House

Parent Place or Precinct

26335 Hamersley Road Group Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Hamersley Road Group heritage area is of: Aesthetic Value • As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely intact Federation and Inter War residences. • For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1890s and the 1940s. • 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 for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century. • For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees. • For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1890s to the 1920s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in the gold boom period and shortly thereafter. Representativeness • As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services. Physical Form in the Public Realm • The houses, which (with the exception of two modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1898 to 1921, (and one in 1946) have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, with a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

The house is shrouded by dense planting and a full description is difficult to determine. The house is of brick construction, originally fairfaced but has subsequently been rendered and painted. The roof plan incorporates a wide gable to the front, flanked by skillion verandah canopies that wrap around the east and west elevations of the projecting wing. The roof to the rear is hipped and has been clad in zincalume. The verandah canopies are supported on turned timber posts with non-original pavers to the deck. The house is positioned on the corner of Hamersley Road and View Street, with a vehicular entrance to the side elevation. The main entrance to the house also appears to be on the View Street elevation. The features of the house including window types, cannot be seen due to the planting which encloses the property. From the limited visibility available from the street, the house appears to be in a good condition and well maintained.

History

This portion of Hamersley Road was subdivided for residential lots in 1892. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1898, lots in Hamersley Road were advertised for £35. The Subiaco Road Board Rates Book record this lot was owned by clerk, W. G. Simpson and he constructed a residence on the site in c1904. In 1905, the place had changed ownership with George Frederick Shawyer (c1869-1931) civil servant, living at the place with his wife Nellie Shawyer (c1869-1941). Between 1911 and 1924, the place was owned and occupied by accountant Charles Sigley (c1868-1928) and his wife Emily Ada Sigley (c1879-1943). Subsequent long term owners and occupants were Robert Benjamin Polglase (c1952) and his wife Ivy Florence, nee Hewett (c1889-1939). Robert Polglase was a miner and appears to have spent much of his working life in regional Western Australia while Ivy lived in Subiaco. Following her death in 1939 the place was occupied as listed below. The PO Directories list the following occupants: • 1907 George Shawyer • 1910 Arthur Sharpe • 1911 – 1924 Charles Sigley • 1925 – 1933/34 Robert Polglase • 1934/35 – 1939/40 Mrs I Polglase • 1940/41 Vacant • 1942/43 – 1947 Mrs Cleale • 1949 Henry Lake Aerial photographs indicate that in 1964 the residence had a symmetrical roof form with a simple skillion roof across the rear of the building. The roof cladding appears to have been dark (probably red) corrugated iron. Minor additions were constructed across the rear of the building in the 1970s. It is probable that this property originally included the lot to the west, HN243, as the garden and outbuildings were linked. In c1990, a large addition was constructed adjoining the rear of the residence which includes the distinctive square roof form clad in zincalume. The remainder of the house was still clad in dark corrugated iron. The roof cladding was changed to the current zincalume between 1995 and 2000. Since that time the form and extent of the residence have not changed significantly.

Integrity/Authenticity

The original plan form appears to remain extant but changes to the finishes and appearance of the place have impacted on its authenticity

Uses

Creation Date

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