HOUSE, 79 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 79 Stirling Highway, is a typical rendered stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the early 1900s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 79 Stirling Highway, is a single storey stone and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are rendered and painted masonry. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under a separate bullnose corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by timber posts. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door. The house is well elevated above street level with a set of concrete steps leading up to verandah level. There is a later single garage at street level and on the front boundary. This garage has a balustrade deck area on the roof which is at the verandah floor height.

History

The portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’. Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side. Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway. In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use. House, 79 Stirling Highway was constructed at some time between c. 1900 and 1922. In 1921/22, it was recorded as being a four roomed stone cottage owned and occupied by Robert Short. Short held the title until circa 1925, when ownership passed to Robert L. Bull. It appears that Bull stayed there until the early 1940s, upon which time he sold the place to Arthur Urquhart, who held it as a rental property. Some time after 1955, Urquhart passed ownership to Michele Di Carlo. Although he did not continuously live there, Di Carlo held the title to the property until at least 1982. A 1939 diagram shows House, 79 Stirling Highway as a relatively large house, with full length front and rear verandahs. The diagram clearly shows steps leading to the front door. 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

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

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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