HOUSE, 36 PEARSE STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 36 Pearse Street, is a typical brick and asbestos tile single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 36 Pearse Street, is a single storey brick and asbestos tile cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are rendered painted brick. Roof is hipped asbestos "slate" tiles with no eaves. Verandah is under broken back roof of same material. Verandah is supported by round steel posts. Front painted and rendered brick. Chimney is brick with simple brick details. Elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows with rendered sills and a central front door. The verandah is concrete with a wrought iron balustrade, which forms the front boundary.

History

The majority of Pearse Street was created as part of a circa 1890 subdivision by William Edward Marmion of Fremantle and James Grave, Edward Keane, Edmund Gilyard Lacey and Frederick Charles Monger Perth. The subdivision occurred when North Fremantle was experiencing rapid development and there was a demand for inexpensive housing close to industry and the railway line. Originally called Mason Street after local land developer and jeweller, Frederick Mason, the street was renamed Pearse Street in 1922/23 (only a year after Mason died) in recognition of George Pearse, Fremantle Councillor (1875-1881) and founder of the Pearse shoe and boot factory in Swan Street. Many the street’s original occupants were working people who had jobs in nearby industries. Homes were modest in scale of brick, stone or weatherboard. Many of the buildings were owned by absentee landlords who leased the cottages to long and short-term tenants. The street has suffered from a poor reputation during its life, at one time known colloquially as ‘Pong Alley’. The short, narrow street has remained a residential street since its formation. The weatherboard and iron cottage at 36 Pearse Street (formerly 36 Mason Street) was built between 1897 and 1913 for an unidentified owner. It was originally part of a larger landholding that was subdivided in the early 1890s by a syndicate comprising William Marmion, James Grave, Edward Keane, Edmund Lacey and Frederick Monger. In 1890, W Thomas owned the vacant land. In 1921, the cottage was descried as a four-roomed weatherboard house and was owned and occupied by Emily Worth. She owned the property until at least 1935. Between 1955 and 1961 the property was owned and occupied by Mrs Annie Ford. Her husband, Henry Ford, had owned the property prior to 1955. In 1940, the cottage had verandahs at the front and back. In the back yard was a weatherboard shed and earth closet. A retaining wall formed one of the boundaries of the lot. The cottage was connected to the mains sewerage system in 1954. In 1979, the front façade of the house was largely unmodified. By 1981, another house had been built on the vacant land next to this cottage. 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.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, partially restored, some loss of fabric and previous unsympathetic alterations). Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining.Some loss of fabric. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as fair to good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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