HOUSE, 10 CORKHILL STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

05868 Five Houses

Statement of Significance

House, 10 Corkhill Street is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1910s. 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.

Physical Description

House, 10 Corkhill Street is a single storey weatherboard and corrugated iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed in the 1910s. It is a simple and late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are timber framed clad with weatherboards. Roof is hipped corrugated iron. Verandah is under a separate roof with square profile timber posts. Front elevation is symmetrical with two four-pane timber windows and a central front door. There is a timber picket fence at the front boundary. There is a two storey rendered addition to the rear.

History

Corkhill Street was originally gazetted as Elizabeth Street, with the name change occurring in the 1930s. The majority of the street north of Harvest Road has no facing lots. It runs along the side boundaries of properties facing the perpendicular streets and was not included in early surveys for the area. A 1904 plan shows only one house in the street between John Street and Harvest Road, but by about the end of the decade, the entire west side of the street in this section was occupied by residences. The east side of the street, where the land backs onto the river and Point Direction, was the site of Browns Shipyards in this period. A.E. Brown had a large Federation-style residence at 1 Elizabeth Street (corner of John Street), which was later demolished, and used the grounds of this house as a holiday camp for disadvantaged children. Rate books of the 1920s and 1930s suggest that a number of the Corkhill Street houses were primarily rented out rather than being occupied by their owners. The land bounded by Harvest Road, Corkhill and John Streets was entirely taken up with sheds and shipyards for most of the twentieth century, with occupants including Northwest Whaling Company, Bradfords Insulation (1954 to 1970s), Precision Marine (late 1970s), and the Public Works Department. During World War Two these shipyards were used for the construction of timber vessels for the Australian Navy. No evidence of the shipyards now remains, as the area was subdivided in the late 1990s and redeveloped as a high density residential area. Although photographs dated c.1910 and c.1911 show House, 10 Corkhill Street already evident, Post Office Directories do not appear to list an occupant for the place until 1912, when Mrs H Gosling is listed. The place then appears to be occupied by George Hutton until 1917, when Lesley and/ or Mrs Florence Hick are listed (1917-19). Alfred Thomas lived at the place from 1921 to at least 1930, while the place was owned by Mrs John Quinn. Circa 1993 a two-storey iron-roofed sand-rendered limestone residence was constructed at the rear of the block, featuring recycled doors, windows and bricks. Circa 2014 the tiled roof was replaced with corrugated galvanised iron and the verandah roof profile was changed to bullnose. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North 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).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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