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

Single storey brick and tiled property of the Californian Bungalow style. Much of the façade is obscured by dense planting but the place is of brick construction with tuckpoint finish to the majority of the façade and roughcast render to the gabled element. An expansive gable extends across the full width of the house with a separate hipped verandah canopy wrapping around the south west corner verandah and extending across the bay to form the canopy for the main window. The canopy is supported on timber posts. Finer detail of the verandah cannot be seen. The windows are timber framed casements, with integral highlight panes to each casement. The garden is enclosed by dense planting and traditional timber picket fence.

History

The parcel of land of approximately four acres designated as Perth Suburban Lot 232 was purchase by NSW gentleman Issac Singlehurst Ponder in 1885. The plan for the subdivision of this portion of Hamersley Road was formally approved by the Department of Lands and Surveys in 1898. Eight lots on the north side of Hamersley Road west of Federal Street were purchased by local real estate agent Alfred Henry Kearns Axon in June 1898. In 1925, this lot and lot 32 (HN274) was acquired by Robert Percival Saunier a builder living in Subiaco and he retained the property until November 1925. It seems likely that he built the two residences, 272 and 274 as investment projects and sold them. The design and position of the two residences on the lots are very similar. Post Office Directory research supports the conclusion that the place was constructed in 1925 as it was first recorded in 1926. In March 1926, this lot it was transferred to Samuel Herbert Levy (c1872-1934). Samuel Levy was recorded in the Post Office Directories and Electoral Rolls as a manager. Following his death in 1934 other members of the Levy family lived at the residence. An aerial photograph of the property in 1926 shows the form and extent of the original residence. Its similarity to the adjacent property at HN274 is apparent. The form and extent of the property have not changed significantly since then.

Integrity/Authenticity

Dense planting to the front garden obscures views of the house from the street. The visible elements appear to be largely intact and present with a high level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Creation Date

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