Parry Street Precinct

Parent Place or Precinct

14590 Northbridge Urban Renewal Area

Child Places

• 15791 Two Attached Houses
• 15787 Two Attached Houses
• 15795 Two Attached Houses
• 15794 Two Attached Houses
• 15796 Houses
• 15798 House
• 15788 House
• 15793 House
• 15789 Two Conjoined Houses
• 15790 Two Attached Houses
• 15797 Five Houses

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Pair of terraced townhouses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The terraced townhouses at 2-4 Randall Street are sophisticated examples of their genre and were awarded the RAIA (WA Chapter) Award for Multi Residential development in 1999. The townhouses demonstrate the contemporary lifestyle potential of inner city townhouses.

Physical Description

This pair of three storeyed townhouses is developed to both side boundaries. Each unit replicates its neighbour. The sophisticated design presents a façade to Randell Street which is predominantly glass on the two upper levels, and garage and entry on the ground floor. The compact and open townhouses which open to the park vista on one side and graceful courtyards on the other demonstrate the contemporary lifestyle potential of the inner city townhouse. Setback- paved None apparent

History

Randell Street was named after George Randell, a builder and prominent elder in the Trinity Congregational Church. He had an illustrious career in politics becoming a Perth City Councillor as early as 1870 and in 1874 he was elected Chairman and the City's first Mayor in 1885. He became a Member of the Legislative Council in 1877 and Leader of the Opposition in 1894 and a member of John Forrest's cabinet. He was a member of the Central Board of Education, a founder of Perth High School and much involved in the foundation of Claremont Teachers' Training College. Randell Street is situated in the area immediately north of the main body of Lake Henderson. Market gardening activities were carried out on the bed of the lake after it was drained in the early 1870s, and the surrounding areas developed early. The European gardeners were followed by Chinese market gardeners who operated until the early 1920s. In the 1895 edition of Wise's Post Office Directories there were only six residences listed, one of which included a livery stables owned by Harry Ward (towards the Palmerston Street end) but there were no street numbers listed. The MWSS & DD sewerage plan shows a small, rectangular brick building, possibly a shed, on the site and, according to the Directories, Mrs L.N. Fairfield was residing there in 1898. (The circa 1912 PWD sewerage plans also show the same building.) In 1898 the next door house, No. 6, was occupied by Marcus Wilkins, a builder. It is interesting to also note that Thomas Newton, an architect with the Perth Water Department (PWD) occupied No. 10 and Alexander Walker, a carpenter, was at No. 14 '“ all three being involved in construction. Mrs Fairfield was followed by Mr Crawford in 1900, Thomas Guthrie from 1901 to 1904, Alexander Hicks in 1905 and George Collins in 1906 After that the site appeared to remain empty except that from 1925 a cordial works was listed on the site for a few years '“ no names were provided. By 1929 the building on the site was listed as a 'vacant store' and then, following that nothing was listed for the site in the Directories which ceased publication in 1949. Some time between that date and 1956 a residence was erected on the site as City of Perth records indicated building licences were issued in 1956 for additions to a storeroom and in 1965 to rebuild it in brick. In the late 1990s, the land was redeveloped with a modern three-storey duplex building designed by Chris Hair Architecture Urban Design and constructed by Gavin Construction Pty Ltd. In 1997 it won an Award of Merit in the Colorbond Group Residential Award. The judges 'congratulated Chris Hair on the elegant manner in which he had managed to site the two terrace houses within such a confined space' (The Architect, Spring 97 37.3, p.9). Since then a steel-roofed patio has been added to No. 2 (1999). The new development contrasts with the neighbouring weatherboard cottage at No. 6, which is still extant.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

House

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The house at No. 6 Randell St is a good example of a 1901 weatherboard Federation Queen Anne workers dwelling, built for John Good, of which few remain in the Town of Vincent.

Physical Description

The one storey modest weatherboard dwelling has a bullnose verandah with a cast iron frieze and is supported with stop chamfered posts. The weatherboards are rusticated to the front and side facades. The bargeboards of the gables are scalloped. Garden setting behind the brick and picket front fence Some decorative elements may have been added.

