House

Parent Place or Precinct

25394 Union and Redfern Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Union and Redfern Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Sufficient details remain to suggest that this house was designed in a modest suburban interpretation of the Federation Queen Anne style. However, extensive alterations have confused an understanding of the original detailing and finishes. Consistent with the underlying style, the roof has complex hipped and gabled forms with a prominent street front gable. This roof form has been enlarged and interpreted in the late twentieth century additions, which feature three glazed, west-facing gables to the loft/first-floor areas. The surviving traditional chimney, which is located on the northern side of the house, has face brick sides and a slightly bulbous roughcast rendered cap. The main gable (facing Union Street) has a plain panelled face with four slender vertical battens - and would have been more ornate in the original design, probably with a roughcast rendered face and more robust battens (similar to the detailing to the smaller gable facing Rawson Street). Houses of this type typically had tuck-pointed red brickwork with contrasting rendered detailing, including string courses and moulded window sills. This house has a plain rendered string-course at window sill height, but the face-brickwork has a mottled finish that is not characteristic of the period. The projecting wing under the main gable has an original, shallow, rectangular window bay, fitted with modern timber-framed windows. The bull-nosed verandah extends across the front of this wing and then continues in an unbroken alignment to create a deep, shaded verandah across the remainder of the stepped façade. Decorative detailing to the verandah includes iron lace frieze and fringe panels and semi-circular brackets (rather than the ornamental timber detailing that was typical of this style and era). The first set back to the façade has a single stained glass window with a plain recessed sill and a semi-circular head. The main entrance is located along the second setback, facing towards Rawson Street (a location typical of houses of this type). This has a traditional form with highlights and narrow sidelights. The eastern end of the verandah abuts a side wing, which features a smaller rectangular window bay and gable, facing Rawson Street. The house then extends with a two storey addition towards the rear of the site. The house is set approx. 4m back from the front boundary, which is defined by a low brick fence with metal infill panels.

History

Perth Suburban Lot 255 was purchased by the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company Ltd of Sydney in August 1890. Two years later it was transferred to James Chesters of 155 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, estate agent. By 1894 Chesters had subdivided this land as Deposited Plan 899, with 42 lots laid out around Queen Street (soon renamed Union Street). Chesters sold Lots 30 to 32 to William James Douglas in September 1901, shortly before Douglas and his partner, Frank Dyson, purchased the adjacent Perth Suburban Lot 253 and subdivided that area around Rawson Street. Initially Rawson Street did not officially connect to Union Street, but the Subiaco Council purchased part Lot 31 and part Lot 32 to extend Rawson Street in 1913/14. The Subiaco Rates Books indicate that part Lot 32 and Lot 33 were acquired by Joseph Shonbrun (tea merchant) in 1914/15 and that the house was built at this time. Shonbrun (who listed his occupation as tea merchant) had previously developed houses at 159, 161, 163 and 165 Hamersley Road (in the period c.1905-09) and was living at #165 (on the corner of Union Street) in 1915. During this period there were numerous advertisements for the sale of land and houses referencing his name or address, and it appears that he was active in property speculation. In 1915, Joseph moved to his new house at 12 Union street with his wife, Lena, (and possibly their daughters Doris and Rita). In the following year he legally changed his name to Joseph Shaw – a name that he had already used for many years. Joseph died in October 1920, after which his widow, Lena, remained in Western Australia for only a short time. The next owner of 12 Union Street appears to have been Neil McPherson, a WAGR employee who was killed in an accident in July 1921 (aged 56 years). At the time of his death Neil was described as the husband of Amelia (who he had married in 1898), and father of Neil, Ina, Donald, Malcolm and Colin McPherson of 12 Union Street, Subiaco. His widow, Amelia, considered selling 12 Union Street, but in August 1922 placed an advertisement stating that it had been withdrawn from sale. In 1923 her daughter, Ina, married Stanley Edgar Emrose (traveller) and they shared the house with Amelia until 1933, after which Amelia moved out. 12 Union Street appears to have been sold between 1937 and 1943 as, by the latter date, the Emrose family had moved to Nedlands, and the electoral rolls had listed David and Alice Lovell at this address. It was then occupied as the Lovell family home for many years, with Alice still listed here in the 1980 electoral roll. At some stage in the 1980s to early 1990s the house was extended and re-roofed (replacing the original tiles with corrugated metal sheeting). Historical aerial photographs suggest that the second storey additions (which altered the roofline) were undertaken in c.2007.

Integrity/Authenticity

Note: This place has some local historical significance as the family home of Joseph Shaw, who was responsible for the speculative development of several houses in Subiaco, including 159, 161, 163 and 165 Hamersley Road and 8 Union Street. However, alterations to the roof form and cladding, windows and wall finishes, have all impacted on the authenticity and traditional character of this place.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in fair to good condition.

Uses

Creation Date

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