HOUSE, 70 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 70 Stirling Highway, is a typical stone and iron 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, 70 Stirling Highway, is a single storey stone and tile cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are painted limestone with painted brick quoins and reveals. Roof is hipped and tiled with no eaves. Verandah is under a separate tiled roof with metal awning attached. Verandah is supported by round metal posts with a metal balustrade. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash bay windows and a central front door. There is a low level brick wall 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, 70 Stirling Highway was built c. 1900, possibly for the Duggan family. By the early 1920s, the house was used as a rental property, before being sold to W.J. Backshall in 1925/26. Margaret Backshall is recorded as the owner of the property until at the late 1960s, although the Backshall family did not live there in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The property was subsequently purchased by Margaret Jean Dean and the Dean family continues to own the property. A 1939 diagram shows House, 70 Stirling Highway as having a full length front verandah with a centrally located front path. There was a lean-to at the rear and a path led down the eastern side of the house, across the rear and down the centre of the back yard. 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 fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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