House, 77 Bagot Rd, Subiaco

Parent Place or Precinct

27310 Park Street Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

For information on the significance of the Park Street Heritage Area refer to the Local Planning Policy for the Heritage Area.

Physical Description

Architectural style 77Bagot Road does not clearly represent any of the major architectural styles of the period. It was designed to a scale and form generally considered suitable for occupiers such as office workers and skilled tradesmen. Plan form at the street frontage • The main façade features a central entrance door, flanked by windows to each of the front rooms. This symmetry is offset by a verge gable over the western portion of the façade, and a parapet wall at the eastern end of the verandah. Roof form and materials • Hipped-gable roof clad with corrugated metal sheeting. • Prominent verge gable, finished with rough-cast render, simple ‘half-timber’ detailing and a louvered apex panel. • Small louvered gablet at the ridgeline. • Face brick chimney with contrasting rendered detailing and cap. • Dropped, raked roof to the verandah (possibly originally bull-nosed to reflect the curve of the parapet wall at the eastern end). Wall materials and finishes to the main facade • Painted brick laid in a Flemish bond (originally tuck-pointed). • Two painted ‘string courses’ (not an original detail). Other detailing to main facade • Centrally located 5-panel entrance door, with traditional moulded architraves, a highlight and single sidelight. Stained glass detailing. • Pair of narrow, full height double hung windows with timber kick-plates to each of the front rooms. • Chamfered square timber posts with carved timber brackets to the verandah. Rendered front steps leading up to a timber verandah. Streetscape setting • House set back approximately 4.2m from the Bagot Road frontage. • Zero setback to the eastern boundary and narrow path along the western side of the house. • Lot width approximately 10.1. • Front yard enclosed by rendered posts and a clipped hedge. • Hard-stand carparking area in front of the house, on the western side of the block.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. During the 1890s property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The original subdivisions in Subiaco were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots suitable for occupancy by working families. However, the more elevated parts of the suburb, particularly towards Kings Park, also attracted business and professional men and some lots were later amalgamated to accommodate their larger homes and gardens. Mixed development occurred and within the Park Street Heritage Area this ranged from narrow, single storey terrace housing through to a large 2-storey house set in spacious grounds. The readily available evidence indicates that the number of houses within this areaincreased from around 24 in 1901 to 72 in 1906; 86 in 1910; 92 in 1915, 94 in 1920 and 103 by 1925. Development then stabilised, with 106 houses and 1 block of flats identified in 1949. Perth Suburban Lots 243 to 246 were subdivided as Deposited Plan 352 in the early 1890s. This comprised 141 lots of which Lot 44 was developed as 77 Bagot Road. The 1903 Rate Books identified the owner of Lot 44 as ‘Parry’, although this was possibly Mrs Barry, who was identified as the owner of a house on this site in 1907-1908. Members of this family continued to be identified as the owners until at least the mid-1930s and used it as a rental property throughout this time. The first long-term occupants were members of the Thomas family, who settled here in c.1909. Florence Edith Wright (c.1885-1936) and Percy James Thomas (clerk) (c.1873-1951) were married in Perth in 1905 and this couple had at least 5 children in the period c.1906-1915. They were living at 77 Bagot Road by July 1909 (when they announced the birth of a daughter) and remained here until c.1926. After that time they took up farming at Salmon Gums. There was a high turnover of occupants from the mid 1920s to late 1930s, but from c.1940 until the early 1950s, 77 Bagot Road was occupied by Herbert Williams (government employee), his wife Phyllis, and at least some of their children. In 1940 H Williams of 77 Bagot Road was identified as the secretary of the Subiaco branch of the ALP. An analysis of a historical Metropolitan Sewerage Plan (revised March 1954) and historical aerial photographs suggests that the house was extended to the rear in c.1995-2000. The footprint of the front portion has remained relatively unchanged.

Integrity/Authenticity

The authenticity of the house within its streetscape setting has been reduced by the painting of the main façade. It also seems likely that the verandah was originally bull-nosed, reflecting the curve of the party wall at the eastern end. The place continues to be used for its original purpose.

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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