History

Randell Street was named after George Randell, a builder and prominent elder in the Trinity Congregational Church. He had an illustrious career in politics becoming a Perth City Councillor as early as 1870 and in 1874 he was elected Chairman and the City's first Mayor in 1885. He became a Member of the Legislative Council in 1877 and Leader of the Opposition in 1894 and a member of John Forrest's cabinet. He was a member of the Central Board of Education, a founder of Perth High School and much involved in the foundation of Claremont Teachers' Training College. Randell Street is situated in the area immediately north of the main body of Lake Henderson, now Robertson Park Reserve. Market gardening activities were carried out on the bed of the lake after it was drained in the early 1870s, and the surrounding areas developed early. European gardeners were followed by Chinese market gardeners who operated until the early 1920s. The material used to erect No. 6 on Town Lot Y239 was weatherboard but all the other homes in the street were of brick construction. It was previously believed that it was built in 1901 for John Good but when street numbers were first allocated in Wise's Post Office Directories in 1898, the subject place was listed and the resident was Marcus Wilkins, a builder. This was also the first year that his name appeared in the listings, indicating that possibly the house was built circa 1897. In 1900 the entry in the Directories for the subject place was John Turner. In 1910 it was occupied by Henry William, in 1915 by George Bergstrand and in 1920 John A. Evans. Evans was still there in 1940 and in 1949, the last year of the Directories, the resident was listed as Mrs A.E. Evans (possibly John's widow or another relation) indicating that the subject place may have been occupied by the same family since 1919. The Directories for 1898 showed that there was a resident next door at No. 2 Randell Street (Mrs L.N. Fairfield) but from 1906 that block was unoccupied, with the exception of a cool drink factory for a few years in the 1920s, until at least 1949 when they ceased to be published. In the late 1990s Nos 2-4 were redeveloped with a modern three-storey duplex which contrasts with the subject weatherboard cottage.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

House

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Musbury Terrace Group

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

Musbury Terrace at No. 17-25 Ruth Street is a good example of an intact terrace in the Federation Italianate style, of which there are only a small number of extant examples in the state.

Physical Description

A single storey terrace of six dwellings, each with its separate decorated parapet, set between pilasters. Each of the dwellings has a bullnose verandah, separated from the adjoining verandah with a brick dividing wall, profiled to the verandah and parapet and capped with ball finials. The parapet has a string course and is centrally divided. The facade, now painted, originally had horizontal stucco bands. Each terrace is one room plus passage in width. Small garden setbacks behind various fences None apparent

History

The area bounded by Brisbane, Lake, Bulwer and William Streets, and including Amy, Ruth and Edith Streets, developed largely as workers' housing, with smaller blocks, smaller residences and a number of semi-detached and terrace dwellings. Ruth Street is the widest of these three parallel streets which all bear women's names. Ruth Street was originally named Mary Street but as there was more than one road with the same name in the area, it was changed to Ruth. A right-of way was constructed at the rear of Ruth Street which leads into Amy Street as per the original subdivision and later the eastern end of Ruth Street was re-aligned as was Edith to allow the through continuation of William Street. The row of six terraces at Nos 15-25 Ruth Street was constructed in 1897 with No. 25 being a mirror image of the other five. They appeared on the MWSS & DD plans of 18 August 1897 (Sheet 7) but Ruth Street was not listed in Wise's Post Office Directories until 1898. That year Nos 15-25 were also listed for the first time. They were occupied then by Mrs John Linton (No. 15), Allan Ferrie (No. 19) Nathaniel Cuthbertson (No. 21) and Peter Miller, a carpenter (No. 25). Allan Ferrie (No. 19) was born in Scotland in 1856 and arrived in Australia in 1883, disembarking in Victoria. He was a cabinet maker and wood carver who moved to Perth to work for Smith & Co in Goderich Street, East Perth. He died in 1936. In 1915, the houses were numbered 27-47 and the occupants were James Watts (No. 27), Charles Manuel (No. 33), Allan Ferrie (No. 37), Frederick C. Ashdown (No. 39), Nathaniel Cuthbertson (No. 41) and Sam Sethergosta (No. 47). In 1925 they were still numbered 27-47 and the residents were James Watts (No. 27), Mrs S. Manuel (No. 33), David Maeer (No. 37), Nathaniel Cuthbertson (No. 39), Chris Cuthbertson (No. 41) and Robert Liddle (No. 47). The numbering was the same in 1936 with some changes in occupancies but David Maeer was still at No. 37 and the Cuthbertsons in Nos 39 and 47. In 1949, the last year of the Directories, the numbers had still not been changed back and Moris Borushek was in No. 27, Mrs K.A. Wood (No. 33), Mrs Eileen Klauss (No. 33), David Maer was still at No. 37 but the spelling of his name had changed, Nathaniel and Chris Cuthbertson were still at Nos 39 and 41 as was Cornis J. Ryan, who had been living at No. 47 since at least 1936. The City of Perth building licence cards indicated that H. Forbes applied for permission for brick and iron additions to No. 17 in 1957 and in 1969 J. Zenis applied to construct a laundry for Nos 15-25. Mr Whitehouse also applied for additions to the group dwelling in 1988. According to Town of Vincent records the owner/occupier of No. 19 was given permission in 2004 to operate a home-based office. This was Aura International, a multi-media production business. Australian Theatre Director, Raymond Omodei, lived next door to the subject places at No. 13 Ruth Street from 1990 to 2006. During that time the house was extensively renovated and it was put up for sale at between $1m and $1.2m in 2006. Actors such as Angela Punch and Amanda Muggleton, famous for Shirley Valentine, which was brought to Australia by Modei, also practised there during his tenure.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Colmel House

