House, 120 Kenny Street

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a early example of the Inter War Californian Bungalow style.
• The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area of Bassendean in the Inter War period.
• This place has social value as the house demonstrates the form and scale of housing for working families in the inter war period.

Physical Description

Elevated single storey property displaying elements of the Californian Bungalow architectural style. The place is of brick construction with roughcast render finish. The roof is hipped with gablets to the ridge and clad in long sheet corrugated metal. The roof continues down at the same pitch to form the verandah canopy which extends across the front and southern elevation. A gable projection is situated at the southeast corner with timber detailing to the gable which provides additional emphasis to the angled bay window. The verandah canopy is supported on timber posts and masonry columns with simple timber picket balustrade extending between each post. The windows are timber framed casements with leaded lights arranged in groups with boxed bay openings to the façade. Each boxed bay consists of three street facing windows with additional windows to each side and rendered brickwork above and below the windows. The boxed bay on the south-east corner is at an angle with a view down the road. A replacement window appears to have been inserted between the
two boxed bays on the façade. The house sits in an elevated position looking over the front garden which is lawned and enclosed by a dwarf brick wall and timber picket fence.

History

This portion of Bassendean was subdivided by a group of investors in the early 1900s under the promotional name of 'Tanner's Estate' or the 'Tanner's Extension Estate'. The group of investors included some of the most well-known members of colonial society: S.H. Parker, G.H. Leake, H. Anstey, Dr D. Kenny, J. James, J. Grave, H.E. Parry, Dr. J. Hope and W. Paterson. Three of these men; Parker, Leake and Paterson; were at various times members of parliament. Kenny Street was named after Dr Daniel Kenny (1860-1915), born in Ireland
and trained as a medical doctor at Trinity College; he achieved several prominent postings in medical, political and business life in Western Australia. The street began to be settled in the 1910s with most intense development in the Inter War period. From the available information this residence was constructed c1919 for Jonathan Bedford (c1893-1990) and his wife Laura Rose Bedford, née Chinnery (c1897-1977). Jonathan and Laura Bedford were married in
Boulder in 1912 before English born Jonathan enlisted with the AIF to serve in France during World War One. He returned to Australia in 1919 and the couple settled in Kenny Street. As a carpenter and joiner it is possible Jonathan was involved in the construction of this residence. The Bedfords lived at the residence until the 1970s. Aerial photographs indicate that the external form and extent of the building have not changed significantly since the mid 1960s apart from additions to the rear.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.