Tom Collins House, Allen Park

Statement of Significance

Tom Collins House is highly significant for its association with the writer Joseph Furphy who wrote Such is Life (1903) under the pen name Tom Collins. The book is regarded as one of the classics of Australian literature. The house was built by Furphy with the help of a neighbour. Various doors and the fireplace surrounds contain decorative panels made by Furphy's daughter­ in-law, Mattie Furphy. These panels have significant cultural and rarity value. The house with its museum collection is significant. It is regarded as one of the most important literary museums in the country. Some loss of value has occurred with the relocation of the house to another site. However the relocation has been in accordance with the guidelines of the Burra Charter and the house will continue to function as the headquarters of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) and as a museum. The new site of Tom Collins House is of some significance in that it lies in the vicinity of the area where Joseph Furphy and his family first settled before moving to Servetus Street. The existing Clement Street house built by Sam and Mattie Furphy on the site of these former houses has the original fireplace surrounds which contained Mattie's panels, and other decorative wood work is still in situ. In his letters Joseph Furphy makes reference to the house and grounds and some of the work he undertook there to help his son and daughter-in-law. He died at the Clement Street house after walking a borrowed horse from Servetus Street. Impact of relocation on heritage significance of Tom Collins House While it is unfortunate that Tom Collins House had to be moved from its site in Servetus Street, this was the only alternative to its demolition Article 9 of the Burra Charter allows for relocation when there is no other alternative course of action, dependent on the following condition: "If any structure is moved, it should be moved to an appropriate setting and given an appropriate use. Such action should not be to the detriment of any place of cultural significance." The new site is considered an appropriate setting, and the former functions of the house will be maintained. It could be argued that because the bushland setting of Allen Park is closer to the original nature of the Servetus Street site when Joseph Furphy built and lived in the house, the relocation gives a truer sense of the ambience of the place as it used to be. Furphy described the Clement Street area where he first lived as a "wild bush spot" and the Servetus Street site would have been very similar. Both places had to be cleared of bush before he could build his homes. The following is an evaluation of the impact of relocation on the heritage values established in the original assessment. Aesthetic Value The former picturesque quality of the house in its setting will be re-established through the use of sensitive landscaping. The slope of the land down to the house has been maintained, although not to the extent where this had previously caused problems with rising damp. The aesthetic value of the interior in relation to the artworks and fittings, in particular the beaten copper panels by Mattie Furphy will be maintained. Historic Value The association of the house with Joseph Furphy will be maintained as well as the ongoing history of the house as the headquarters of the WA Branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers. As stated above there are also strong historical associations with the area. The Furphy family acquired three adjacent lots in nearby Clement Street and these were cleared by Joseph who built 'shacks' for himself and his sons. In 1906 Fel ix and Joseph's wife Leonie sold their allotments to the other son Sam, and daughter-in-law Mattie eventually built on the comer of Clement Street and Pine Close still stands in a largely unaltered state. The beaten copper panels and doors which were installed in Tom Collins House by Sam and Mattie when they moved in were originally made for the Clement Street house. Joseph would have been familiar with the Allen Park area bushland as a number of his letters testify to his long walks over the district and along the beaches. Scientific Value Little of scientific value has been associated with the house. Social Value Social and cultural values will remain with the house through its association with one of Australia's great literary figures and the reputations of many of the past and present members of the Fellowship. The house is also regarded as one of Australia's most important literary museums. The housing of the collection and functioning of the place will be much improved through conservation work on the building and the opportunities presented with the new location. This value will be enhanced with the implementation of the overall plan for Allen Park. Quotations from Furphy's letters describing the area will be used on instructional nodes throughout the Park. Rarity The house is one of a dwindling number of the simple type of weatherboard cottage built in the metropolitan area at the turn of the century. Representativeness Tom Collins House remains a typical example of the working man's cottage built to a simple plan. It is representative of the timber and iron houses constructed before building by-laws prohibited the erection of timber dwellings in the metropolitan area. Condition, Integrity and Authenticity Before removal, the house was in a very poor condition. This is now being rectified through restoration and repairs. Original fabric that was in sound condition was retained and reused. Adjusted Statement of Significance "Tom Collins House and its contents is highly significant for its association with the writer Joseph Furphy whose book Such is Life is regarded as one of the classics of Australian literature. This significance is strengthened by the fact that the original front section of the house was built by Joseph Furphy, and some fittings and furnishings are reputed to be by his hand. He lived in the house for the last five years of his life. The house also has significance as an example of a modest hand crafted weatherboard cottage constructed in the metropolitan area prior to the First World War. As such it has potential rarity value. Of high aesthetic value and significance is the decorative copper work by Mattie Furphy found on various doors and the fireplace overmantle. This work has considerable rarity value. Tom Collins House is also significant as the headquarters of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) and as a literary museum. Many leading literary figures have been and are associated with the house. Those aspects of significance relating to the site, setting and garden have been diminished through relocation. However a number of these aspects are being addressed. For example a re-established garden will contain cuttings from the original fig tree and mulberry tree planted by Joseph Furphy, and the Fellowship's garden furniture such as the Furphy Water Tank, sun-dial and various memorials will be re-established. The new site of Tom Collins House is of some significance in that it lies in the vicinity of the area where Joseph Furphy and his family first settled before moving to Servetus Street. The existing Clement Street house built by Sam and Mattie Furphy on the site of these former houses has the original fireplace surrounds which contained Mattie" panels, and other decorative wood work is still in situ. In his letters Joseph Furphy makes reference to the house and grounds and some of the work he undertook there to help his son and daughter-in-law. He died at the Clement Street house after walking a borrowed horse from Servetus Street.

Physical Description

Tom Collins House is a timber and iron 'worker's cottage' originally built to a standard design used at the turn of the century. Viewed from the outside it has an asymmetric plan form with a projecting front room on the left and verandah to the right. The original central passageway was altered some time in the late 1930s with part of the verandah enclosed to create an entrance foyer and the front door moved to the side. Since 1907 a verandah was added to the rear of the house and later converted to additional living rooms to what had been a four room cottage. Other internal changes were made when the house becan1e the headquarters of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA). The weatherboards are painted white and the iron roof is painted red. The house has been resited in a lightly wooded area in Allen Park.

History

Assessment 1997 Construction:1907 Builder: Joseph Furphy & Thomas Reinfeld The NTWA historical information comes from several sources. Jean Lang's book At the Toss of a Coin. Joseph Furphy: The Western Link which was published by the Tom Collins Press, Swanbourne in 1987 is the major source for the text with additions and adjustments made based on other documents and sources of information.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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