HOUSE,121 STIRLING HWY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 121 Stirling Highway, is a typical brick and asbestos single storey cottage dating from the 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, 121 Stirling Highway, is a single storey brick and asbestos cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are face and rendered brick. Verandah has been infilled with rendered brick and aluminium windows. Roof is hipped corrugated asbestos with no eaves and infilled verandah under continuation of main roof. There is a low level asbestos fence to the front boundary line.

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, 121 Stirling Highway was built sometime between c. 1900 and 1921, when C.G. Kiesewetter was listed as the owner. In 1921/22, R. Fitzpatrick purchased the four roomed stone residence. The property was subsequently owned by other members of the Fitzpatrick family and was leased to tenants for a number of years. In 1955, Mrs Rita Rennie acquired ownership. The title then passed to William James Aubrey, who lived in the house until his death in 1981. The place has had two owners since that time. A 1939 diagram shows House, 121 Stirling Highway as being a brick house with a full length front verandah and a weatherboard enclosure at the rear. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also 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

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials). 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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