HOUSE, 85 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 85 Stirling Highway, is a typical brick and iron single storey cottage dating from the early 1900s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 85 Stirling Highway, is a single storey stone and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are face and painted brick. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by timber posts. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door. An additional door has been added, adjacent to the original front door. The house is set well back and well elevated from the street. There is a painted limestone retaining wall to the front boundary line. The grassed garden slopes up to the house. There is a set of concrete steps at the street frontage and at the verandah.

History

The portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’. Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side. Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway. In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use. House, 85 Stirling Highway was constructed at some time between c. 1900 and 1922. In 1921/22, the semi-detached residence was recorded as being a stone house of four rooms. A fifth room was added in 1924. The property has had a number of owners over the years. The property is shown on a 1939 sewerage diagram as being a brick house (external limestone walls; internal brick), well set back from Stirling Highway, with a front verandah and shortened rear verandah. Two outbuildings are shown in the back yard. The large front yard was separately fenced, with access to the house via an unpaved drive between the front yard fence and the eastern boundary. In 1996, plans were prepared to convert the property to two and three bedrooms flats and develop three studio units at the front of the property. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also 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.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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