BUILDING, 16 NORFOLK STREET

Statement of Significance

This place has aesthetic and historic significance as a remnant of pre-gold boom residential development in Fremantle. The building is not highly intact and recent fabric is not significant.

Physical Description

Single story brick rendered building,with a rendered parapet. There is a dropped verandah roof that extends along the length of the building and around each side. The building has been extended and modified fro the original.

History

Norfolk Street is named after the English county, as per Essex and Suffolk Streets. This building was formerly 34 Norfolk Street. The renumbering occurred in 1935/36. This building was constructed for the owner, William Owston in 1885 as an investment property. The first tenant was George Smith, a carter. Owston and his descendants owned the cottage until at least 1900. Stables were recorded as part of the property from 1886. From 1905/06 to 1920/21 the property was owned by Sarah Wilson who leased out the cottage to a variety of tenants, including Patrick Doherty. The 1908 sewerage plan of this site shows the brick cottage with a verandah. It is located in the rear north east corner of the lot. A galvanised iron stables was located in the yard as was another galvanised shed and a timber structure. A timber closet was also located in the yard. A stone wall defined the property boundary on the eastern side and joined the cottage. Between 1925/26 and 1952, this building was owned and used as a residence by Patrick Doherty. After this time it appears to have been used as a work shop and storage yard. In 1957, the owner, G Tomba erected a new garage in the yard of the property and this was extended in 1968. These new sheds were located in the north west corner of the property. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Purple: "Of architectural and historic significance in its own right.”) A photograph of the site in 1978 shows that the site was being used as a scrap metal dealership. Later photographs show that the building was in poor condition with the verandah enclosed with lattice, corrugated iron and other materials. The original form of the cottage is however still evident. In the 1990s the building was converted for use as a cinema. It is currently (2013) Luna cinema.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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