House

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance: • As a good representative example of a well designed and detailed “gentleman’s villa” of Subiaco dating from the early twentieth century. • For its aesthetic value as a good representative example of a well-designed Federation Queen Anne villa of the early twentieth century, designed to a style and scale suited to the professional/business classes. • For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact group of early twentieth century houses. • For its association with the rapid development of Subiaco in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

• Substantial corner brick and iron Federation Queen Anne style house. Original house has been extended to the east. • Brick construction with tuckpointing with contrasting rendered band. Brickwork has been painted obscuring the original finish with traces of the original tuckpointing visible beneath the paint. • Hipped roof with dormers and gables. Main roof continues down with break of pitch to form verandah canopy. • Corner verandah with canopy supported on turned timber posts. • Gable over projecting wings with timber detailing. • Garden enclosed with brick walls and palisade fencing.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families. Subiaco was a popular and logical location for development and the increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. The area that is now known as the ‘Subiaco Triangle Precinct’ attracted the construction of a range of dwellings, including timber cottages, semi-detached houses, two to three bedroom free-standing brick dwellings and substantial villas. The subdivision plan for this portion of Barker Road was formalised in 1932 but houses were being built on these lots many years prior to that date. Information from the Post Office Directories and local newspaper reports indicate that this house was built in 1903. No details of the architect or builder were found in this research but an item in the local press in July 1903 requested trades to build a fence around the property. In 1904, the place was occupied by Mrs Mary Jackson who, from the available information, was married to barman, Charles Jackson. In 1904, the place was advertised as ' A beautiful Furnished Villa, six rooms, electric light, All conveniences: everything new. Particulars on the premises, "Hawarden," Olive-st and Barker-rd., Subiaco.' The Post Office Directories record the Mrs Mary Jackson living at the house in 1905 so presumably it was not let or sold. In 1906, the 5-roomed VILLA was again advertised for rent for a 'term' and in the following year there were different occupants in the house. The name of the house 'Hawarden' seems to have been applied by the Jacksons, and is likely to originate with the Welsh castle of the same name. In 1907, the occupants of Hawarden advertised their talkative Mexican green parrot for sale for £10. In 1908, the place was offered for sale, as a beautiful Villa Residence, containing 5 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, and pantry with or without Vacant Allotment in Olive Street. This advertisement indicates that the original owners had originally owned the two lots facing Olive Street. At the time of the auction in January 1908, the entire contents of the house were offered for sale and the listing indicates the home was well furnished. Subsequent occupants of the house only stayed for short periods until the early 1920s when Louisa Alice Toe (c1858-1943) a widow purchased the house. Louisa's husband George Ernest Toe, an accountant died in 1922 and this seems to have preempted the move. Louisa lived at the house until her death in 1943 and her daughter Beatrice, and son George, lived there until the late 1970s. A plan of the site prepared in 1927 and reviewed in 1955 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the original residence was approximately two thirds the size of the existing building and featured a verandah across the rear elevation with timber structures on the ends of the verandahs. Aerial photographs of the place since the mid 20th century indicate that the place was extended in the mid 1980s and in the late 1990s. The later additions included a second storey within the roof structure. The extent and form of the original residence can still be determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: the place remains in its original function as a residential dwelling. Authenticity - Moderate - High: The original external detailing of the building is largely intact apart from the painted brickwork which has reduced the authenticity.

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

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