry bay. This verandah is supported on tapering timber posts with fluted and turned timber detailing, carved timber brackets and a decorative arch-pattern frieze. At the northern end, the verandah is enclosed by a brick parapet wall, which features a moulded panel and bracket to the top of the front face and a full-height arched niche to the internal face. The door at the other end of the return verandah has a single sidelight and highlight, with stained glass detailing. The front walls have a rendered skirting and two plain rendered string-courses, one at window sill height and the other at door head height. At the centre of the main wing there is a shallow projecting window bay featuring a set of three tall, narrow, double-hung windows under an arched head. Decoration to the windows includes turned timber mullions, a deep moulded sill, and curved under-sill panel. Overall the main facade retains a high level of original external detailing, but it has been partly concealed behind an intrusive rendered boundary wall with wrought-iron inset panels. Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in good condition.

History

James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, purchased Perth Suburban Lots 249 and 250 in 1891. In the following year he had this area laid out as a new residential estate (Deposited Plan 504), which included the creation of Lot 158 (7 Kershaw Street). Together with the adjacent lot (#159) this was amongst the early land sales by James Chesters, being purchased by Evangelic (surname indecipherable, but similar to Rologis) in October 1892. However, these were speculative purchases and no development took place for another 12 years. In 1904 these lots were developed with identical houses (the first in Kershaw Street) and offered for sale: Two Pretty BRICK VILLAS, CHAS. SOMMERS has been favored with instructions to Sell, on the ground, as above, Lots 157 and 158 of Perth Sub. Lots 249 and 250. Land 68ft. to Kershaw street, by a good depth, on which is erected two prettily-designed brick villas, each containing 5 large rooms, also bathroom, pantry, etc., etc. Spacious verandahs on two sides; wide hall, with side entrance; bay window. Back verandah (enclosed), troughs, copper, rain-water tanks, etc. These Villas are newly-erected, of latest design, and splendidly finished. Will be sold separately or as a whole. Inspection invited. A large amount of the purchase money can remain on mortgage. Close to Tram and King's Park. In 1905 the houses were in the ownership of Hannah Weaver, who leased them out until 1912. They were then sold, #7 (Lot 158) being purchased by Mrs Julia O’Flaherty. (Note: #9, was taken up by Mrs O’Flaherty’s son-in-law, David Grant). During that period the house was named “Tregna.” Occupants of the property from its time of construction until 1949 included: 1905-1912 Various tenants including J. Pollock, J.N. Harcourt; D.S. Walton; H.E. Grace; Parry; H. Mueller and E. Knight 1913-1920 Miss M. O’Flaherty & Mrs J. O’Flaherty 1921-1922 Mrs C.M. Cook 1923-1926 Joseph Alfred Harris (Telegraphist) 1927 Harriott Weller 1928 Norman Drake 1929-1930 Kenneth McKay 1931-1936 Francis (aka Frank) Kelly (retired civil servant) & Harriet Kelly 1937 Vacant 1938-1949 Mrs Miriam Hooker (Miriam lived here until at least the late 1950s)

Integrity/Authenticity

The street facades retain a high degree of authenticity and the house is a good example of the many modest villas built in the area as speculative development during the early 20th century. It is of additional historical significance as one of the first two houses built in Kershaw Street (Nos 7 & 9). The high masonry front fence is intrusive.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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