109 Redfern Street

Parent Place or Precinct

26270 Sadlier and Redfern Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The Sadlier and Redfern Streets heritage area is of: Aesthetic Value • As an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely Inter War residences. • For its collection of many good, representative examples of Federation and Inter War cottages and villas which collectively illustrate a range and evolution of detailing between the 1920s and the 1940s. • For the cohesive streetscape created by a limited palette of materials and styles. Historic Value • As a representative collection of houses that illustrate the scale and standard of housing for the homes of unskilled workers to semi-professional and tradespeople, in the early twentieth century. • For the evidence it provides about the manner in which the residence of semi-professional and tradespeople existed alongside the residences of working people and employees. • For its association with the subdivision and rapid settlement of the area from the 1920s to the 1930s which demonstrates the rapid change of the district in this period. Representativeness • As a good representative collection of early twentieth century housing developed within walking distance of transport and services. Physical Form in the Public Realm • The houses, which (with the exception of three modern dwellings) were developed predominantly in the period 1920s to 1940s, have largely retained their original external detailing and form. The defined period and nature of development has resulted in a consistent palette of materials and form, enlivened by diversity of individual details, within a cohesive streetscape.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and zincalume house with asymmetric planform to the façade. The house is of brick construction with tuckpoint finish to the lower half of the façade and roughcast render to the upper section and gable detail. The roof is hipped to the main section and with the gable to the projecting element of the façade. An additional gablet has been added to the apex of the main roof, with similar detailing to the main gable. The roof continues down with a break of pitch to form the verandah canopy, supported on timber posts. The canopy extends across the projecting section of the façade, cutting through the gable to provide shade to the window. The verandah deck is tiled and does not have a balustrade. The windows are timber framed side hung casements with integral highlights. The sills are rendered. The garden is enclosed by a non-original timber picket fence with driveway access to the western boundary.

History

This portion of Redfern Street was subdivided for residential lots in 1891. However the lots were not taken up rapidly. In 1896, lots in the Redfern Estate, Subiaco were advertised in the local press as ‘Good Building Lots, near the railway line’. The subdivision was managed by Alfred Axon, the local branch manager for the NSW company, Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company. Axon was also a significant individual investor in Subiaco property. Despite the early subdivision it was not until the 1910s that the first lots were occupied in this portion of Subiaco. Analysis of Rate Books and PO Directories indicates that this place was likely constructed c.1925. The Rate Books contain the following listings: • 1929/30,1935/36 & 1936/37 William Smetherman (postal employee) – owner/occupier The PO directories list the following occupants: • 1926 – 1949 Smetherham, William Thomas The above information indicates a close association between the place and William Smetherham (c1896-1982). William Smetherham recorded his occupation as assistant superintendent of mails for the postal service and appears to have spent his career in the Post Master Generals (PMG) department, later Australia Post. He served during World War One with the AIF and on his return to Australia married Eleanor Blanche Barbara Miller in 1923 but sadly she died c1930. It is noted that the 1925 Electoral Roles record the couple living at 111 Redfern Street. After the death of Eleanor, William stayed on in the residence until the 1980s. Aerial photographs of the place indicated it retained its simple square plan form until c1990 when it was extended, and the terracotta tiles replaced with zincalume. Since that time the place has not changed significantly in form or extent.

Integrity/Authenticity

The roofing material has been changed from terracotta tiles to zincalume which impacts on the authenticity of the place. The roofline has been further altered as part of the rear addition works.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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