HOUSE, 11 JOHN STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 11 John Street, is a typical rendered masonry and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. 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, 11 John Street, is a single storey rendered masonry and iron narrow cottage with asymmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls have been rendered at a later date. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate bullnose corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by timber posts with simple timber brackets. Front elevation is asymmetrical with a timber sash windows and a front door to the side. There is a low timber picket fence to the front boundary.

History

John Street was the main road surveyed through the parcel of land granted to Lt. Con. John Bruce in 1857. The land remained undivided and undeveloped until after John Bruce’s death, when his widow arranged for it to be auctioned as residential lots. A land sale was held in October 1890 to dispose of the estate of John Bruce. A large attendance resulted in all 88 lots being sold, for sums ranging from £21 to £102, at an average price of £33/16/0, well above the anticipated price. Towards the end of 1891, the new owners approached the Fremantle Council requesting that scrub be cleared so that they could access their blocks, and it is likely that this is when John Street, which had been marked on survey diagrams from at least 1833, was actually created. The area at this time was known as ‘Brucetown’. Pensioner Road, which ran from Stirling Highway (then Bruce Street) to the ocean and beach along the route of current Tydeman Road between Stirling Highway and the railway, and continuing beyond this point at the same angle, was renamed John Street in the late 1890s, being the continuation of the current John Street. This name remained until towards the end of the twentieth century, when roads were realigned to accommodate the expansion of Fremantle Port, and the current alignment of Tydeman Road was constructed. The present John Street, from Stirling Highway to the Swan River, developed as a predominantly residential area, with the exception of the Gresham Hotel (to 1934) and the North Fremantle Oval (later Gilbert Fraser Reserve). At the western end of the street a number of prominent homes were built, while the eastern end was characterised by workers cottages. Long residential blocks on the south side of the street, east of the oval, had a number of cottages built along their rear boundary, facing the water. These were reported to have flooded frequently. The street overall fell into disrepair in the decades following World War Two, with many of the larger residences used as boarding houses and the cottages rented out. Many German and Polish migrants took up residence in this period. From the 1980s, gentrification of the area began, with older places either being restored or demolished to construct higher density housing. In the 1990s, most of the older houses at the eastern end of the street were demolished to allow for new waterside developments, most notably Pier 21. The stone and brick house facing John Street at the front of this Lot was constructed by owner George Staples as a family home c.1898, and subsequently occupied by George, his wife Margaret, and their six children. George was employed by Messrs Pearse Brothers. A 1939 plan shows a long narrow brick and stone house to the front of the block, with a front verandah and a wide enclosed rear sleep-out. The footprint of the house is almost identical to the four-room duplex residences at 7-9 John Street, suggesting that it similarly had four rooms along a side passage. A later timber cottage was also built, at the rear of the Lot, facing the river. George’s daughter Mrs Rita Barry lived in the timber cottage with her husband from 1930 when they were first married. Margaret Staples died in 1936. The rear cottage was demolished sometime after George’s death in 1942, as it was frequently subject to flooding. Post Office Directories for 1945 and 1949 list Mrs Eileen Staples resident at the place. Another of George and Margaret’s children, Clement David (‘Clem’) Staples took ownership of the property following his father’s death, and retained ownership until his death in 1994. Clem was unmarried. He lived his entire life at 11 John Street, working for 49 years as a cinema projectionist in the Fremantle area. In a 1993 interview, he talked about the ‘drinking hut’ at the property, which had been there as long as he could remember. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored, some loss of fabric and previous unsympathetic alterations). Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining. Some fabric, particularly to the verandah is replacement material. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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