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

Colmel House, at No. 241 Stirling Street, is a rare and important example of a grand house in the Federation Italianate style. It is one of very few grand houses to have been constructed in the Town, whilst it is a model of grand house which was built in a number of locations within Peppermint Grove. The former residence for Henry Bell, it was converted to a private hospital in 1910 and has continued to be used for hospital/health facility purposes since that time, making it a focus for health services to the district for most of its century of existence.

Physical Description

This two storey former residence in the Federation Italianate style is a grand house of a model found in several locations in Peppermint Grove, but unique within the Town of Vincent. Like two similar examples in Peppermint Grove one grand house was converted to hospital usage and the other to school purposes. The comparatively plain two storey bullnosed verandah is handsomely proportioned and returns from the front façade along the side façade. The verandah posts are chamfered with collars top and bottom and the lower floor verandah has a decorative flat arch valance. Upstairs the balustrade consists of simple verticalsset between handrail and bottom rail. An open tread timber staircase is in place on the side of the verandah. The verandah terminates against a protruding double storey bay at either end, gabled to the front façade and hipped to the side façade. The generous scale of the residence is given emphasis with the tall hipped roof and french doors with fanlights above. Casement windows and doors have fanlights over, contributing to the generous proportions of the residence. The place is of brick construction set on a limestone plinth. Rendered bands run the perimeter of the residence at door head on both the ground and first floor. The projecting gabled bay on the front façade have additional rendered stringcourses at first floor sill and floor levels. Set back behind a timber framed low chain link fence, the lawns are manicured and there are some plantings. Main roof, concrete verandah.

History

Stirling Street was named after Sir James Stirling (1791-1865), founder of the Swan River Colony and Governor from 1828-1839. Stirling was born in Scotland and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 12. In 1823 he married Ellen Mangles, after whom a portion of what later became Newcastle Street was named. Stirling first visited Western Australia in 1827 and was impressed with it. He wanted to found a colony and without his strong lobbying and Britain's fears that the French would beat them to it, the Swan River might not have been established in 1829. No. 241 Stirling Street did not appear on the PWD 1897 City of Perth & Suburbs sewerage plants (Sheet No. 8, 18.8.1897). It is a large brick residence constructed sometime between 1900 and 1905 constructed on an irregular-shaped block that backs onto two other Municipal Heritage Inventory-listed properties on the south side of Brisbane Street. In 1905 it was occupied by Henry Bell. In 1910, it was listed as Topsham Private Hospital, with Miss M. Plover as matron and nurses D. Salmon, G.E. Conroy and E. Bochm in residence. Two nurses were boarding across the street at No. 252 at that time and there was a nurses' home at 194 Stirling Street, and another establishment, Ensor Hospital, at No. 216. By 1915, No. 241 was known as St Helen's Private Hospital, and it was run by Nurse Armstrong. In 1919 the nurses were E. Scott and H.P. Rennix. By 1930 it was known as St Helen's Hospital and was owned and run by Christina and Lottie Fanning. In 1936 the hospital was listed still with the Fannings as the proprietors but 'trained nurses home' was also included. In 1947 the Fannings were still there. No Directory was published in 1948 but in 1949 No. 241 was just listed as 'W.H. & A.G. Kirby'. The City of Perth building licence cards indicated that Colonel Norris applied for a licence to erect an office at this address in 1979. In 2002, No. 241 Stirling Street was a health facility known as Colmel House. Two houses on Brisbane Street (Nos. 79 and 81) operated as annexes of Colmel House. By 2004 it was occupied by MR Business Advisers, which produced business development programmes tailored to their clients' needs and ran workshops there. Other tenants have included Melsom Robson, chartered accountants (established 1978), which became Jones Condon chartered accountants, MR Business Advisers and Colmel Properties.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Residence

