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

8 Kershaw Street was designed as a modest, single storey Federation cottage – one of only five houses that were constructed on the original narrow allotments (all of the others being built on larger, amalgamated lots). It has stretcher-bond brick walls and a gabled-hipped corrugated metal roof. The original face-brickwork is revealed along the side facades, but has been rendered to the Kershaw Street frontage. The roofline extends on a continuous, broken-back alignment over the verandah, which is supported on turned timber posts with small timber brackets. A single painted brick chimney remains towards the rear. The main façade steps back from a projecting wing at the northern end. This wing features a gable roof, with roughcast render and a decorative, scrolled-leaf, plaster moulding, over an elongated triangular base panel. The only other detailing to this part of the facade is a triple casement window with plain square highlights, shaded by a raked awning with simple timber brackets. South of the projecting wing, the façade steps back twice, creating a deep verandah area. The main entrance, which is located in the central bay, features a traditional six-panel door with stained glass detailing, flanked by plain side lights and highlights. The next recessed bay has another set of casement windows. The house is set back approximately 4m from the boundary and the front yard has been laid out with a modern cottage garden. Along the footpath there is a scalloped picket fence with square posts. Along the northern boundary (which faces a common access lane) there is a high face-brick fence. The original house retains a moderate level of original external detailing, with alterations including the rendering of the façade and changes to the roofline to accommodate rear extensions. 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 166 (8 Kershaw Street). In October 1910 a new house was offered for sale at 2 Kershaw Street: SUBIACO.-Superior 5-roomed new Brick Villa, conveniences, 2 Kershaw-st. £50 deposit, 23s. 6d. weekly. Chesters, 178 Rokeby-road. This was probably the same property as #8 is the first block facing Kershaw Street along the eastern side. If so, it would have been one of a number of speculative buildings constructed by James Chesters within his residential estate. However, it was not until 1914 that the property was sold by James Chesters, being transferred to a local builder, Joe Totterdell, in March 1914. It was then transferred to Grace Collinson and, in 1915, her husband, James, was the first resident to be listed for this address in the Post Office Directories. Occupants of the property from its time of construction until 1949 included: 1915-1939 James Cotterall Collinson (Motor Driver) 1940-1949 Muriel Jessie Laws (Home Duties) Information in the Electoral Rolls indicates that Muriel Laws lived here until the mid 1950s.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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