Farrall Brothers Mortuary (former)

Statement of Significance

The place is an unusual example of a former mortuary which served the Midland community in the 1910s to 1920s. For its association with prominent local businessman and Mayor of Midland Ferdinand Farrall and his brother Thomas Paul Farrall who traded as Farrell Brothers Building Contractors and Undertakers.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and tile cottage dating from the Federation, with alterations. The façade of the property has been rendered potentially masking a change to the dimensions of the openings. The façade contains a single plain entrance door with adjacent timber framed sash windows with horizontal glazing bars. The roof is hipped and tiled. The verandah canopy is non-original with a very shallow pitch roof clad in corrugated metal sheeting, supported on slender timber posts. The side elevations have also been rendered and contain similar windows to those to the façade. A weatherboard addition has been constructed to the rear.

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 Sayer Street was formally subdivided in 1914 but homes had been constructed prior to this date. Sayer Street was named in honour of William Frederic Sayer, legal advisor to the Midland Railway Company. This house was previously designated as 64 Sayer Street. From the readily available information this place was built c1915 to serve as a mortuary for Farrall Brothers who were undertakers as well as building contractors in Midland. Ferdinand Farrall lived across the road at 65 Sayer Street, although he left the district c1913. The business operated from premises at 2, 4, 6 The Crescent so it is presumed this place was an overflow or storage premises Thomas Paul Farrall remained in Midland and continued the business at these premises until c1928. The place subsequently was used as a residence. It is proposed that the alignment of the building on the southern property boundary may have been to enable access for vehicles such as a hearse to the rear of the property. A plan of the site prepared in 1939 for the purpose of planning sewerage services shows that the building footprint has been extended since that time. Aerial photographs since the mid 20th century indicate that the extension was undertaken prior to 1953. Since that time there has been minimal change to the form or extent of the property. The building to the rear of the building was constructed in 2011.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity: Moderate Integrity: Low as the place no longer performs its original function

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building is in fair condition.

Uses

Creation Date

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Last Update