HOUSE (DEMOLISHED), 6 JOHN STREET

Physical Description

DEMOLISHED. Retained on MHI for historical information only.

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. House, 6 John Street, was one of three cottages at 6 to 10 John Street constructed close together in the 1890s, and demolished in 1994 to construct a new residential development. It was built on Lot 46 in 1892 by blacksmith Thomas Moore, together with adjacent 8 John Street, after which the land was divided and the cottages sold separately. James Black Hutchinson (driller) purchased 6 John Street, and occupied the place until 1902. James Sowden is recorded at the place from 1904, and in 1907 it was transferred to Emma Sowden (market gardener). The long block may have allowed for a small market garden behind the cottage. From 1918 to 1949, the place was owned by Herbert Clement McCarthy, and the McCarthy family resided there. Post-World War Two owners included John and Rose Chapman (1949-1958) and Arthur and Annie Creech (1958-1974, when Arthur died. It is not known how long Annie retained ownership beyond this). A 1939 plan shows the place as a small timber cottage, sited close to the road, with a verandah to the front, but not the rear. A 1979 photograph shows the cottage with the front verandah semi-enclosed with weatherboards, and a single brick chimney to the rear. 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) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

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