HOUSE, 18 HARBOUR ROAD

Statement of Significance

House, 18 Harbour Road was one of three typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottages built in 1897 by developer John Pallot. The other cottages at 16 and 20 Harbour Road are also still extant and the group of three form an important reminder of Fremantle's rental accommodation from the late 1800s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area.

Physical Description

Single storey weatherboard and iron cottage with an asymmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are painted horizontal weatherboards and fibre cement sheeting. The roof gabled with no eaves and clad with corrugated iron. The cottage is one room and a hall in width. The verandah is under a separate corrugated iron roof. The front garden obscured views to the cottage.

History

In 1895, Lot Part 52, Town Lot 14 was vacant land owned by Chamberlain, Wray and Davies. These men were responsible for the subdivision of the area in that year and in 1897, owner John Pallot built three cottages on the lot (16, 18 & 20 Harbour Road). Each comprised two rooms. Pallot was the secretary of the Church of Christ (prior to 1917) and in 1919, was Superintendent of the Bible School. He also had confectionary businesses in High Street (1895 to 1912) and Market Street (1907-1910). Pallot rented the houses to tenants, the first of which were Benson Clemesha, a carpenter (#36; 16 Harbour Road), James Melburne, carpenter (#38, 18 Harbour Road) and William Vinicombe, a storeman (#40, 20 Harbour Road). Tenants changed regularly during Pollott’s ownership, which lasted until c. 1910. By 1920/21, the cottages were owned by Robert McKenzie. They continued to be investment properties. By 1940/41, at which time McKenzie still the owner, street numbering had changed. John Wirth lived in #16, James Vaughan in #20 and Dorothy Inkster in #22. Guiseppe Piromalli bought the properties in 1951/52. Tenants at this time were Percy Henning (#16), Donald Knight (#20) and Harry Inkster (#22). A diagram dated 1954 shows the three cottages (16, 18 and 20 Harbour Road) as being identical in plan. Each was a long, narrow, weatherboard cottage with a full length front verandah. Number 18 had a fenced front yard, while Number 16 appears to have been fenced from the others at the back. There was no dividing fenced between the rear yards of numbers 18 and 20. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Brown: "Positively contributing to the built environment") It was also included in the "Heritage Study South Fremantle", prepared by John Taylor Architects, for the City of Fremantle, June 1993.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially 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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