House, 139 Townshend Rd, Subiaco

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style The original style of this house has been obscured by major early renovations. Plan form at the street frontage • Asymmetrical facade. The narrow frontage includes a projecting wing on the southern side, with the entrance occupying a small recessed section on the northern side. Roof form and materials • Hipped-gabled roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting. This roof was replaced in 2005-2006 and does not retain any original fabric (although the general form of the roof, including a small gablet, appears to have been retained to the main frontage). Wall materials and finishes to the main facade • The brick walls have been fully rendered, concealing any evidence of the original finishes/detailing. Other detailing to main facade • The entrance door has been replaced in a modern style. • The two, tall double hung windows window to the front wall may be original. Streetscape setting • House set back approximately 3m from the Townshend Road frontage. • Lot width approximately 10.1m. • Side setback of approximately 3m from the south boundary (this space now partly occupied by a modern garage) and 800mm from the north boundary. • Front yard enclosed by a high courtyard wall.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this area increased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 91 in 1915, 94 in 1920 and 13 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949. Perth Suburban Lot 221 was subdivided as Deposited Plan 1535 in 1896 and advertised as the “Salisbury Estate”. This comprised 42 lots, including 14 lots along the western side of Townshend Road between Barker and Bagot Road. Based on an analysis of the sequence of entries in the Post Office Directories, it seems likely that this was the property that was known as #141 in 1906-1908 and that it may have been built in as early as 1900 (with one house being listed in the vicinity of 133-141 Townshend Road in 1901 and two in 1902). The property had a high turn-over of occupants until at least the mid-twentieth century, which suggests that it was primarily being used as a rental property. A review of the Post Office Directories at 5-yearly intervals (together with reference to contemporary Electoral Rolls) indicates that some of the primary residents during this period included:  1906 (#141): William Sydney Swaine (electrician)  1910 (#139): Albert William Smith (cook). In the Rate Books of 1909-1910, Christina Whittaker was identified as the owner of Lot 34 In 1912-1913, Mrs E Fourace was identified as the owner/occupier. In 1913-1914, A Cambridge was identified as the owner.  1915: David Gilmour Septimus Virgo (traveller)  1920: Mrs Mary Mathea  1925 & 1930: Mrs Charlotte Bawden A brief newspaper notice states that C A Bawden sold this property in mid-1932.  1935: William G Montague  1940 & 1945: Cyril Charles Stagg (gardener)  1949: Arthur James Morfesse (clerk) In the same year Arthur’s mother was living next door at #137. An analysis of a historical Metropolitan Sewerage Plan (dated 1927, updated 1955) and historical aerial photographs indicates that this house was extensively renovated in c.2005/2006, including re-roofing, construction of a new garage (setback further from the street) and the construction of rear additions.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low: The rendering of the façade, redesign of the entry (including the removal of the entry porch), replacement of the roof, construction of a new garage and construction of a high courtyard wall has obscured evidence of the original character of this place. The primary surviving evidence of the external detailing appears to be the windows to the front wall.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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