Residence

Parent Place or Precinct

02864 Blandstown Heritage Precinct

Statement of Significance

Residence, 8 Wheeler Street is historically significant as together with the similar residence at No 16 Wheeler Street, it represents one of the few developments in the twentieth century workers cottages in Blandstown, that makes a contribution to the historic townscapes of the Blandstown precinct, and of the town of York.

Physical Description

The single storey timber framed house is elevated on stumps. The predominantly hipped roof has a half timbered gable detail on the protruding half front with a veranda on the recessed half. The weatherboard cladding is to dado height with flat sheet fibrocement cladding above. The windows are single double-hung sashes in timber frames.

History

After York was opened for selection in 1830, the first settlers, arrived in 1831 from the Swan River settlement with the task of establishing a Government Farm. Balladong Farm was settled in 1831 by William Heal, later H. Bland after whom Blandstown is named. Stephen Stanley Parker had arrived in the Colony with his parents in 1830. After marrying Elizabeth Sewell in 1844 he purchased Balladong Farm in 1848. During the 1850s, Parker developed the property into a very successful farm. The “village” now known as Blandstown, the oldest privately settled part of the York town, developed around Balladong Farm due to the influential presence, water supply, and the river crossing. Robert Wheeler represents the enterprise of the early settlers in Blandstown having organised the construction of 5 houses in Wheeler Street in the 1860s, at No’s 2, 4, 10, 12, and 14. Later infills in the 1920s are timber framed workers cottages at No’s 8 and 16 Wheeler Street. In 1870, Wheeler Street was gazetted as a public roadway. It was called Hooley Street at that time and officially changed to Wheeler Street in c.1949.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate/High

Condition

Good

Creation Date

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