Residence, 165 Petra Street

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE No 165 Petra Street is a single storey house constructed in rendered brick with a tiled roof. It has historic and aesthetic value for its contribution to Richmond Hill's residential building stock. The place contributes to the local community’s sense of place. The place has some aesthetic value as an Inter-War California Bungalow. The place retains a moderate to low degree of authenticity and a high degree of integrity. The carport and additions to the south side of the house are intrusive. AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE No 165 Petra Street has some aesthetic value as an Inter-War California Bungalow. It retains some of the characteristic features of a dwelling of the type and period. HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE No 165 Petra Street has some historic value. It was part of the suburban residential development associated with the expansion of East Fremantle and the subdivision of Walter Easton’s Estate from 1901. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE N/A SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE No 165 Petra Street has some social value and contributes to the community's sense of place. RARITY No 165 Petra Street does not have qualities associated with the corresponding category.

Physical Description

Inter-War Californian Bungalow No 165 Petra Street is a single storey rendered house constructed in rendered brick with a hipped and gabled tiled roof. It is an expression of the Inter-War Bungalow style with extensive modifications. The front elevation is asymmetrically planned with a thrust bay and a gable roofed porch. The half-timbered porch is supported on square piers set over a thickened pier. A rendered balustrade spans between the piers. A carport and additional rooms have been constructed to the front of the house on the south side. This has distorted the original expression of the house. The entry door is located under the carport and is flanked by windows. The place retains its form and most of its details. The original tiled roofed has been replaced with dark tiles. The residence has been rendered which has resulted in loss of detail and authenticity. A garage has been built to the rear of the house. The place plays an important role in the pattern of development of a middle class suburb.

History

Historic Theme: Demographic Settlement The Richmond Hill Precinct was originally Location 333-336 Swan District which was acquired by John Clayton in 1861-64. As subdivisions occurred throughout East Fremantle new land names were taken from original names and adapted. The Richmond Hill Precinct was once a part of the Richmond Precinct. The Richmond name originated from the town of Richmond in England. Walter Easton, the owner of the Richmond Precinct, had lived in Richmond prior to arriving in Western Australia. In 1891 the precinct was sold to David Symon and David William Harwood. Symon was an ironmonger, shipping merchant, a senior partner in a firm of merchants and a member of the Legislative Assembly for South Fremantle. Harwood was a prominent businessman, the founder of Harwood Brewery and was known as an avid horse racer. Subdivided lots to the precinct began to sell between 1897 and 1898 following the completion of land surveys. Due to the requirement for the provision of costly services such as water and electricity to the subdivided lots, Symon and Harwood decided to sell the estate in its entirety. The ‘Brighton Estate’ is identified on a 1903 property map as the area between Preston Point Road and David Street (now Petra Street) including View Terrace and Pier Street. A water tank was located on a site between Pier Street and View Terrace (Lot 43) which was largely chosen for its elevated position. The tank, however, was later replaced in 1977 by a multi-storey water tower which is still present today. Development in the estate progressed very slowly and by 1945 there were only 10 residences in Pier Street. A small adjoining portion of land from View Terrace to Fraser Street and west of Petra Street was developed in 1919. The development was around the site of the old Bicton Racecourse and was named the ‘Riverside Bicton Estate’. Subdivision of the remaining land in East Fremantle was complete by the 1930s. By this time the land had been significantly developed. During this period developments commenced in Petra Street and a group of Inter-War California Bungalows were built between View Terrace and Preston Point Road. This development period presents a collection of buildings which were constructed within a similar time frame while demonstrating a variety of styles. Developments were of timber and masonry construction with face brick finishes, weatherboard and asbestos cladding. A shortage of building materials following the Depression and WWII led to a more simplified building style and the emergence of the Post-War austerity houses in Richmond Hill. A later era of development in Richmond Hill occurred around Locke Crescent between the 1950’s and 1960’s. Many new developments have occurred in the Richmond Hill Precinct in the last 30 years.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Low - Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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