TERRACE, 7 SAMSON STREET

Statement of Significance

Terrace, 1,3,5 & 7 Samson Street is a typical stone and iron single storey set of four attached terrace houses dating from the early 1898. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a late simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The place has some rarity value as a group of four terraces still extant.

Physical Description

Terrace, 1,3,5 & 7 Samson Street is a single storey limestone and iron set of four attached terrace houses. Walls are limestone with face brick quoins and reveals. Roof is gabled corrugated iron with dividing masonry parapet wall between each terrace visible through roof. Verandahs are under separate corrugated iron roofs supported by timber posts. Terraces are set forward with edge of verandah on front boundary line. There is a timber picket fence/balustrade to this line. Brick chimneys with chimney pots are intact. Each elevation is symmetrical with two timber framed double hung sash windows and a central front door.

History

In 1897/98, the land at 7 Samson Street was recorded as being owned by Elias Solomon. It was vacant at this time and the following year, Solomon had a row of four cottages (numbers 1, 3, 5 & 7) built on the land. Each was tenanted out, with ? Lake, a labourer, living at 7 Samson Street. Although the tenants changed regularly, Solomon retained ownership of the properties until c. 1920. Since that time, the property has had a number of owners and occupiers. A map dated 1908 shows the four row houses as being stone, with front verandahs with a nil setback from the street and rear weatherboard enclosed verandahs or sleep outs. Each house had a galvanised iron water closet against the rear fence. At this time, the surrounding land on the street block was still undeveloped. Various additions were made to the rear of the house over the years. When Ken Norrish purchased the four row houses in 1978, they were in poor condition. Mr Norrish had Ed James, an architect involved in restoring old Fremantle houses in the 1970s and 1980s, design brick and timber living rooms, open plan kitchens and laundry/bathrooms for each of the houses to replace the existing timber and asbestos lean-tos. Following the renovations, each of the row houses was sold to individual owners. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - PURPLE -of architectural and historic significance in its own right.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored). 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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