House

Parent Place or Precinct

25394 Union and Redfern Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Union and Redfern Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

6 Union Street displays some distinctive elements of the Federation Bungalow style, although the characteristic simple form of the tiled roof has been modified by alterations and additions undertaken in c.2008-10. Key elements include: • Asymmetrical plan, articulated by a prominent, but simple gable on the northern side the main roof. The plain face of this gable is divided by seven vertical battens. • Simple pyramid-hipped form to the remainder of the roof, extending in an unbroken alignment over the front verandah. Note: The early twenty-first century additions have added a cantilevered gable on the northern side of the house and a gable-hipped roof over the new second storey towards the rear. • Projecting wing on the northern side of the house, under the street-front gable. This has a shallow rectangular window bay with a triple casement window fitted with leadlight in a geometric floral pattern. There are plain square highlights above these windows and they sit over a projecting rendered sill with a curved under-sill panel. • Tuck-pointed brickwork to the main façade, with a heavily textured, rendered stringcourse at window sill height. • Verandah extending in a continuous alignment across the full width of the façade, including the projecting wing. Consistent with the Federation Bungalow style, the verandah has restrained detailing with chamfered square posts and simple but elegant raked brackets. • Deep shaded area to the south of the projecting wing, which features the main entry plus a set of casement windows (matching the windows to the projecting wing). The main entry is set within recessed bay framed by an arched “porch” with a semi-circular head. The low-waisted front door has geometric glazing to match the front windows, and is famed by highlights and high-waisted sidelights, fitted with ripple glass. The house is set approx. 5.5m back from the front boundary, which is defined by decorative iron infill panels (in an early twentieth century style), framed by a low, rock-faced stone wall with matching piers.

History

Perth Suburban Lot 255 was purchased by the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company Ltd of Sydney in August 1890. Two years later it was transferred to James Chesters of 155 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, estate agent. By 1894 Chesters had subdivided this land as Deposited Plan 899, with 42 lots laid out around Queen Street (soon renamed Union Street). Chesters sold this site to Thomas Starks in January 1916. The electoral rolls indicate that Starks was a local building contractor, so it seems likely that he built this house as a speculative development. Newspaper advertisements certainly confirm that Starks was undertaking work of this nature, offering at least three houses for sale in Subiaco in the period 1916-19. The Subiaco Rates Books show that 6 Union Street was acquired by Hy Ames, printer, in 1915/16. In the following year the rate books listed the owner as H. P. Pickard, but this appears to be a mistake relating to Henry’s full name – Henry Pickard Ames. When Henry and his wife, Jane, first moved here in c.1916 it is likely that the house also accommodated their children Russell (19 years), Leila (17), Reginald (Norman) (15) and Ella (12). During the first half of the 1930s the Ames family lived in Tyrell Street, Nedlands and let their Subiaco house to tenants. They returned here for the second half of the 1930s, at which time Henry, Jane and Leila (a book-keeper) were listed in the electoral rolls for this address. During this period Henry was proprietor of the City and Suburban Printing Works, Hay Street, East Perth. By the early 1940s the Ames family had settled once again in Nedlands and 6 Union Street was occupied by Leonard Bevis, and his wife, Bertha. During this period Leonard was serving as a Corporal in the Australian Army (1941-1947), which was his second period of active service as he had also enlisted in 1917, aged 21 years Historical aerial photographs show that the major alterations to the northern side and rear of the house were undertaken in c.2007.

Integrity/Authenticity

The external streetscape character, finishes and detailing of the main façade are largely consistent with its original design. However the extension of the main roofline with a cantilevered gable on the northern side has significantly altered the form and proportions of the place, as viewed from the north-west.

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update