LIMESTONE FEATURE(S), 125 HAMPTON ROAD

Statement of Significance

Use of limestone as part of the Fremantle landscape gives the City coherence and character. Limestone walls are one commonly encountered example of use of this stone as a building material, most of them dating from the 19th century and early years of the 20th century.

Physical Description

Unable to locate.

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. House, 125 Hampton Road was built in 1892 for the Gilbride family. John Gilbride, a gardener and then a pensioner, lived in the house from its construction until he sold it to John Carroll in 1900. Mr Carroll leased it to a James O’Grady, a cabman, and then John Barnett, a cigar maker. In 1903/04, the cottage was sold to Matthew Lang, who later bought the shop at No. 127 Hampton Road. Matthew Lang was a plumber by trade and lived in the house with his wife Eva. Between c. 1940 and the mid-1950s, Eva Lang was listed as the owner and occupant of the house. A Metropolitan Sewerage plan shows a stone house with a full length front and rear verandahs. The front and northern side wall of the house extended to become the front of the house next door (at No. 123 Hampton Road). The two houses shared a common wall, although No. 125 was set further back from the street than No. 123. House, 125 Hampton Road was bought by Norman Ablett and John Fitzgerald in the mid-1950s. They also bought the shop at 127 Hampton Road, where they traded as Swan Hardware. This place was identified in the "Heritage Report on 19th century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle" prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986. Limestone walls were built around properties in Fremantle to prevent sand drift in response to an early building regulation dating from the 1830s. The use of limestone is part of the Fremantle landscape and gives the City coherence and character. It is not known how old this particular wall is.

Condition

Unable to locate

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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