STONEHENGE

Parent Place or Precinct

10945 Thompson Road Precinct

Statement of Significance

House (Stonehenge), 49 Thompson Road, is a typical stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the early twentieth century. 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 (Stonehenge), 49 Thompson Road is a single storey rendered masonry and iron cottage with an asymmetrical facade designed in the Fremantle vernacular style. Walls are rendered and painted masonry. Roof is hipped and gabled corrugated iron with eaves. Verandah is under a separate corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by painted brick piers with a solid painted brick balustrade. Front elevation is asymmetrical with a projecting front room with a pair of timber sash windows to the front room. There is an iron and timber window hood over these windows. The recessed section has a front door and a single sash window. The front door has a stained glass transom window. The house is built on limestone foundations and masonry steps lead to the front verandah with a low balustrade wall. The verandah has been partially enclosed by a low wall supporting half columns. These have replaced the original timber posts. The brick chimneys with stucco corbelling are intact.

History

Thompson Road was named for George Thompson (1838-1874), Fremantle's first town clerk (1871-73). The street is mainly residential, with some commercial development at the northern end between Alfred Road and McCabe Road. The majority of the houses were built c. 1900. Only a few lots on the street remained vacant in the 1920s. House, 49 Thompson Road was built between 1904 and 1921/22, at which time the four roomed stone house was owned by Dennis Coffey and occupied by William Hicks. Coffey continued to own the property until at least 1929, when A. Molloy lived in the house. William Houlahan was recorded as the occupant in 1935/36 and again in 1945. A 1939 diagram shows House, 49 Thompson Road as having a half length front verandah and a full length rear verandah. There was a very large galvanised iron shed at the rear of the back yard (indicating a workshop of some description). The area between the shed and house was paved. Presumably, access to the shed was from Letitia Road. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials). Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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