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

House

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The house at No. 18 Stuart Street is a fine example of a corner model of Federation Queen Anne bungalow which retains a high degree of integrity.

Physical Description

The house is a corner model, mirrored around the leading corner. The Town of Vincent, like the City of Subiaco, had several models of housing that were designed to address the corner. Each principal façade has a gabled protruding front room against which the return verandah terminates. The roof is hipped with gabrel ventilators. The separate skillion verandah is supported by simple timber posts and bressemer. The protruding rooms have bay windows with two double hung sashes. The flying gables above the protruding rooms have a simply bracketed finial which provides drama and emphasis. The house retains its original chimneys with corbelled heads. The uniform pale colour scheme and plant screening detracts from the place as a fine example of its style. Corner property with picket fence to both frontages. The garden has large shrubs and small trees that screen the house. All finishes painted uniformly.

History

Stuart Street was named after Councillor Stuart of the Governor Broome Hotel in William Street, Perth and Orange Avenue was named because it was made through an old orange grove in 1896. It was part of Walter Edward Joseph (Joseph) Gallop's market garden. In 1885 Joseph Gallop was granted four acres fronting Lake Street as compensation for the resumption of part of his allotment W1 to round off the corner of Beaufort and Wellington Streets and eliminate an awkward break in the continuity of Barrack Street. It was declared a public road at the request of the City of Perth on 3 June 1905. No. 18 Stuart Street was just a street block east of Robertson Park, a natural wetland known originally as Lake Henderson. The lake was first drained in 1852 for market gardening. Farm buildings were erected there in the 1890s and in 1903 Dr Kenny built a four-roomed cottage there. A Chinese market gardener (Lee Hop) then lived I the cottage and worked the land with the aid of about five other Chinese men. The section of Stuart Street between Lake and Palmerston Streets was part of the Brooking Park Estate, which was developed in 1896. The estate, which consisted of nine lots in the area around Palmerston Street and Orange Avenue, was named for surveyor J. S. Brooking, whose home, 'Lakeside', was on part of the estate, in Palmerston Street. No. 18 Stuart Street was not shown on the 1900 PWD Perth City & Suburbs sewerage plans, and neither Stuart Street nor Orange Avenue appeared in the 1905 Wise's Post Office Directories. In 1906 the street was listed and there were just two houses and in 1907 there were six. Street numbers were listed for the first time in 1908 and No. 18 was occupied by Edward Butt senior. In 1910, the occupant was George Watson and in 1919 Thomas G. Hamilton. John Bridgeman was listed as the resident in 1930 and S.P. Nicholas in 1949. Robertson Park was declared a Council Reserve in 1913 and further filling took place in the 1920s. By 1929 when tennis courts were established and a pavilion erected, market gardening had ceased. Many local residents played tennis on the courts there or hockey on the oval and the children's playground attracted many of the younger residents. In 1990 and 2004 there were extensive upgrades made to the tennis facilites and conservation work and re-creation of a wetland began in 2002. No. 18 was also fortunate in having the Stuart Street Reserve across the road, which was established in later years. In 2008 this park had a children's playground and a bicycle track.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

No.4 Substation

Parent Place or Precinct

25118 Electricity Substations, Perth

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The Electricity Sub-Station at 31 Stuart Street is a striking landmark in the Federation/Interwar Functionalist style, with its vigorous combination of blood and bandages on the ground floor, articulated red brick upper floors and striking upper level loggias at either end of the structure, prominently located in an area of former manufacturing dependent on electricity supply.

