House

Statement of Significance

• The place has a high degree of aesthetic value as an example of a Federation Bungalow with Queen Anne elements. • The place has historic value for its association with the expansion of the South Perth Peninsula in the 20th Century. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of South Perth in the early 20th century as a suburb for professional men and their families. • The place has social value as an example of the type of accommodation built for professional people and their families in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

The subject residence is located across 2 lots at the corner of Parker Street and Mill Point Road. This single storey place is sits in contrast with the prevailing higher density built form that surrounds the site. It is opposite the South Perth Zoo. The following information is taken from the previous place record for 2 Parker Street (1994-2000). Residence Exterior The exterior of the subject residential building appears to be largely intact. It includes unpainted tuckpointed walls with rendered window sills, and string course detail over coursed limestone footings. The verandah is supported on smooth, round, timber posts which resemble elongated Doric columns with thinner and elaborate turned posts flanking the main entrance. The verandah returns around the north and south elevations from the entrance on the west. Granolithic steps with limestone strings lead up the entrance. Most of the northern verandah is enclosed with fibro reinforced cement dado and windows over, set on a timber frame. The roof is a hipped Marseilles pattern terra cotta tiles with a matching terra cotta gargoyles. The terra cotta gargoyles at the apex of the ventilating gablets. The gable to Mill Point Road has a panel of ventilating louvres and a composite panel of terracotta pan tiles hung as a spandrel with a splayed roof over the bay window. The front elevations include leadlight windows. In recent years the property has been restored, with reconstructed verandas and other elements, and the garden cleared of overgrown bougainvillea and other substantial plantings, revealing the residence that was previously obscured from street views. The front fence is made from wire mesh in the stone bays with jarrah pickets at the rear to part of the Mill Point Road boundary. The garden includes a large bougainvillea and plumbago hedge. One of the stone piers on the western elevation is learning outwards and the stonework generally will require some conservation. A brick outbuilding was evident in the north-east corner of the site. Residence Interior Inspections of the place undertaken in 1999 noted several internal changes mostly with a view to restore the original building fabric. This inspection noted that efforts had been made to restore the fabric of the place to that most likely to align with the original residence. Of note was the decorative and consistent leadlight pattern of doors and windows. The Hall, Lounge and Parlour reflect the original fabric with lathe and plaster ceilings. A decorated flat arch joins the Parlour and Lounge. A fire place, timber floor and original joinery was present. The joinery finish in the Lounge was jarrah. The main Bedroom to the left of the front door has had some ceiling conservation done. Interim {possibly circa 1950’s} fabric in the Bathroom has been replaced. With period fittings and the wood stove in the Kitchen has had a newer stove installed, the original stove recess remaining intact. Other rooms are generally at a high level of authenticity.

History

The following historical information has been extracted from the submission provided by the property owners with research undertaken by Laura Gray, Heritage and Conservation Consultant: The earliest researched Certificate of Title dated 14 January 1886, shows that Edward Albert Stone, a Judge of the Supreme Court, was the sole proprietor of Perth Suburban Lots 2, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 62, in an area bounded by Mend Street to the northwest, Suburban Road (Mill Point Road) to the southwest, the Swan River to the northeast, and lot 49 adjoining on the southeast. The lots were numbered 53, 52, 51, 62, 50, and 49 from northwest to southeast fronting Suburban Road. From January 1886, Stones property was subdivided and sold off and in 1887 Stephen Henry Parker acquired the subject lots (1 and 2 4 formerly part lot 62). In 1896, the Lots 2, 50 and 6 were mortgaged to Edward Spencer with stated ownership on dated 1 November 1900 as Stephen Parker and Edward Albert Stone. A covenant was annexed to the land tenure “not to be used as a public house or for the sale of spirits”. Parker Street is likely to have been named for Sir Stephen Henry Parker, a politician and Chief Justice who was a prominent resident of South Perth in the 1890s when this area was being developed. It was declared to be a public highway in 1904 (source A Heritage In Names, the Origin and Meaning of Street and Place Names in the City of South Perth, City of Subiaco , Gina Fraser, 215. By January 1903, Parker was sole owner of Pt Lot 62 that stretched from the river front to the Suburban Road (now Mill Point Road). In November that year the owner of Lots 1 and 2 was James Ainslie, who had previously (December 1902) acquired lots 3 and 4 (north of lots 1 and 2 as part of part lot 62). The property was sold to Francis Edward Walsh, a civil servant, on 23 April 1918 who owned it until 12 October 1937, and the ownership has changed many times since then. Francis Edward Walsh’s granddaughter recollects the house was built by him for his family. She recollects her father was raised there and that he shared memories with her of his childhood playing with Le Souef family at the zoo, Tom Hungerford's family store, Chinese market gardens on foreshore, swimming across the Narrows, clearing of bush to develop St Columba's Church. Mr Walsh’s career took him and his family in a variety of locations across the State before making a home in South Perth by 1916. In around 1905 he was associated with the Chamber of Mines Kalgoorlie a connection which continued until the late 1940’s. He was a mining register in Nullagine in around 1894, and for the Yilgarn Goldfield c1911-12. In the Blackwood District he was appointed a Justice of the Pearce for the district (c1908). In Perth in the 1920’s he was the Clerk of Arbitration, with offices in Barrack Street, Perth. He married Elizabeth Ann Walsh, nee O’Callaghan, and had 5 children including Marjorie Mary (passed at 6 months), Fredrick Bowering, Elizabeth Anne, Charles Stuart and Marie Therese, who was born in South Perth. Between 1980 -1982/83, Martyn P. Casey and Brian Waldron resided at 2 Parker Street. During this time Mr Casey became a member of an Australian rock band the Triffids which formed in Perth in 1978. Mr Casey has also played with another Australian band, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds since 1992. Both bands have been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and Mr Casey was inducted into the WAM Hall of Fame in 2014. Between 1979 – 2023, the place is associated with Mr Stewert and Mrs Anne Gunson. The couple made improvements to restore the residence to align with the original.

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