House

Statement of Significance

The place at 4-6 Mount Street has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: It is a good example of the Victorian Georgian architectural style and represents the early residential development in Albany. It is associated with its first owner and early resident of Albany, Hugh Mercer Thomas, who came to Albany in 1852 and later worked as Clerk of Courts as well as acting Resident Magistrate. The place reflects the typical dwelling of a rising middle class that emerged from the commercial and service industries that developed around the port of Albany in the latter part of the 19th century particularly when Albany was the main port for Western Australia.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Elevated setting on sloping block with views across harbour • Large example of Victorian residence with Colonial Georgian influences over design • Raised on timber stumps • Three large chimneys with moulded capping • Rectangular design with verandahs all the way around • Stone rendered walls • Steeply pitched corrugated iron roof • Verandah under separate roof Some obvious modifications include: • External colour scheme • Timber balustrading and steps to west • Free standing carport/garage to the west

History

According to the deeds Hugh Mercer Thomas owned the property from 1861 until 1890 when the title was transferred to a person thought to be a relative of Thomas. Thomas was second officer on the barque Larkins when he arrived in Albany in October 1852. He worked as an agent for the P&O SN Company until 1858 when he went on a trip to England. After his return to Albany, he took up the position of Clerk of the Court. In 1861 he acquired this property in Mount Street, which would have been conveniently located to the original courthouse in Stirling Terrace (refer Old Albany Post Office). His wife died in October 1899. Not long after this, Thomas retired from the Court – now at the 1897s Court House further east along Stirling Terrace - where towards the end of his career was often acting Resident Magistrate. An invalid for the last 2 years of his life, Thomas died in 1902. In 1994 the owner of the house, Desmond Guilfoyle, thought the house was originally built in the 1860s for a government doctor Johan Antonius Baesjou, hence the other name attributed to the house. Jenny Boreham, real estate agent, searched the title deeds which revealed no links with the name Baesjou at all. Although Baesjou may have leased the house from Thomas, this is not confirmed.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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