House (fmr), 1320 Hay Street, West Perth

Parent Place or Precinct

24575 Hay Street West Group, West Perth

Values

The place is of aesthetic significance as an example of a residential building dating from the period around the turn of the century. The increasing affluence of the community following the gold boom is reflected in the increased use of decoration.

The place is of historic significance because it reflects the way of life of the wealthier residents of Perth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The place is a representative example of a residential property in Perth dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. The place represents the changing character of the Perth community from the post gold rush settlement period to the present.

The place is a representative example of a residential property in West Perth that has undergone a change of use to commercial/professional offices with the changing character and growth of the city.

Physical Description

A two storey Federation Queen Anne style former residence, constructed of red brick, with a half-gabled hipped roof facing the street front over a projecting bay. A second storey timber verandah sits under the main roof with decorative timber valance and balustrade. The facade is distinguished by arched windows.

History

West Perth developed as a suburban residential area in the late 1890s. From its inception it had the characteristics of a quality neighbourhood predominantly because of the proximity to the city centre and Kings Park (then known as Perth Park), and the elevated location which provided healthy site drainage as well as cooling breezes and views over the city and hills. The area has social status already associated with addresses in nearby Mount Street and access to the city’s piped water system. The area was subdivided into large residential lots for development and proceeded accordingly. The homes built in West Perth from the early 1900s included prestigious mansions built in prominent locations and smaller working-class cottages in the narrower back streets and towards the northern end of the area adjacent to the railway. In the 1920s and 1930s many property owners in West Perth took advantage of the location and demand for housing by renting out rooms. Some large houses were converted into flats or apartments. The house at 1320 Hay Street appears to have undergone a change of use to non-residential by 1964. A 1983 photo shows that the former house, painted white with a tiled roof, was at that time Baptist Union House (State Library of Western Australia 312262PD). At 2022 the site is occupied by Yorganop Association Inc., Western Australia's only Aboriginal foster care agency. The exterior has been restored to its red brick tuck pointed façade with stucco bands and accents over the arched windows, with a corrugated iron roof and timber balustrades and frieze to the balconies.

Condition

The place is largely as originally constructed with detailings intact

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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