Tuohy Memorial Hospital & Nursing Home

Statement of Significance

The place is a good representative example of a villa of the early 20th century designed to a style and scale to meet the needs and aspirations of middle-class residents such as public servants, small business owners, skilled tradesmen and single/widowed women of private means. This place has aesthetic value as a good representative example of the application of the materials and details of the Federation Queen Anne style in the early 20th century. For its association with the rapid development of Midland in the early 20th century. For its association with prominent community member and former Mayor of Midland, Frank Tuohy and his family.

Physical Description

Federation Queen Anne style building of brick and iron construction. The building is of asymmetric plan form to the façade incorporating a projecting wing and recessed section with small verandah. The place has a smooth rendered plinth with a roughcast render strip immediately below the eaves and to the gable on the projecting wing. The remainder of the elevations are face brick construction. The windows to the façade are timber casements with multi-paned top lights arranged in groups of two and three. The roof is hipped with a gable to the projecting wing and vented gablets to the main roof. The roof is clad with corrugated metal sheeting. The original chimneys have been retained. The main roof continues down to form a small verandah section supported on brick columns.

History

In 1886, the Midland Railway Company took up significant landholdings in the area and established its operations to build its planned railway north to Geraldton. The townsite of Midland Junction was gazetted in 1890 and private investor James Morrison, subdivided and sold large parcels of land to new settlers. With gold discoveries in the mid 1890s, Midland Junction became a hub of the state road and rail system and was a logical site for the government railway workshops which relocated there in 1904. This portion of Morrison Road was approved for residential subdivsion in 1909 and initially this road was known as Woodbridge Terrace. Despite the lack of formal approval, housing had been built on prior to this date. From research supplied local historians and readily available sources, this residence was constructed c1906 and first occupied by Charles Henry Jaques (c1871-1924). Charles Jaques was born in London and migrated with his family to New Zealand before they settled in Bunbury in Western Australia in the late 1890s. He worked as a shunter with the Western Australian Government Railways and in 1906 was living in Midland. By 1909, his address was designated as Woodbridge Terrace indicating the house was built in 1908. No detail of the architect or builder have been found in this research. Charles Jaques never married and worked for the remainder of his life for the Government Railways. He was a very active in the local Freemasons and a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Employees. In 1922, a new occupant and owner Francis (Frank) William Tuohy (1880-1957) moved into the house with his wife Elsie Annie Myers (c1882-1968) and their three children. Frank Tuohy played a significant role in the history of Midland as a member of the local council and Mayor. Frank Tuohy was born in Gawler South Australia and was apprenticed to engineers James Martin and Company, building locomotives for WAGR. He relocated to WA in 1902 and married Elsie Myers in 1904 and the couple lived in regional WA before settling in Midland in 1922 at this house designated as 26 Woodbridge Terrace. Frank Tuohy had been involved in local government whilst living in Narrogin and he soon sort election to the Midland Junction after settling in his new workplace at the Midland Workshops. In 1922 he was elected as a councillor for the West Ward and after ten years on council he was elected Mayor in 1933. Tuohy's period of administration in Midland was marked by a number of beautification projects which enhanced the town for the community. Notably tree plantings the establishment of public gardens, Tuohy Gardens recognise this aspect of his contribution. Frank Tuohy was also a keen sportsman and played and contributed to many teams in the area. Frank retired as Mayor in 1939 and in 1943 made an unsuccessful attempt to seek a seat State Governmentfor the Labor Party. He came out of retirement again in 1946 and was elected to council and became Mayor until 1947. Frank and Elsie lived at this house until their deaths; Frank in 1957 and Elsie in 1968. A survey of the property prepared in 1939 for the purpose of planning water and sewerage services which was revised in 1954 shows that the house had a verandah across the rear elevation. The rear garden included several timber and galvinised iron structures and vine trellises. Aerial photographs since the mid 20th century show that the aged care complex which wraps around the original house was built in the late 1960s, presumabley not long after Elsie Tuohy's death. Since that time the original house has been reroofed with corrugated metal sheeting in the late 1990s to match the original corrugated iron roofing. In 2003, additions to the 1960s building resulted in clearing many of the mature trees behind the original house. In 2006, a new addition was constructed at the rear of the original residence which was consistent with the original roof form and materials. Since that time there have been no significant changes to the former residence and the extent and form of the original structure can still be determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity: Moderate to high due to retained original fabric. Integrity: Low to moderate as the place is no longer used as a residence

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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