House, 53 Helena Street, Guildford

Statement of Significance

The place is associated with John Reilly, a Military Pensioner and is important as one of the few surviving cottages in the State initially occupied by a member of the small Pensioner Guard Force, composed of retired soldiers who were engaged as convict guards in the Swan River Colony between 1850 and 1868; The place is associated with early subdivision patterns in Guildford and the residential development in Helena Street; and The place and its setting contribute positively to the streetscape in Helena Street. The later additions at the rear of the house, verandah enclosures and alterations to details of the original cottage, are of relevance to demonstrate the process of refurbishment of early houses up to the present day in 2006, but have little cultural heritage significance.

Physical Description

Comprises a single-storey former cottage dating from the 1870s and an addition from 1940. The original northern section comprises the initial four-room cottage built with thick masonry walls, rendered and painted externally. It has a high pitched hipped roof, clad in galvanised iron sheeting. There are two tall red face brick chimneys on the western wall. The 1940s addition is built in cavity load bearing brickwork, rendered and painted in part onto the enclosed verandahs at the south-west and south-east corners and incorporates a passage, kitchen and laundry. There are three timber clad outbuildings in the southwest corner of the garden.

History

The place was occupied by Military Pensioner John Reilly who was granted the land in 1872.Reilly was appointed to the Convict Depot at Guildford as Temporary Assistant Warder on 20 September 1871 at a pay rate of 3 shillings per day, and was promoted later to Sergeant-in-Charge at Guildford. Guildford was declared a Municipality in 1871, and land was granted to Reilly, Military Pensioner, in 1872 at Lot 83 Helena Street, Guildford. He lived in the cottage built on that lot until his death in Guildford on 16 September 1902 at the age is 82. The title of the land at Lot 83 was transferred to his wife Anne in 1900.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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