DUPLEX, 79 HAMPTON ROAD

Statement of Significance

Duplex, 77 & 79 Hampton Road, is a typical limestone, brick and iron single storey duplex pair dating from c1898. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

77-79 Hampton Road is a single storey, limestone, brick and iron duplex pair with a symmetrical façade built in 1897 and designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with brick quoins. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron (with a replacement roof to no. 79). The verandah has a separate corrugated iron roof and is supported by chamfered timber posts to no.79 while no.77 has square timber posts. Adjacent to the dividing wall are front doors with fanlights. There are two rendered masonry corbelled chimneys evident. There is a timber picket fence to the front boundary line of no.79 and a high brick wall to the boundary line of no.77 making further description difficult.

History

Hampton Road was originally called Prison Road. It derives its name from John Stephen Hampton (1810-1869), the Governor of WA from 1862-68. He was previously Comptroller of Convicts in Tasmania. His son, G. E. Hampton, was Acting Comptroller-General of the Fremantle Convict Establishment. Duplex, 79 Hampton Road and its pair at No. 77 were built in 1897 for Charles McMillan Purdie. The rate book for that year describes them as six roomed cottages occupied by William Johnson, a clerk, and Charles Buck, a draper. By 1898, the cottages had increased in size to seven rooms. By this time, the Purdie family had moved into one of the cottages. Charles Purdie married Helena Scott in 1894 and they had seven children. Mr Purdie was a director of the Fremantle Building Society in 1929 and an active member of the East Fremantle Presbyterian Church. He ran a plumbing business in Essex Street with Fred Instone. When Mr Instone retired in the early 1930s, the sold his business interests to his partner. However, the business continued to operate as Instone & Co until the 1970s. A PWD plan dated 1913 shows the duplex pair at 77 and 79 Hampton Road. No. 79 was slightly larger than its partner though both had full length front verandahs. Charles Purdie continued to own the duplex pair until his death c. 1950; they were then owned by his estate for another decade or so. They were both rental properties after the Purdie family moved to Bicton in 1907. They were then owned by the Parisse (No. 77) and Celenza (No. 79) families for many years. This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent mostly clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). Medium degree of authenticity with some original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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