HOUSE, 61 WRAY AVENUE

Statement of Significance

House, 61 Wray Avenue, is an early limestone and iron single storey house dating from c1850. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the early workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is a rare example of the Colonial Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

61 Wray Avenue is a single storey, limestone and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as simple example of the Colonial Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. The front elevation has a two doors and simple double hung sash windows with timber shutters. The verandah has a continuous corrugated iron roof and is supported by simple square timber posts with a timber cross balustrade. The edge of the verandah sits on the front boundary line.

History

Wray Avenue was originally Hampton Street. The named was changed to avoid confusion with the intersecting Hampton Road. It became Alexander Road, after Laurence Alexander, Mayor 1901-1902, and a representative of Falk & Co. The street name was again changed to avoid confusion with Alexandra Road in East Fremantle, and became Wray Avenue in 1923. It was named for William E Wray, at one time with the Education Dept as Truant Inspector, and a resident of the street. He was on the Fremantle Tramways Board and Mayor of Fremantle, 1914-1918. House, 61 Wray Avenue is also referred to as 59 Wray Avenue and appears to have at some time been a duplex with the numbering of 59/61 Wray Avenue. Previously the property was known as 135 and 137 Alexander Road. The cottage was built c.1850 for retired sea captain John Tapper. The building was constructed from stone and brick, which came from ballast aboard one of the first fleet ships. The random rubble construction of four rooms was rendered and originally would have had a shingle roof. Information from a later assessment indicates that the building had a cellar. John Tapper used one side of the house for storage, particularly grain, and the remainder of the building was used as his family home. The property remained in the Tapper family until approximately 1978. A plan of the site in 1908 shows the building had a verandah across the full width of the front of the building and an ‘L’ shaped verandah at the rear. A galvanised iron structure adjoined the rear verandah. Behind the cottage was a timber closet and well back from the main house, close to the rear property boundary was a stone building with a verandah facing away from Wray Avenue. This was most likely to have been a separate residence. Two small galvanised iron structures were located close to this building. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Purple: "Of architectural and historic significance in its own right.”) A photograph of the house at this time shows that the house was in relatively good condition with original doors and windows and a timber verandah floor. Renovations and extensions were undertaken on the property in the early 1980s. An assessment of the building in 1985 by ‘the Fremantle Society’ records that the original bullsblood-red paint could be discerned on the balustrading and beams. It was also noted that the verandah at that time was a replacement of the earlier verandah style which was separate to the main roof.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (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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