Physical Description

The sub-station is an imposing four storey red building capped with a hipped gambrel roof clad with corrugated iron. The ground floor has a strong blood and bandages pattern to visually anchor the main façade. The main façade is detailed with pilasters forming full height bays between which are recessed blind window openings, with rendered lintols and key stones. At either end of the sub-station is a two storeyed annexe, with bullseye detail, surmounted by a rendered loggia in an Interwar Chicoagoesque style. Sub-stations of this distinction are rare. A twin structure in West Perth was sold in the late 1980s and substantially adapted, so that it has a low degree of integrity. Extensive internal

History

Stuart Street was named after Perth City Councillor Stuart of the Governor Broome Hotel in William Street, Perth. However, in Wises' Post Office Directories for 1916 it was spelt as 'Stewart'. The Stuart Street Electricity sub-station was constructed between 1914 and 1916 as the northern sub-station on the 6,000-volt ring main cable. It was known as the Perth City Council Electricity Sub-Station No. 4. The first electricity power station was constructed at East Perth by the Perth Electric Tramway Limited to supply power for the City's tram system. In 1912 the State Government took over the tramway system and the power station. A new power station was constructed at East Perth and was operational in December 1916. This power station along Summers Street is still extant today, however was de-commissioned in 1981 and is still waiting a new use. The ring main cable cable ran from the power station, through the centre of the city to West Perth, with three sub-stations along the route, and then zig-zagged its way north-east to the City of Perth municipal yard on Stuart Street, on the edge of Lake Henderson (Robertson Park), where the northern sub-station was sited, before running almost due-east back to the power station. The sub-stations converted the high-voltage alternating current generated by the power station to direct current. All lines connecting to the ring main did so at the sub-stations. The sub-stations on the ring main were the property of the City of Perth at this time, while the tramway sub-stations were the property of the Railways, Tramways and Electricity Supply Department. The ring main was designed by Mertz and McLellan and was installed by Callenders Cable & Construction Company Ltd. It is not certain if Callenders constructed the sub-stations or if that work was put out to tender. The West Australian power system ran on 254 volts, and this was not reduced to 240 volts until the 1940s, at which time also, conversion to alternating power for the end-user was undertaken, resulting in the replacement of large amounts of equipment within the sub-stations. In 1949, the last year of Wise's Post Office Directories, Sub-Station No.4 was listed in the block between Palmerston and Fitzgerald streets along with Westralian Farmers Co-op Ltd (Wescobee), Dairy Farmers' Co-op Co Ltd and Pascomi's. Wescobee Honey (as it was known), the Co-oop (dairy produce merchants) and Pascomi's (milk vendors) were all long-term businesses and very well known in the area. The Western Australian electricity system was until recently owned and controlled by Western Power Corporation, formerly known as the State Electricity Commission. In 2008 Synergy was WA's largest energy retailer with around 890,000 customers in the south-west of the State.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Maltings Plant (fmr)

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The former Joe White Maltings Plant is a unique example of the industrial process necessary for brewing. It was an important part of the brewing infrastructure for almost a century. The plant provided a unique demonstration in the development of the malting process, changing techniques, increasing volume and quality control. The Federation Stripped Classical facades are handsome streetscape elements.

Physical Description

Joe White Maltings Plant, prior to its partial demolition, conversion and refurbishment for residential purposes, was a built encyclopaedia of the development of malting in this state. It demonstrated the growth of the maltings plant, the adaptation and new malting processes introduced and the equipment and new types of construction necessary to accommodate this dynamic cycle of change. Along its street frontages the Maltings presented office and warehousing spaces in relatively unchanging Stripped Classical facades. In the heart of the site the dynamic of change, obsolescence and wear and tear could be readily traced through progressive development of the malthouses and kilns, later superceded by a fleximalt plant, which provided the model for the new, largerfleximalt plant now located at Kewdale. These changes were reflected in the intial purpose built brick structures, supplemented by timber and steel framed accessways and storage areas. Later changes incorporated steel and concrete structures and conveyors for handling large quantities of material. The presence of the Maltings was pervasive with its distinctive aroma of brewed hops. The place has a zero lot setback from Palmerston Street and to Stuart Street. At the north-eastern corner of the site is a three storey substation built in 1915. The place has been considerably modified to accommodate a medium density inner urban residential development. Interventions have included the replacement of structures, the removal of roofing and large new penetrations in brick walls.

