House

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance: • As a good representative example of a well designed and detailed “gentleman’s villa” of Subiaco dating from the early 20th century. • For its aesthetic value as a good representative example of a well-designed Federation Queen Anne villa of the early 20th century, designed to a style and scale suited to the professional/business classes. • For its association with the ongoing development of Subiaco in the early 20th century period.

Physical Description

• Single storey Federation Queen Anne style property. • Brick construction with tuckpoint finish. • Hipped and gabled roof with vented gablet on ridge of main roof. • Verandah canopy is the continuation of the main roof, supported on turned timber posts with a timber valance. The Churchill Avenue side of the verandah has been enclosed with a series of French doors and windows. • Projecting wing along Churchill Avenue incorporates hipped roof with higher ridge line than the main roof. • Windows to the property are timber framed casements with top lights and ornate sills and aprons.

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. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families. Subiaco was a popular and logical location for development and the increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. A subdivision plan for this portion of Coghlan Road was approved in 1894 but development of this area did not accelerate until the 1900s. From the readily available information this place was built c1915 although no information has been found as to the builder or architect of this residence. The first occupants were clerk Alexander William McLeod and his wife Gertrude May Sutcliffe who had married in 1910. After the McLeods left the place c1920 there was a high turnover of occupants which suggests the property was owned by an absentee landlord. A plan of the site prepared in the 1920s and reviewed in 1954 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the footprint of the residence has not changed significantly since that time. Aerial photographs of the place since the mid 20th century demonstrate that the place was originally clad either with red corrugated iron or terracotta tile which was replaced in the late 1980s with zinc coated corrugated metal sheeting. There have been no significant external changes since that time and the extent and form of the original residence is still apparent.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be used as a private residences. Authenticity - High: The original/significant external fabric of the building is largely intact.

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

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