HOUSE, 85 WRAY AVENUE

Statement of Significance

House, 1/85 Wray Avenue, is a typical limestone, brick and iron single storey house dating from c.1900. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 1/85 Wray Avenue is a single storey, limestone, brick and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with red brick quoins. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. The façade is symmetrical with a central front door and double hung sash windows. The verandah has a separate corrugated iron roof supported on timber posts. Part of the verandah has a lattice infill. There is a corrugated fibre cement fence to the front boundary line.

History

Wray Avenue was originally Hampton Street. The named was changed to avoid confusion with the intersecting Hampton Road. It became Alexander Road, after Laurence Alexander, Mayor 1901-1902, and a representative of Falk & Co. The street name was again changed to avoid confusion with Alexandra Road in East Fremantle and became Wray Avenue in 1923. It was named for William E Wray, at one time with the Education Dept as Truant Inspector, and a resident of the street. He was on the Fremantle Tramways Board and Mayor of Fremantle, 1914-1918. This lot was formerly numbered 185; renumbering occurred in 1930/31. The Post Office Directories first refer to this house by number in 1905 and the occupant was Michael O’Cain. It may have been present on the site prior to this date but the information for previous years does not have street numbering. Further research of the rates books and certificates of title may establish the date of construction and the original owner. In 1907, the house was occupied by Alfred Sweetman. The house appears to have been built at the same time as the adjacent property at 87 Wray Avenue as they share the same basic form as seen in the 1907 plan of the site. This plan shows the stone house has a verandah across the full width of the front elevation. A smaller verandah is located at the rear of the building in the south east corner. Adjoining the rear of the building is a galvanised iron addition. In the rear of the lot is a stone closet. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Purple: "Of architectural and historic significance in its own right.”) A photograph of the property at this time shows that limestone walls were unpainted on the side elevation. The corrugated iron roof was in good condition and the verandah roof was a separate construction also of corrugated iron. The verandah had been partially enclosed with asbestos sheeting. A low fence of corrugated asbestos was located on the front property boundary. The two brick chimneys were in good condition. The place was added to the Fremantle Municipal Inventory in 2000 and the Heritage List in 2008. The property was subdivided into three lots in 2018 and two new houses were constructed on the new rear lots (2/85 Wray and 3/85 Wray). At this time the original house was renumbered 1/85 Wray Avenue). In 2023 the heritage listing for this place was reviewed as part of the Annual Update of the Heritage List and Local Heritage Survey. On 13 March 2024 Council resolved to remove the new rear lots 2/85 Wray and 3/85 Wray from the heritage listing as they contain no significant heritage building fabric.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.

Condition

Condition assessed as fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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