House

Statement of Significance

The place at 78 Brunswick Road has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: The place is associated with John Norman Snr who served 44 years with the Postal service in Albany including as Postmaster, Secretary of the Mechanics Institute, Past Master of the Plantagenet Lodge, member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and very involved with the Methodist Church with Norman House in Stirling Terrace named in his honour. His sons John and Arthur also established Norman Bros Stationers business in Stirling Terrace. 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. The place is one of many associated with sea trade and port affairs in Brunswick Road and the eastern end of Stirling Terrace.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Set in elevated position overlooking the Grain Silos and Princess Royal Harbour • Residence is set back from road behind a hedge of Australian native plants • Stone and brick structure, mostly rendered and painted • Symmetrical facade, with large projecting bay windows on either side of the front door • Gables over bay windows • Verandah across front elevation Modifications include: • Rendering of brick/stone • Some external changes - difficult to assess accurately

History

It is said that this house was built for the P&O Shipping line as quarters for its visiting captains and VIPs and was later sold to the well-known Norman family in the 1890s. The house reflects the typical dwelling of a rising middle class that was emerging 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. There were several houses associated with sea trade and port affairs in Brunswick Road and the eastern end of Stirling Terrace (which was also referred to as Brunswick Road up to Spencer Street). Norman family - John Norman Snr John Norman Snr was born in Albany on 20 May 1861. His father James Norman came to Albany as an early settler in 1839 in charge of stock for the Australian Pastoral Company. As a youth he joined the Postal service when Albany was still the main port for Western Australia and eventually worked his way up to the position of Postmaster. His brother was Josiah Norman who became a leading building contractor in town and served as a Councillor for the Albany Road Board. In 1884 John Snr married Eliza Mews of Perth. They had five children, three sons John Jnr, Arthur and Percy, and two daughters Eva and Amy. Sons John and Arthur established Norman Bros stationers in Stirling Tce. Their youngest son Percy was killed in action in WWI. Daughters Amy married Lionel Carter 1915 and Eva married Arthur Mason 1921. After 44 years with the Postal service he retired in 1921 at aged 60. He was by now well-known in the community not only as the long-serving Postmaster, but as Secretary of the Mechanics Institute, Past Master of the Plantagenet Lodge and a member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce. However, he was mainly known and recognised for his involvement and contributions to the Methodist Church. In 1936 Eliza Norman died. John Norman Snr died aged 84 on 16th February 1946 at his home in Brunswick Road. Sadly he died just 30 minutes before the official opening of the Methodist Church Norman House Boys’ Hostel, on Stirling Terrace, which was named in his honour. (The house may have remained in the Norman family for some years after John Snr’s death. Gordon Norman – grandson of John Snr – was living in a house at 37 Brunswick Road in the 1950s so a check of changes in street numbers would need to be made).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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