House, 26 Parker Street

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a modest example of the Inter War style. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area of Bassendean in the inter war period. • This place has social value as a demonstration of the form and scale of housing in the 1920s for a working family.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron house of symmetrical plan form to the façade. The house is of face brick construction with the bricks laid in stretcher bond. The centrally placed front door is flanked by windows, each comprising a group of three timber casements. The door arrangement includes timber and glass side panels either side of the door with a deep concrete lintel above. The windows are timber framed casements, each comprising a large pane with four smaller panes to the top in an Arts and Crafts style. The sills are angled concrete. The hipped roof extends down at a break of pitch to form the verandah canopy which is supported on paired timber posts with Arts and Crafts motif between the posts. The verandah deck is raised with limestone retaining wall and timber decking with centrally placed concrete steps leading to the front door. Two tall brick chimneys with terracotta honeypot flues project from the north and south planes of the roof.

History

This portion of Bassendean was subdivided by a group of investors in the early 1900s under the promotional name of 'Tanner's Estate' or the 'Tanner's Extension Estate'. The group of investors included some of the most well-known members of colonial society: Stephen Henry Parker, G.H. Leake, H. Anstey, Dr D. Kenny, J. James, J. Grave, H.E. Parry, Dr. J. Hope and W. Paterson. Three of these men; Parker, Leake and Paterson; were at various times members of parliament. Parker Street was named in honour of Sir Stephen Henry Parker Member of the Legislative Council 1878-1890, 1892-1897 and member of the Legislative Assembly 1890-1892. From the available information this residence was constructed c1928 and the first occupant was George Till (1893-1989) and his Bessie, nee Packham (c1900-1985). George served during World War One and on his return from Europe suffering from the effects of gas poisoning he returned to his family home in Bassendean before establishing a small vineyard in Hearne Hill. He married Bessie in 1928 and the couple built this residence possibly with the assistance of the government through the war service homes facility. The Gills lived at the house for only a few years before occupied by Clifford Tredrea (c1904-1996) during the 1930s and 1940s. Tredrea was a wagon builder and presumably worked at the Midland Railway workshops. Aerial photographs indicate that the residence has had minor alterations only the addition of a carport on the northern side of the building.cousins

Integrity/Authenticity

High Moderate

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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