HOUSES AND TREES, 15 HARVEST ROAD

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 15 Harvest Road as historic value for associations with the Salvation Army and for its use as a maternity hospital, emigrants' hostel and aged persons' hostel. The trees contribute to the character of North Fremantle.

Physical Description

House and Trees, 15 Harvest Road is a contemporary two storey apartment of face brick with a gable roof. The single storey ground floor section is reminiscent of the lean-to form typical of older North Fremantle housing. This place contains a limestone feature. The site also includes Norfolk Island Pine (araucaria heterophylla) and Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis). These were probably planted in the Inter-War period.

History

From the nineteenth century, Harvest Road was important as an access route to Point Direction, the location of a sheltered landing place. Boat building yards were located at Point Direction for much of the twentieth century, during which time the Harvest Road jetty also became a popular family swimming and picnic area. Originally, Harvest Road began at Stirling Highway (then called Bruce Street), but from 1899 it was extended through to Queen Victoria Street (then called Victoria Street). Harvest Road has always been a predominantly residential street, developing steadily from the turn of the twentieth century, and characterised at least in its early decades as a place with a large number of rental properties. Three industries on the street were Purina (1935-55) and Nabisco (1955-88) cereal manufacturers (number 3-5), Rowlands Co Cordial, Wine and Spirits manufacturers (1908 to at least 1939, at number 11), and various marine industries, most prominently Browns Boat Building Yard (from c.1900), which was located between Corkhill (Elizabeth) Street and the River. Although William P Sandilands is recorded as residing at 15 Harvest Street from 1903, the house at this address is not shown on a 1904 Water Supply map. From 1911, the place is listed in the Post Office Directories as the Salvation Army Maternity Hospital. In 1923, still under the auspices of the Salvation Army, the place was in use as an emigrants' hostel, the Maternity Hospital having been completely transferred to the former Pearse residence at 23 Harvest Road, ‘Hillcrest’. The following year it is listed as a Salvation Army aged persons’ hostel. Maps from 1913 and 1939 show the place as a large residence with extensive verandahs, which by 1939 was incorporated into a larger Salvation Army residential complex. The site also includes Norfolk Island Pine (araucaria heterophylla) and Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis). These were probably planted in the Inter-War period. This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle. The plantings were identified in 'Fremantle's Landscape: A Study for the Municipal Inventory' (2001). This place received a Fremantle Award in 1980. On the 27 February 2019 the City of Fremantle’s Council adopted the Register of Significant Trees and Vegetated Areas and determined that the Trees be removed from the Heritage List and added to the new Significant Tree Register.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity. Medium degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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