History

In the 1850s, the Swan and Stanley brewing companies were founded. David William Harwood was the owner of the Stanley Brewery for some years, and when it was purchased by Swan Brewery he held the position of Chief Brewer at Swan. Harwood set up his own brewery, Harwood Brewery in West Perth, and in 1903 established the Perth Pneumatic Malting Company on Lots Y249 and Y250 on Palmerston Street to supply malt for his brewery. (The was listed in Wise's Post Office Directories at Nos 63-65 Palmerston Street for the first time that year with D.W. Harwood as the Managing Director.) The first malthouse established on the site was what is now called Malt House No 2. By 1910, Harwood Brewery had also moved to Palmerston Street. In 1917, the Brewery was taken over by the Union Brewery of Kalgoorlie, managed by Albert Muddock. In 1928 A. O. Barrett purchased the site and made an agreement with the Swan Brewery to stop brewing and concentrate on malting. The Union Malting Company was registered the following year and further development of the site was undertaken to facilitate malting. In 1935 four reinforced concrete silos and the first of three kilns were built. The company produced a booklet for WA farmers on cultivating barley for malting. By the late 1940s, the fourth malthouse and a third kiln had been completed, signalling an increase in demand and production. In the mid 1950s, the bulk handling store and fifth malt house were built. A two-storey duplex on the adjoining lot, Y251, was demolished in 1972 and the first stage of the fleximalt plant constructed on the site. The second stage was built in 1980-81. The fleximalt process was a faster malting process, and was operated alongside the slower traditional method. In 1986, the Victorian company, Joe White Maltings, purchased the property, forming the biggest independent malting company in the southern hemisphere. In the late 1990s malting operations ceased and the company vacated the site. Joe White Maltings was then the subject of a residential development, 'The Maltings', by the Australand Property Group. This involved the retention of some existing structures and the removal of others and the result was 137 apartments, townhouses and a museum. In 2002 'The Maltings' won a national award from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) for its first stage. In 2006 it won a national award for the best urban renewal project in the UDIA's Award for Excellence. The chief judge, Peter Lanigan said it was '˜a first-rate example of urban renewal because of its ability to blend heritage and history with modern living' (West Australian 22.4.2006).

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate to High

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

House

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Two Houses

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Dwelling 'hand' pair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

The pair of limestone houses at Nos 134-136 Summers Street are a fine and intact matching pair of Federation Georgian bungalows, which are associated with Mrs Eliza Gibbs, the developer and original owner.

Physical Description

A matching pair of houses in a style from the Late Colonial period. The houses are consciously Georgian in inspiration with symmetrical frontages, hipped roofs and symmetrical chimneys. The houses are basically rectangular in plan with two front rooms flanking central entries. Walls are of limestone with brick quoins to door and window openings. The tiled roofs have clipped eaves. The separate skillion verandahs span the full width of the frontages and are supported on plain square posts and bressemers. Windows are double hung sashes. Entry doors have fanlights. The chimneys align with the front windows demonstrating these are back to back on the dividing walls to the four front rooms. Street oriented pair of houses, narrow front gardens and picket front fences. Roof appears to have been replaced.

