Beaconsfield Police Station (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Former Police Station, Quarters, Lock up and Stables House, 170a Hampton Road, has historic value as the former quarters of the Beaconsfield Police Station. The police station and lockup was located in the rear yard of No. 170. The building is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. It has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area.

Physical Description

Former Police Station, Quarters, Lock up and Stables House, 170a Hampton Road, is a single storey, limestone and iron house designed in the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with red brick quoins. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. There is a central corbelled chimney evident. The building is two dwellings, with the front verandah divided with a timber partition, and the front garden divided by a low timber picket fence. Each has a central timber framed door with top lights flanked either side by timber framed double hung sash windows. The verandah is under a continuous roof supported by simple timber posts. There is a low masonry and timber picket fence to the front boundary line. The rear of the original property has two more residences, accessed by driveways that go down each side of the front house.

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. In 1895, 170-170a Hampton Road was recorded as being undeveloped land owned by Annie Taylor. The land was purchased by the colonial government the following year and set aside for a police station. The contract for the police station complex, comprising two quarters (each of four rooms, with kitchen, bathroom, store and front and back verandahs), lockup of two cells with charge room and office, was let to J Carlson in November 1897. The work was completed in April 1898. A 1908 sewerage diagram shows the two stone police quarters with central steps leading up to each verandah, each with rear verandahs and enclosed bathrooms and water closets. The brick station (lockup) was located in the rear yard of the sergeant’s house, No. 170 (previously No. 136). The constable assigned to the station lived in No. 170a (previously No. 138). An addition was made to the rear of the police station c. 1960 to provide more office accommodation. The existing office in front of the two cells was then dedicated to be the charge room. The Beaconsfield Police Station closed on 23 April 1969 and the property was passed to the Department of Land Administration in 1991. The following year, title to the property was transferred to Homeswest. In 1993, Homeswest developed the rear of the site with new homes. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle")

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent partially clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (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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