House

Parent Place or Precinct

25394 Union and Redfern Heritage Area

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as a good example of the architectural style typical of the area and period. It has historic significance reflecting the development and settlement of the area.

Physical Description

Single storey asymmetrical brick and iron house with high hipped roof to the main roof and gable roof to the projecting wing. The red brick is broken up by two stringcourses, corresponding to the sill height of the window and three-quarter height of the sash windows. The verandah extends across the full width of the recessed section of the façade. The bullnose canopy of positioned below the eaves of the house and is supported on turned timber columns with carved timber brackets and simple timber frieze. The windows are a combination of timber framed sash and casement openings. The window arrangement to the projecting bay consists of a tripartite arrangement with smaller windows above. The window canopy is supported on timber brackets. The gable detail consists of roughcast render sprayed onto chicken wire with timber detailing on top. The brickwork to the house is aid in stretcher bond throughout. The chimney to the western edge of the roof is predominantly brick with cement corbelling.

History

In June 1903, Sydney accountants William James Douglas and Frank Dyson purchased PSL 254 and portion of PSL 253. The land was subdivided into 36 lots and in August 1903, the pair divided the ownership of the lots evenly. Each owned half of the properties facing Rawson Street, Hamersley Road and Heytesbury Road. The lots were sold from 1904 onwards and the first home on Rawson Street, was built by 1904. From the available evidence Douglas and Dyson never visited the properties in Subiaco and the sale of the land was managed by local land agents, Ebernezer Allen & Co. The rate books indicate that the property was constructed in 1905 for Arthur Carnham however information in the subsequent years rate books indicate that the house was owned by Mr Howes, an agent in Park Street, Subiaco. Little further information was discovered relating to Arthur Carnham. In 1909 the house was leased to Joseph Alexander Barblett (a foreman). Joseph married Alice Young in 1891 in Victoria and the couple relocated to Western Australia in 1896 with their two sons. The couple and had three daughters between 1897 and 1891. Both sons served during World War I and the youngest Charles died in 1917. Alice Barblett was a prominent member of the Presbyterian community and on her death in 1921 a large funeral was held attended by the Mayor of Subiaco, the Town Clerk of Subiaco (Chris Luth from No 6 Rawson Street) and the local MLA. By 1929 Mr Barblett, who continued to work as a foreman, was owner and occupier of the property, although the property was owned for some time by the Workers Home Board. This state government organisation provided homes for people with limited means. Following his death in 1933 the house was occupied by E Turner in 1934 and Harry Hudson between 1936 and 1937. From 1937 to 1949, when the Post Office Directories ceased being published, the occupier was Mr Albert H Boddington. Albert Boddington appears to have been a colourful character with a variety of professions. When fined for keeping a common betting shop in 1929, Albert Boddington was noted as a tobacconist however the frequent fines he received for running betting shops or placing illegal bets suggest that may have been his primary income. In the electoral roll for 1936 his profession was a coach painter and in the 1937 roll he had no profession. In 1941, he secured the licence for the Travellers Arms Hotel in Bedfordale and he remained in that occupation and residence until his death in 1965. Occupants 1905-1909 Arthur G Carnham 1910 Mrs Minnie Hymus 1911-1933 Barblett family 1934 E Turner 1935-1936 Harry Hudson 1937-1949 Albert Boddington Workers Home Board Workers Home Board (1912-1945) The Workers Home Board was established in 1912 by Scaddan state Labor government to meet the housing requirements of people with limited means. During its lifetime, from 1912 to 1945 the Workers’ Home Board housed four thousand people. Returned Servicemen were provided housing under this scheme. In the period following World War II the housing shortages, shortages of materials and lack of infrastructure were exacerbated by the demobilisation of troops, the postwar baby boom and an in increase in European migration. The Workers Home Board was replaced by the State Housing Commission in 1945, marking the beginning of a more bureaucratic and pragmatic approach to public housing.

Integrity/Authenticity

Note: This place retains a high level of original external detailing and is a good example of the ongoing development of Rawson Street in the 1910s.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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