Hymus House and Outbuildings

Statement of Significance

Hymus House & Outbuildings, a Victorian bungalow style house constructed of vuggy lacustrine limestone and a roof clad in corrugated galvanised iron, together with outbuildings including Workers’ Quarters and Dairy, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: •The place is a visually prominent element in the East Rockingham landscape, and is a landmark on Mandurah Road; •The place is a rare example of a vuggy lacustrine limestone structure, a local construction material commonly used in the East Rockingham area until the post-World War Two period; •The House has aesthetic value arising from its physical proportions and construction in local stone; •The place is a rare component of a clearly definable collection of buildings and sites from the early settlement of the district; •The place has a strong association with the Hymus family who were among the earliest settlers in East Rockingham and were involved in the social and civic development of the district; •The place is associated with the Stokes family who owned land and farmed in the district from the early 20th century up to the 1970s; •The place contributes to the district’s sense of history and permanence.

Physical Description

Restored single storey bungalow of vuggy limestone masonry construction with a corrugated iron hipped roof, penetrated by a brick chimney topped with two clay pots. The roughly square plan bungalow and surrounding planted garden of mature shrubs and lawn are contained by a fence of brick piers and flat top timber palings atop low stone walls. The limestone walls of the building have been rendered, painted and feature timber framed windows with face brick quoining. The attached verandah is covered by an extension of the roof with a break of pitch, supported on timber posts and raised two steps from ground level. The surrounding outbuildings are no longer extant including the former dairy building, loading ramp, shed with lean-to and concrete water tank.

History

The Hymus family was among the first to settle in east Rockingham in the 1850s. Daniel Hymus (1835-1920) (senior), who ran the then Port (now Rockingham) hotel, and his wife Fanny (nee Bell) (1848-1913) acquired the land on which Hymus house now sits in 1878 and lived in an earlier dwelling. Their son Daniel (1876-1932) built the current house c1895. In 1935, the property was sold to farmer Joseph Stokes who developed it as a dairy. In 2006, the cultural value of Hymus House was recognised officially when it was placed on the State Register of heritage Places. In early 2007, subdivision of old farmland surrounding Hymus house was approved, subject to the establishment of a Heritage Agreement which required urgent conservation works which included securing the building, replacing the roof sheeting was replaced and rebuilding the verandahs. The new owners restored the building as the company’s administrative office.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Degree Authenticity: High Degree

Condition

Excellent

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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