House

Statement of Significance

• The place has aesthetic value as a good example of a simple timber cottage built in the Federation style. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of Bassendean in the early 20th century. • The place has social value as a demonstration of the scale of a typical family home of the early 20th century.

Physical Description

Single storey timber frame and weatherboard house with hipped roof. The façade is symmetrical in plan form with a centrally placed entrance flanked by windows. The entrance is a traditional arrangement of timber and glass panelled door with glass and timber panel side sections and fanlights above. A gabled canopy feature projects out over the entrance. The windows are 1-over-1 timber framed sashes arranged in pairs. The roof is hipped with gablets to the ridge and extends down with a slight break of pitch to form the verandah canopy that wraps around the three principal elevations. The canopy is supported on square timber posts, the deck is timber and there is no balustrade. The gabled section above the front entrance forms part of the verandah.

History

Bassendean was originally known as 'West Guildford' and West Road was the original boundary of the Guildford town lots. This portion of Bassendean, south of Watson Street, was subdivided for residential development c1905 when developer, Wesley Maley purchased a large parcel of land bordering the river. The names of roads in this subdivision known as ‘Riverside’, reflected Wesley Maley’s enthusiasm for the prize rams he purchased for his Katanning pastoral property, Moojebing. Maley purchased a flock of rams from South Australian politician, J.H. Angus. Several of the rams were named in honour of Australian prime ministers and consequently the names Watson, Deakin, Barton, Fisher and Reid were applied to the roads in this subdivision. West Road was to be known as 'Main Parade' in the original plan for this subdivision but it was more logical to retain the name 'West Road' as the existing road continued into the new subdivision. From the available information this residence was one of the first homes in this portion of West Road, constructed c1913 and the first occupant was John Mather (c1858-1922) a fitter who worked at the Midland Railway Workshops. Mather and his wife Elizabeth, née Stevens (1858-1936) were from Derbyshire England and settled in Western Australia in 1911 with their family of three children. Elizabeth was noted in the electoral rolls as a dressmaker who presumably undertook her profession at these premises. Following John Mather's death, the family moved from the property and there were many subsequent occupants of the residence. Aerial photographs indicate that the original form and extent of the residence is still evident despite additions to the rear and side elevations. The owners of the property in 2004 and 2016 confirmed this conclusion.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Moderate

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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