Myara Hostel

Parent Place or Precinct

26002 Kershaw Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Kershaw Street Heritage Area is of: Aesthetic Value  As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong heritage character, featuring a narrow avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely intact Federation and early Inter-War villas.  For its retention of many good, representative, examples of Federation Queen Anne villas (which collectively illustrate a gradual evolution in architectural detailing between 1904 and c.1918).  For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles. Historic Value  As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing considered appropriate for the families of professional men, such as merchants, bankers and civil servants, in the early twentieth century.  For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residences of senior professional men and business owners existed side by side with the smaller residences of more junior employees in early twentieth century Subiaco.  For its association with the subdivision of this area by James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, in 1892. In this context it also represents the status of Western Australia as a place of opportunity during the gold rush era of the late nineteenth century – attracting significant investment from the eastern states.  For its association with the efforts of James Chesters as a local land agent and property developer, following his move to Western Australia in 1905.  For its association with Joseph (Joe) Totterdell, who was responsible for the construction of many of Subiaco houses (including some in Kershaw Street), and who, for a brief period (1916-17), lived at 25 Kershaw Street (one of his development properties).

Physical Description

17 Kershaw Street was designed as a large, single storey house that displays some elements of the Federation Queen Anne style. However, alterations to the verandah detailing have partly obscured the original design intent. The house has red, stretcher-bond, face-brick walls and a gabled-hipped, corrugated metal roof. The roof has gablet vents to either end of the ridgeline, and two gables, one over the slightly projecting window bay to the main façade and the other to a projecting wing along the northern facade. Each of these has a roughcast render and half-timbered effect to the face, over an elongated triangular base-board and decorative brackets. The other feature of the roof is a tall, painted-brick chimney with a moulded and rendered cap and terracotta pots. The bull-nosed verandah roof springs from a plain brick corbel below the main eaves line. This is supported on rendered columns, which have detailing derived from the classical Doric order (these have replaced what would have been original timber detailing). The verandah originally returned partway along both the northern and southern sides, but at the northern end there is now an infill room, clad with wide boards. The main walls are constructed of red, tuck-pointed, face-brickwork with two plain rendered string-courses, one at window sill height and the other just above door head height. The front façade is broken up with a slightly projecting window bay towards the southern end. This bay, and the northern part of the front façade, each have two separate double hung windows. These have projecting moulded sills at the string height with curved rendered panels below. The main entrance is located under the return verandah along the southern side. This has a traditional, early twentieth century, six-panel door with panelled and glazed sidelights, plus highlights - all with stained-glass detailing. The front fence has a low face-brick wall, tall face-brick piers, and metal infill panels of spear-capped rods. The house is set back approximately 6m from the street and the front yard has been laid out with lawn, garden beds and a mature peppermint tree. The spacious side set backs have been developed with driveways along either side of the house. On the northern side this has been extended as a wide sealed carparking area. To the rear of this carpark a large extension has been constructed with materials and detailing referencing the original house. This has created a very large western gable over a shallow-arched porch that, while set well back from the street, is now prominent features of public views of the place. Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in good condition.

History

James Chesters, an investor from Melbourne, purchased Perth Suburban Lots 249 and 250 in 1891. In the following year he had this area laid out as a new residential estate (Deposited Plan 504), which included the creation of Lots 149, 150 and 151 (17 Kershaw Street). In 1911 Chesters sold these lots to Jane Layshon. By the following year a new house on this block had been occupied by the next owner, William Charles Robertson (Manager of Milne & Co). Based on the dates, this may have been designed by Bastow and Boas, Architects: TENDERS are invited for the ERECTION of RESIDENCE, Kershaw-st., Subiaco, up till noon on Wednesday, February 8. BASTOW and BOAS, Architects ... The Robertson family remained here until 1946, three years after William’s death in 1943. After that, the house was divided into two flats and rented out until it was offered for sale in 1953: Valuable Freehold Property. 17 Kershaw Street, Subiaco. … Brick home, of 8 large rooms, well furnished, normally occupied as two separate flats, now both vacant. The property will be first offered with the furniture - and, if not sold, then next without furniture and the furniture will be offered the following day at 11 a.m. on the premises. In May 1960 the place came under the ownership of the Paraplegic Association of WA (Inc). It was then transferred to Herbert and Betty Atkinson, Hospital Proprietors, in December 1969, before coming back under government control in 1971, when it was transferred to the Minister for Native Welfare. In 1973 the property was developed by the Department of Community Welfare as an ‘Education and Employment Hostel”, known as “Myera Hostel” or “Myera House”. During the mid-1980’s Myera closed for a period of time, but it was re-opened in 1987 in response to an increased demand for “country senior students requiring accommodation in Perth.” It continues to be used for accommodation for Aboriginal students in 2012. Occupants of the property from its time of construction until 1949 included: 1906-1946 William Robertson and family William Charles Robertson was born and educated in Adelaide, and at the age of 15 entered the firm of Milne and Co, Wine & Spirits Merchants. In 1896 he came to Perth and, as co-manager with Mr J. Russell, opened the Perth branch of that business. 1947-1949 Mrs Thelma Emily Moate (Clerk) and Jack O’Keefe

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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