History

Summers Street was named after John Summers, a carriage maker and Perth City Councillor. He purchased about 20 acres of land (Subs 160-165) on the southern side of the street in 1874. At that time the area was outside the township of Perth but during the next few years Perth began to expand northwards. By 1877 the Guildford track had been transformed into a proper road and a map drawn that year also shows Summers Street as a made road. The northern side of the road remained part of Swan Location A4 which was owned by W.B. Andrews from 1830 until1874 when it was sold to James Dyer, a Trustee for the Perth Building Society. This section of Summers Street was developed as part of the East Norwood Estate, which was established in 1898, on the western side of the Fremantle-Guildford Railway line, in the East Perth area. The subdivision was carried out by the Perth (WA) Estate Company Limited and was a result of the population boom created by the gold discoveries in the State. One member of the Company was Zebina Lane, who was an engineer and mine owner at the Great Boulder mines, and one of a number of people who made money in gold mining and reinvested it in land developments during this period. The company later developed the adjoining East Norwood Estate on the east side of the railway line. Initially the attraction of the area was that it was away from East Perth's southern factory area; the higher ground meant it was more desirable than the swampy parts; and its proximity to Highgate allowed them to identify with the more socially acceptable people in that area. However, the status of the area did decline somewhat as a result of the installation of the electric tram service along Guildford Road in 1899 and the growing number of small industries which began to set up there. Other setbacks were that the area was cut off when the Perth to Guildford Railway line was put through and the construction of the Perth Powerhouse at the river end of the street. The dwellings at Nos. 134-136 appeared on the 1897 PWD City of Perth & Suburbs sewerage plans (Sheet 7, 18.8.1897) and as almost identical detached houses on the MWSS&DD sewerage plan of 1953, and may have been identical when first constructed. They were first recorded on the 1898 City of Perth rate books, under the ownership of Mrs Eliza Gibbs, who had constructed five residences on her land. No. 134 was occupied by Eliza and Stephen Gibbs and No. 136 by Bernard Walkemeyer, who operated a bakery on the opposite side of the street. Stephen Gibbs was a successful publican and timber merchant. Tenants changed often, and included an agent, contractor, baker, police inspector and a carpenter in the ensuing years. The high frequency of turnover was fairly typical of the area and for many looking for work in the City, it was a convenient temporary home. Wise's Post Office Directories did not list any numbers in 1899 but Mrs Gibbs was mentioned and two 'off Summers St'. The latter were at the rear of what became No. 138 and that year they were occupied by Edward Bamfield and George Macgill. In 1900 only Mrs Duncan Cumming was listed at No. 136. In 1910 there was no No. 134 but No. 136 was occupied by Lewis Gibbs and No. 138 by Stephen Gibbs with the two at the rear of No. 138 by Mrs Louisa Chapman and Joseph Gregory. In 1920 the residents of Nos. 134 and No. 136 were Alfred A. Worsley and Mrs S.H. Macmillan who had both been there since at least 1917. Mrs Eliza Gibbs was at No. 138 and three houses were listed at the rear. In 1930 Mrs R. Cunningham was at No. 134, George Macmillan (136) and William H. Gibbs at No. 138. In 1940 the occupants were Mrs Elizabeth H. Simmons (No.134), Mrs Sarah H. Macmillan (No. 136 and Edith and Ceil Morley at No. 138. The Gibbs family were no longer listed as residents in the street. In 1948 A. Bianchi of the W.A Trustee Company, who were acting as agents, applied to the City of Perth for a building licence for Nos. 134 and 136 but no details were given. No. 138 was demolished by Homes West and the site redeveloped with a block of 20 flats in 1988 but the other two houses are still extant. At some point this area became part of the suburb of 'Perth' and in 1995, following the formation of the Town of Vincent it came under the new town's jurisdiction. In 1999 local residents successfully fought plans by Westrail to move its bus depot from Hay Street to Summers Street. Improvements were made to the street in 2002 by the East Perth Redevelopment authority and the Town of Vincent. These included new footpaths, a new road surface, lighting, grass verges, street trees and underground power. Nos. 134 and 136 were advertised for sale at $600,000 to $650,000 in 2002 with plans available and planning approval for the construction of four town houses at the rear with access by a driveway between the two existing houses. Nos 134 and 136 were re-roofed with corrugated iron sheeting in 2006. Approval was granted in 2007 to add carports and to develop three town houses at the rear of these cottages with access still provided by an entry between them. In 2007 the owner of the two properties was awarded a Commendation in the Town's Building Design and Conservation Awards for conservation works being undertaken on the two properties, including tuck-pointing, re-roofing and internal re-furbishments.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate to High

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Throssell House, Perth

Condition

The place has been well maintained and reflects its values. Cumulative works have resulted in the loss of some original fabric and it’s replacement and augmentation with reproduction material. There is some deterioration of pointing, cracking that appears due to settlement, and evidence of a number of historic roof and roof pluming leaks. Overall, the place is in fair, to good condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Statement of Significance

Throssell House is a fine and unique example of a private residence in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. It is located in a prestigious location overlooking Hyde Park. Its unique appearance and belvedere make it a landmark in the area. It has associations with George Throssell, a member of the Forrest Government, one time Premier of Western Australia, prominent businessman and Northam identity.

