House

Parent Place or Precinct

25912 Kings Road Heritage Area, Subiaco

Statement of Significance

Kings Road is of cultural heritage significance within the City of Subiaco for the following reasons: • The existing development along Kings Road continues to represent the rapid development of the higher parts of Subiaco (near Kings Park) with good quality Federation Queen Anne houses during the early the twentieth century (with a particular focus on the c.1901-1914 period). • The defined period and nature of development along Kings Road resulted in a complementary palette of materials and design idioms, enlivened by a diversity of individual details. Unlike many other local streets, the majority of the properties have retained a medium to high level of authenticity. Collectively they provide a good representative collection of middle-class Subiaco houses dating from the early twentieth century (extending from c.1901-1923). • The character of the Kings Road streetscape epitomizes the general character of what is now known as the City of Subiaco’s Triangle Precinct. • The history of the houses along Kings Road helps to demonstrate the original settlement of this part of Subiaco as a solid middle class area, in which the family residences of more senior white-collar workers existed side by side with the smaller, but still well-built, houses of more junior white-collar workers, retail employees and tradespeople. • The history of the subdivision and early sale of residential lots along Kings Road helps to illustrate the status of Western Australia as a place of opportunity during the gold rush era of the late nineteenth century – attracting significant interest and investment from the eastern states.

Physical Description

Architectural style • Federation Queen Anne. This is of a scale and form typical of a middle-class suburban villa of the era, with well executed picturesque detailing. Plan form at the street frontage • Asymmetrical stepped facade. This has a prominent gabled wing on the southern side of the main facade (facing east) and a secondary hipped wing set back along the northern side of the house. These are linked by an “L” shaped return verandah. Roof form and materials • Hipped-gabled roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting. This has a short north-south ridgeline at the apex, flanked by small louvered gablets; and a prominent gable over the projecting wing. The verandah has a dropped bullnose roof. • Battened eaves. • Two tall chimneys serving the main part of the house, each with painted (originally tuck-pointed) faces, a plain string course, a decorative rendered cornice panel (with detailing that represents a simplified version of the panels under the window sills), small projecting cap, and terracotta pots. Wall materials and finishes to the main façade • Painted brick walls (originally tuck-pointed face-brick). Detailing of main façade • Prominent front gable divided into three panels by vertical timber battens. The centre panel has a roughcast finish with a large circular moulded plate at the centre. The triangular side panels are smooth rendered, with a moulded leaf and sun-burst detail. • Scribed timber bargeboards and tall turned timber finial at the top of the gable. • Highly decorative rendered cornice panel to the base of the gable. • Main entrance under the front verandah, abutting the projecting wing. This has robust timber architraves, a five-panel door, highlights, narrow sidelights and stained glass detailing. • Two individual double hung windows to the gabled wing and another two to the front façade under the verandah. • Plain projecting window sills with distinctive under sill panels. The latter have a central projecting diamond panel flanked by Art-Nouveau inspired scrolls. • Two single doors opening onto the side verandah. • Distinctive turned timber verandah posts and fretwork frieze. • Later block work facing to the underside of the verandah. Streetscape setting • Main façade set back approximately 6m from the front boundary. • Front yard partially occupied as a bitumen carpark for the current (2016) use of the place as medical consulting rooms. • Area in front of the projecting wing enclosed as a private courtyard.

History

This part of Subiaco had been laid out as a residential subdivision by September 1891, but there was only one resident listed along the street in the Western Australian Post Office Directory of 1901 (referring to Park Street) and 2 in 1905 (referring to King’s Road). This was followed by a rapid period of development and by 1910 there were 14 houses within the Study Area, being 73 Bagot Road (now known as 3 Kings Road), #s 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21 Kings Road, 12 Hamersley Road (now 28 Kings Road) & 14 Hamersley Road (now 25 Kings Road). Steady infill continued after that time and the street was fully developed by the mid 1920s. An analysis of information in the Rate Books, Western Australian Post Office Directories and Electoral Rolls suggests that this site was developed in c.1906 by David Storry Walton, bank clerk. The house was occupied for a time by David and his wife, Amy, but the Rate Books indicate that it was rented out for periods in c.1910-1913 before being sold to Robert Hadden in c.1914. Robert Carlisle Hadden, who was described as a mine manager, died in that year and the house was transferred to his widow, Annie Hadden, who remained here until c.1920. It was then offered for sale as follows: MESSRS. SMITH, PELL. And CO….. have been instructed by owner to SELL HANDSOME BRICK RESIDENCE situated at 11 King’s-road, Subiaco, close to King’s Park, being a modern Villa residence of five rooms and kitchen., gas and fuel stoves, laundry, c. and t., e.l. Land 60ft. frontage, ample room for garage. The rooms are large and commodious and fitted with built-in wardrobe, linen presses, etc. The house had been sold on behalf of Mrs Hadden by April 1920. Ownership details have not been researched for the rest of that decade, but by 1930 11 Kings Road was owned and occupied by William Warren Berry (retired restaurateur) and his wife, Lucille Hanraki Berry. When William died in September 1943 his obituary provided the following information: Mr William Warren Berry, an old and respected resident of Perth died at his residence in King’s-road, Subiaco, yesterday, at the age of 88. Mr Berry for many years carried on an extensive business as a restaurateur in Perth. Old residents will remember the popular Alexandra Tearooms in Hay-street and its branches in other parts of the city and suburbs. The staff employed in these establishments numbered over 50. Mr Berry had an interesting and varied career. He was a native of Devonshire, England, born in 1855 and educated at a Worcestershire Grammar School. As a very young man he proceeded to South Africa with the 58th Regiment and served in the Zulu War of 1878 and was present at the funeral of the French Prince Imperial who was killed in the Zulu campaign at Ulundi when fighting with the British Army. Mr Berry also took part in the first Boer War in 1879-80. After this war he did some trekking into the interior of Africa and some trading with the natives. In 1884 he returned to England and two years later migrated to Australia. In Sydney he was engaged in various business enterprises until 1895 when he was attracted to Western Australia by the gold discoveries. One of his first business adventures in Perth was to accept a five-year contract with the WATC as caterer. While this contract was running, he purchased the catering business of Parley and Stone which, under his personal management developed into the many-sided Alexandra Tearooms business, from which Mr Berry retired in 1920. About this time he took over the secretaryship of the West Australian Club, a position he retained until the close of 1926 to retire from active life. Following William’s death, Lucille Berry remained at this address until the mid 1950s. An inter-war era Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Department plan shows the house with a front verandah only (omitting the return along the northern side). However, the present form is clearly identifiable in a historical aerial photograph dating from 1964. The building is currently used as medical rooms.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium to high authenticity The authenticity of the main facade has been diminished by the painting of the original tuck-pointed face brickwork.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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