17 Sadlier Street

Parent Place or Precinct

26270 Sadlier and Redfern Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Sadlier and Redfern Streets heritage area is of: Aesthetic Value • As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely Inter War residences. • For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1920s and the 1940s. • For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles. Historic Value • As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century. • For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees. • For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1920s to the 1930s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in this period. Representativeness • As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services. Physical Form in the Public Realm • The houses, which (with the exception of three modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1920s to 1940s, have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, within a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron house with replacement roof cladding and substantial two storey rear addition. The original section of house is of brick construction which has been painted. It does not appear that it was tuckpointed. The elevations have since been painted impacting on the authenticity of the building and its presentation. The rendered band at sill level remains extant. The house is gabled to the street facing elevation, the gable itself clad with roughcast concrete and timber detailing. The skillion verandah canopy extends across the front elevation and wraps around to the south west elevation. This return section of the verandah has now been enclosed with weatherboard cladding. The remaining verandah canopy is supported on timber posts and has a timber deck. The façade contains two 1-over-1 timber framed sash windows and a timber and glass panelled door with similar side panels and fanlights. The corbelled brick chimney remains extant. A carport has been constructed to the south west elevation. The garden is enclosed by a timber picket fence.

History

This portion of Sadlier Street was subdivided for residential lots in 1893 by owners, the NSW company, Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1896, lots in the Redfern Estate, Subiaco were advertised in the local press as ‘Good Building Lots, near the railway line’. The subdivision was managed by Alfred Axon, the local branch manager for the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. Axon was also a significant individual investor in Subiaco property. Lots 73 and 74 were transferred to John Ewing Serviss of NSW in 1896 but there is no evidence to indicate that the land was developed by this owner. Analysis of Rate Books and PO Directories indicates that this place was likely constructed c.1925. The Rate Books contain the following listings: • 1929/30 Todd Bros – owner & Robert Dick (accountant) – occupier • 1935/36 & 1936/37 Todd Bros – owner & Herbert Anderson - occupier The PO Directories list the following occupants: • 1926 Thompson, Henry • 1928 Vacant • 1929 Hanley, Mrs Isobel • 1930 – 1935/36 Dick, Robert • 1937/38 - 1949 Anderson, Albert From the above information it is suggested that the residence was constructed as an investment property by the Todd Brothers. Todd Bros was a building company founded by Alec, Jim and Tom Todd who all tragically died in 1919. This strange coincidence was noted in the local press. The firm continued to work in the Subiaco area achieving many contracts for public works. The company built this residence and the adjacent property (HN19) in 1925 at the same time as rental properties. The two residences have the same design and location on the block. Aerial photographs indicate that major additions were undertaken in the late 1990s including the addition of a second storey at the rear of the existing residence. The form and extent of the building have not changed significantly since that time.

Integrity/Authenticity

The partial enclosure of the front verandah and alterations to the finishes impacts on the presentation and authenticity of the place. However the original design intent remains clearly visible.

Uses

Creation Date

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