House, 46 Whitfield Street

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value an example of late example of the Federation style in brick. • This place has historic value for its association with the development of Bassendean in the 1910s. • The place has social value as a demonstration of the scale of a typical family home of the early 20th century.

Physical Description

A single storey tuck-pointed brick constructed dwelling with a cement tile and Corrugated iron clad hipped roof with two vented gablet endings along the central east-west roof ridge. For the entire south elevation, the top two thirds are tuck-pointed red brick and the bottom third is rendered brick which has been painted white. On the west corner of the south elevation is a projecting gable section with timber detailing at the apex of the gable. The projecting gable section contains a centrally located timber framed 1-over-1 sash window with sidelights. Extending over the window is a skillion awning clad with cement tiles and supported with decorative timber brackets. Within the recessed section of the south elevation is a timber framed, leaded light, 1-over-1 sash window. Also within the recessed section is a small projecting portion of walling, abutting both the projecting and recessed sections, which contains the front entrance. Connected to the main roof line, but extending at a different pitch over the recessed section of south elevation is a gable verandah which is clad in cement tiles and has timber detailing at the apex of the gable. This is supported by groups of two, Doric style columns atop of a rendered brick balustrade.

History

This portion of Bassendean was subdivided in 1899 and promoted under the name 'Heidelberg'. The developers of this estate were a prominent group of local businessmen who held considerable land in the district and took the opportunity to subdivide the land in the late 19th century when there was a high demand for accommodation for working families following the gold discoveries in the east of the colony. The group of investors included some of the most well-known members of colonial society: S.H. Parker, G.H. Leake, H. Anstey, Dr D. Kenny, J. James, J. Grave, H.E. Parry, Dr J. Hope and W. Paterson. Three of these men; Parker, Leake and Paterson; were at various times members of parliament. Whitfield Street was named in honour of Francis Whitfield, an early colonist and Guildford landowner and Government Resident in the 1830s. From the available information this residence was constructed c1916 and the first occupant was upholsterer, Alfred Melville Low (c1887-1974) and his wife Isabella, née Dow (c1892-1975). The couple married in 1909 and had at least one son who worked with his father in his upholstery business. They remained at this residence for only a few years before it was occupied by long term owner and occupier, telephone linesman Alexander Medrum (c1887-1956) and his wife Minnie Bertha, née Birch (c1887-1951). The couple married in Coolgardie in 1912 and lived in Bassendean throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Aerial photographs indicate that the house has undergone several programs of additions and alterations to the rear of the residence.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Moderate/Low

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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