HOUSE, 12 RULE STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 12 Rule Street is a typical stone and iron single storey cottage with two storey addition 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 but modified example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 12 Rule Street 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 limestone with rendered and painted brick quoins and reveals. The roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. The verandah is under a separate corrugated iron roof, supported by chamfered timber posts. The front elevation is symmetrical with two large timber sash windows with side lights and a central front door with top and side lights. There is a low limestone wall to the front boundary line topped with timber rails. A second storey rear addition is visible from the front view, with mini orb clad walls and a corrugated iron roof. The view from the side street (Higham Rd) shows that the side elevation to the original house is random course limestone with brick quoins and a skillion roof at the rear. The attached two storey addition is a combination of painted masonry and custom mini orb.

History

Originally named Bay Road, Rule Street first appears on an 1873 survey diagram. The change of name was officially gazetted on 14 February 1969, although Bay Road was referred to as Rule Street or Rule Road as early as 1962. The street was named after Charles Rule, who was a North Fremantle councillor from 1948 to 1960 and a Fremantle councillor in 1961/62 and again from 1968 to 1973. Charles Rule was an active member of the North Fremantle community who service on the Fremantle Advisory Committee, was president of the Friendlies Societies Pharmacies for 21 years and was secretary of the North Fremantle Bowling Club. Rule Street is typified by workers cottages, where workers from Burfords Soap Factory, labourers and lumpers lived. In 1980 a $2 million restoration project converted the old soap factory into residential apartments, following the lead of “The Regency” at 47 Rule Street, where four up-market river-front units had been built two years earlier. House, 12 Rule Street was constructed at some stage between c. 1900 and 1922. In 1921/22, the five roomed stone house was purchased and then occupied by William Lane. Lane retained ownership until the 1940s. By 1955 and until November 1961, the occupant of 12 Rule Street was Clifton L. Houlahan. Mary Miragliotta acquired title to the property in 1961 and she lived there for the next 14 years. Ownership passed to Geoffrey and Anne Truscott in 1975 and the place has had a couple of owners since they sold the property in the 1980s. House, 12 Rule Street is shown on a 1939 diagram; however, the building materials are not noted. Located on the north east corner of Rule Street and Higham Street, a path led from the corner to the front of the house and its full length verandah. There were also extensive paved areas to the rear. At this time, much of the block bounded by Rule, Higham and Elizabeth (Corkhill) streets and Alfred Road was still undeveloped. 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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