Physical Description

A substantial single storey residence with a complex roof form which includes a recently reinstated belvedere. The front of the house is of limestone while the sides and rear are of brick. The broken pitch verandah is supported by turned timber posts and a timber balustrade. A short flight of steps leads up to the verandah under a gabled entry feature. The roof gable ends are half timbered and infilled with roughcast. The tiled roof is capped with decorative ridge tiles. The original paneled front door features stained glass. The windows are surrounded by quoin detailing. Side windows have pressed metal awnings. The dwelling is elevated above a front garden setting behind a pillar and palisade fence. Side carport

History

Throssell Street was named after George Throssell who owned Town Lots Y285 and Y286 from at least 1877. These lots, which were situated between Third Swamp (Hyde Park) and Vincent, Fitzgerald and Glendower Streets, were subdivided during Throssell's ownership. Throssell, who was born on 13 May 1840 in Ireland, came to Australia at the age of 10 with his father. He was educated at Perth Public School and joined the staff of Padbury & Fermaner (later Padbury, Loton & Co). In 1861, he established his own business in Northam, and was active there in public affairs, being elected to the Northam Municipal Council and serving as Chairman and Mayor. He married Anne Morrell of Northam. In 1890, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Northam, and in 1897 was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Forrest Government. In 1901, when John Forrest resigned to enter Federal Parliament, George Throssell was appointed Premier and Treasurer on 15 February. He served only three months, failing to win support at the election in April 1901. He continued as MLA for Northam until 1904, and was elected to the Legislative Council for East Province in 1907. He died in Northam on 30 August 1910. The house at No. 15 was designed by architect George W. McMullen for Richard Sparrow circa 1901 and originally named 'Wedderburn'. George McMullen had arrived in WA from Victoria in the early 1890s. He initially worked in the Architectural Branch of the Public Works Department (PWD) and began in private practice around 1899. He also designed at least three other residences in the Town of Vincent at No. 127 Lincoln Street, Highgate in 1905. Street numbers were not allocated for Throssell Street in Wise's Post Office Directories until 1908 but Richard Sparrow's name appeared from 1904 onwards when five other households were also listed. Sparrow was a widely respected attorney in Perth, who specialised in patents and new machinery, in particular. From 1893 he had offices in St George's Terrace, Perth and from 1897 to the early 1930s in the Austral Chambers in Barrack Street. He also owned shops at 515-517 Beaufort Street, which were built in 1903-04. Richard Sparrow and his sister Marian both lived at the property and it was her name that appeared on the title until 1935. The family subdivided Lot 17 and part of Lot 18 in 1924 and the land was purchased by Frances Stevens. This became No. 11 Throssell Street and contained a well which was believed to have been used by No. 15. In 1930 the Directories listed both the Sparrows and Miss C. Waltham as occupants, indicating that it may have been divided into two residences. In 1935 the title was transferred to Richard and his sister died three years later in 1938. Richard retired around 1938/39 and when he died on 15 May 1941 he was still residing at No. 15. At the time of his death he was a member of the St John No.2 WAC, Freemason's Lodge and the Royal Park Bowling Club. The house was then purchased by Christabel Winifred Waltham and she and Mrs Constance Rose Waltham lived there until 1948. It was then bought by the Schlam family. Leopold Schlam died in 1952 but the family remained there until 1958. In 1949, the last year of the Directories, the resident was Walter Breitbarth who appears to have also been residing there, indicating that the house was still subdivided. They were there until at least the early 1950s. Alice's occupation was given as 'dealer' and Walter's as 'slipper maker'. In 1958 the house was purchased by Mrs Barbara Elsie Rumney, a widow. She resided there until at least 1961 and it may have been rented for a period after that. Between 1980 and 1982 it changed hands twice and then Robert Thomas and Lesley-Anne Mains owned it from 1982 to 1989. It was during this time (1980) that a swimming pool, sauna and pool shed were erected and possibly it was at this time that the original outbuildings were demolished. In October 1989 it was sold to Ricardo and Concettina Cazzolli who remained in residence until 1999. Several alterations occurred during this time, which included the addition of a belvedere and changes to the loft space incorporating a bedroom, bathroom, etc. and a staircase, which were designed by Ian Molyneau, a Fremantle architect. A carport and possibly the wine cellar were added in 1990. Julie and Quentin Summers purchased the property in 1999 and they were still in residence when it was entered on the Heritage Council's Register of Heritage Places in 2005. They advertised for sale in 2005 for $1.675m.

Integrity/Authenticity

Intact

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Dwelling

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update