House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance as a grand two storey residence built in 1899 and reflects the way of life of a wealthier class of people who lived in this location in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The place is a representative example of a residential property in West Perth that has undergone a change of use to commercial/professional offices with the changing character and growth of the City. The place has aesthetic significance for its scale and materiality as a modified Federation Queen Anne residence.

Physical Description

Two storey formerly residential building with a hipped zincalume roof with a tall brick chimney with terracotta pots. Walls are painted brick and there is an addition on the western side of the façade. The verandah is not original. Recent entry with awning over. Recent leadlights. Extensive alterations internally including removal of original stairs. Some doors original, one original fireplace, some original lathe and plaster ceilings at first floor level. Some original and some recent windows and doors. One of a group of three two storey Federation era former residences.

History

West Perth developed as suburban residential area in the late 1890s. From its inception it had the characteristics of a quality neighbourhood. Proximity to the city centre and Kings Park (then known as Perth Park), and the elevated location provided healthy site drainage as well as cooling breezes and views over the city and hills. The area had social status already associated with addresses in nearby Mount Street and access to the city's piped water system. The area was subdivided into large residential lots for development and proceed accordingly. The homes built in West Perth from the early 1900s included prestigious mansions built in prominent locations and smaller working-class cottages in the narrower back streets and towards the northern end of the area adjacent to the railway. It is difficult to determine the date of construction without deeper research (at least a rates book search), because there was no numbering system until 1903, and when new houses were built in the street, the numbering was adjusted. It is likely the two-storey house was built around 1899 and run as a kindergarten by Miss A. C. Walton. In 1908 numbering changed to No. 19, and the house was occupied by Miss E. J. Scott, and run as a private school. In 1910 it was the Sisters of the Church Girls’ School, and in 1911 it was a kindergarten operated by Miss Daisy Dalziell. From c. 1915 the occupant was Miss H. A. Evans and from c. 1935 there was Miss Evans and two other people, suggesting she may have divided the house up into apartments. In 1949, when post office directories ceased publication the occupant was Mrs Elsie Hall. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1956) shows No. 19 as a brick two storey house with a front verandah that returns on the west side. The east side and rear also had a verandah and there were external stairs on the east side heading towards the street. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1991 shows the building was occupied by Sattler Associates, Lister Gallery. It had a modified brick wall at the front to hide a staircase to the upper floor front verandah, which had a flat roof. A 1994 photo shows this modification from a different angle. The upper verandah had metal verandah posts and an iron balustrade with tiling to verandah floors. The bricks were painted cream. In 2000 the then owner provided information to the City of Perth that the front stairs modification had happened in the 1960s or ‘70s. The new entry door with side windows and awning are evident in the 1991 photo. Aerial photos show that between 1995 and 2000 the building was reroofed. A real estate advertisement in November 2021 for leasing the upper floor of the building as office space shows interior photos. They show that there are original fireplace surrounds, skirting and architraves in some rooms. In 2022 the building is two storey painted brick with pitched roof with tall brick chimneys and terracotta pots. The c. 1960s additions have been reversed and the verandah roof is simple in detail. There is a simple awning over the entry.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Low level of integrity. Authenticity - Original form but has lost original detail.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update