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 assessment is constrained by limited visual access. It appears to be of brick and iron construction with some retained details. The roof is hipped with a gable to the projecting wing and a separate bull nose verandah canopy across the recessed section of the elevation. The brick corbelled chimney has been retained. The property is enclosed by an impenetrable masonry wall, approx 2m high which significantly obscures views to the house from the street. A carport has been constructed within the front setback, further impacting on the visibility from the street. From what can be seen of the place, it appears to be in good condition.

History

This portion of Subiaco bound by Hamersley Road, Derby Road, Heytesbury Road and Federal Road was designated as Perth Suburban Lot 260. This large landholding of five acres was acquired by the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company Limited in 1890. This company was based in New South Wales but was very active in the development of Perth’s metropolitan area in the 1890s. The plan for the subdivision of this portion of Hamersley Road was approved by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1904. However, the land had been subdivided for residential sale some years previously. Lots had been transferred to new owners from 1892. This lot was transferred to Edward Wareham Swanston in 1893. Swanston was an investor resident in New South Wales. The Rates Books record that the property was owned by McNeill in 1915/16 and in the following year owned by builder, W. Kensatt. This information suggests the house was built by builder Walter G Kensit, who lived at 294 Hamersley Road in 1916. (The difference in spelling is likely to be a result of inaccurate record keeping.) The first recorded occupant was accountant or clerk, Frederick Stanley Jones (c1892-1980). Frederick Jones owned the property until at least 1930. The PO Directories list the following occupants: • 1918 Frederick Jones • 1921 Percy Roberts • 1924 C Campbell • 1925 Mrs E Davies • 1926 Jno Gregson • 1927 Vacant • 1928 Maurice Lashberg • 1929 – 1930 Jas Jones • 1931 – 1932 Lewis Prince • 1933/34 – 1934/35 George Binning • 1935/36 – 1949 Harry Tate An aerial photograph of the property in 1964 shows the simple square form of the house at that time with a simple verandah across the front elevation. It can be seen that this property and the adjacent lot to the east shared a driveway to the rear of the lot and a garage was located across the boundary line. In c1990, an addition was constructed across the rear of the lot and this has remained the form and extent of the building. A garage was built on the front property boundary in the late 1990s.

Integrity/Authenticity

The property appears to be largely intact but due to the presence of the high masonry boundary wall, the contribution the place makes to the heritage area is reduced.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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