House

Parent Place or Precinct

25394 Union and Redfern Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Union and Redfern Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Nos 18 & 20 Campbell Street extend across the full width of Lot 27, with a central party wall (concealed under the main roofline) and parapet walls to the side boundaries. This semi-detached pair of houses was built under a single hipped roof. This was probably originally clad with corrugated iron, but has been reclad with decramastic tiles (removing external evidence of the original chimneys). The verandah has a dropped, bull-nosed roof clad with corrugated sheeting – extending in an uninterrupted span across the full width of the semi-detached pair. The facades of both houses are partly concealed by the high picket fence and tall shrubs in the front yards, but there is clear evidence that the painted brick walls were originally finished as tuck-pointed face-brick. The external entrance, which is located adjacent to the party wall, has a highlight (but no sidelights). At the centre of the remaining section of the façade, there is what appears to be a pair of 3-paned casement windows set over a simple timber sill. This detailing is consistent with the mid-twentieth century and the original windows would have matched the pair of double hung windows remaining to No. 20. The only other major detail is a full height recess with a semi-circular head, set into the side of the dividing wall to the verandah. The house is set approx. 3m back from the front boundary, which is defined by a low painted brick wall with tall brick piers and tall timber picket panels. The small front garden is planted with a pencil pine and shrubs.

History

Perth Suburban Lot 253 was purchased by John Brandon, John Thomas Lawler and Thomas Tate of Sydney in October 1889 and, about six months later, it was transferred to Thomas Read of Sydney, solicitor. Read did not develop the 5 acre site and it was on-sold to the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company of Sydney in October 1897. Building lots in Deposited Plan 1933 began to be sold along the Rokeby Road frontage of PSL 253 from May 1898 and the first sites to be sold along Campbell Street (Lots 31 and 32) were transferred to a new owner in June 1899. However, development was slow and the first houses were not built until 1903/04. Lot 27 was sold to Moritz Gotthelf (a resident of Sydney) in July 1900. The Subiaco Rates Books indicate that Nos 18 & 20 Campbell Street were constructed for J. Cox in c.1904, and that this matching set of semi-detached terraces was acquired by H. E. Carlin as an investment property in 1905. The first known occupants of No 18 were Walter and Mary Groom, who had settled here by 1905. Walter Reynolds Groom was born in Victoria in 1870, but had moved to Western Australia by the time he was married in 1897. In c.1903 he was appointed as the City of Subiaco’s electrician (later electrical engineer), as part of the establishment of the local electricity supply service, and he continued in this role until his retirement in 1939. Numerous contemporary newspaper articles attest to his important role in designing and maintaining the municipal electrical and lighting services throughout this period. Over the first 30 years the occupants of the house changed many times, with most staying only 1 to 3 years – suggesting that it was used as a rental property for the whole of this period. The first long-term residents were George Brown (a labourer) and his wife, Eleanor, who settled here in 1934. Members of the Brown family living here in 1936 included George and Eleanor Brown and at least two of their adult children - Reuben (a plumber) and Eva (a machinist). George died in 1946, after which Eleanor remained here until her death in May 1952 (aged 81 years).

Integrity/Authenticity

Note: The painting of the main façade, the replacement of the original roof cladding, and the replacement of the front windows have all impacted on the authenticity and traditional character of the place. However, it still helps to represent the early development of the street with a number of modest investment properties – which is an important aspect of the history of this area. The high front fence obscures views to the main façade and is intrusive.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

Uses

Creation Date

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