House

Parent Place or Precinct

25394 Union and Redfern Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Union and Redfern Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Unlike all of the other houses in the study area, 8 Union Street was designed as a modest workers cottage set on a narrow lot and was built of timber, rather than brick. Key elements include: • Single-fronted façade set under a wide gable. This gable has a flush panelled face with a simple decoration of vertical and curved timber battens, with a turned timber finial to the apex. • Rusticated weatherboards to the main façade. • Plain, square-edged weatherboards to the side walls. • Corrugated metal sheeting to the roof. • Face-brick chimney with a projecting rendered cap and base, set near the main ridgeline. • Return verandah. This extends across the front of the house and then returns along the northern side. It features a bullnose roof, turned timber posts, carved timber brackets and turned timber balusters. • Entrance door located on the southern side of the main façade (accessing the side hallway). This is framed by a highlight and very narrow sidelight – both with stained glass detailing. • Triple double hung window to the left of the main entrance. This has a wide central sash flanked by very narrow sashes (a simple decorative window form that was commonly used in the early twentieth century). • French doors opening onto the verandah from the rear of the side return. The house is set approx. 3.5m back from the front boundary, which is defined by a scalloped timber picket fence, backed by a low, clipped hedge.

History

Perth Suburban Lot 255 was purchased by the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company Ltd of Sydney in August 1890. Two years later it was transferred to James Chesters of 155 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, estate agent. By 1894 Chesters had subdivided this land as Deposited Plan 899, with 42 lots laid out around Queen Street (soon renamed Union Street). Chesters sold Lot 34 to Edward Steele in July 1894, but it was many more years before the site was developed. In 1909, J. Tate was the first and only resident listed in the Post Office Directories for the eastern side of Union Street, between Hamersley and Heytesbury Roads (and remained so until 1912). In 1912/13 the Subiaco Rates Book confirmed that James Tate was the owner and indicated an improved value of only £350 for the site (compared to £600 to £650 pounds for other places in the street) – reflecting its nature as a relatively modest weatherboard house. James Henry Tate (who worked as a fitter) lived here with his wife Mary (who he had married in 1902) and their growing family from c.1909 until 1963, after which they moved to Scarborough. Over time, additional adults listed in the electoral rolls for this address included their children Eva Elizabeth Tate (telephonist)(born 1903), Gloria Maude Tate (teacher)(born 1907), Vida Ethel Tate (civil servant)(born 1911) and James Wallace Tate (student, later teacher). Unlike all of the other houses in the study area, 8 Union Street was designed as a modest workers cottage set on a narrow lot and was built of timber, rather than brick. Key elements include: • Single-fronted façade set under a wide gable. This gable has a flush panelled face with a simple decoration of vertical and curved timber battens, with a turned timber finial to the apex. • Rusticated weatherboards to the main façade. • Plain, square-edged weatherboards to the side walls. • Corrugated metal sheeting to the roof. • Face-brick chimney with a projecting rendered cap and base, set near the main ridgeline. • Return verandah. This extends across the front of the house and then returns along the northern side. It features a bullnose roof, turned timber posts, carved timber brackets and turned timber balusters. • Entrance door located on the southern side of the main façade (accessing the side hallway). This is framed by a highlight and very narrow sidelight – both with stained glass detailing. • Triple double hung window to the left of the main entrance. This has a wide central sash flanked by very narrow sashes (a simple decorative window form that was commonly used in the early twentieth century). • French doors opening onto the verandah from the rear of the side return. The house is set approx. 3.5m back from the front boundary, which is defined by a scalloped timber picket fence, backed by a low, clipped hedge.

Integrity/Authenticity

The external streetscape character, finishes and detailing of this place are largely consistent with its original design.

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

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