House

Statement of Significance

The place is a good representative example of a villa of the late 19th century designed to a style and scale to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means. This place has aesthetic value as a good representative example of the application of the materials and details of the Federation Queen Anne style in the late 19th century. For its association with the rapid development of Midland in the late 19th and early 20th century. For its association with prominent businessman, councillor and former Mayor of Midland, Peter Sampson and his family.

Physical Description

Single storey brick former residence with altered details. The eaves brackets and chimneys indicate the property is of the Federation era but the original design intent of the place has been lost following alterations to the verandah, window and roofing. The hipped roof and verandah are clad with decromastic cladding to emulate clay tiles. The painted finish is beginning to wear to show the metal underneath. A separate hipped verandah is positioned below the eaves with small returns to the both the east and west elevations. The canopy is supported on steel tubular posts. The brick walls have been rendered and painted a contrasting coloured plinth. The windows are large openings to the façade with non-original frames. The entrance is set within an arched opening.

History

In 1886, the Midland Railway Company took up significant landholdings in the area and established its operations to build its planned railway north to Geraldton. The townsite of Midland Junction was gazetted in 1890 and private investor James Morrison, subdivided and sold large parcels of land to new settlers. With gold discoveries in the mid 1890s, Midland Junction became a hub of the state road and rail system and was a logical site for the government railway workshops which relocated there in 1904. This portion of Morrison Road was formally approved for subdivision in 1899 and was initally named Boundary Road. The renaming acknowledges the contribution of James Morrison to the founding of the Midland townsite. From research supplied by local historians and readily available information, this residence was built c1899 for Peter Hooper Sampson (1854-1942) and his wife Annie Huntley Owen (1851- 1914). The couple were from South Australia and settled in Midland in the 1890s with their five daughters after trying their luck in the WA goldfields. No detail of the architect or builder was found in this research. Peter Sampson had a general store in Midland in 1895 but found greatest success with his real estate business, Sampson & Co established in 1903 within the Town Hall Buildings. He continued the business well into his 80s. Apart from his professional career, Peter Sampson had a prominent career in local government, serving on the local council for many years and achieving the position of Mayor in 1915. He was also very active in a range of community groups. The Sampson family lived at the house until Peter died in 1942. The place was subsequently occupied by widow Margaret Elizabeth Ryan. A survey of the property prepared in 1939 for the purpose of planning water and sewerage services and revised in 1954 shows that the residence had a verandah and a small weatherboard addition across the rear elevation. Aerial photographs from the mid 20th century shows that an additional structure was built to extend the buildlding the rear in the early 1980s. The original residence has not changed significantly in form or extent since its original construction and can still be readily determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity: Moderate due to loss of original fabric. Integrity: Low to moderate as the place is no longer used as a residence

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building is in poor condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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