House, 43 Iolanthe Street

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a intact example of the late Federation style in timber.
• The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area in the early 20th century.
• This place has social value as the house demonstrates the form and scale of housing in the 1900s.

Physical Description

A single storey timber framed weatherboard and iron dwelling with dual aspect to the Iolanthe St and Anzac Terrace. The Iolanthe Street façade is asymmetrical in plan form with a verandah across the entire façade and returns along the north and south elevations. The east façade faces Iolanthe Street with two multi-paned sash windows positioned at the corners of the elevation with a central brick panel within the weatherboard cladding, marking the point of the fireplace. A tall brick corbelled chimney projects from the roof at this point. The entrance faces east, but is located on the south elevation in a small projecting
section with a gabled roof. The main roof is hipped with a broken pitch which forms the verandah canopy. The verandah canopy is supported on square timber posts with a timber frieze and timber deck. The north elevation along Anzac Street is obscured by dense planting and there is driveway access from Anzac Street along the western boundary.

History

Portion of Bassendean was developed under the name 'Eden Estate' in the 1890s when developer and future Premier of Western Australia, Frank Wilson, subdivided land for residential use. The name was believed to come from a farm that once existed in the area. Iolanthe Street, together with Ida and Ivanhoe Streets, are named in honour of characters from Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. From the available evidence this residence was constructed in 1915 for the Fiveash family. Robert Henry Fiveash (1846-1912) and his wife Annie Bertha Fiveash, née Catchlove (1849-1930) originally from South Australia were married there in 1873 and had seven children, five daughters and two sons. The family
relocated to Western Australia in 1904 and settled in Claremont and Robert worked as a clerk until his death in 1912. Following his death the family relocated to West Guildford first living in Railway Terrace before building this house in 1915. Annie Bertha Fiveash lived at the house with five of her children. In 1916, two daughters worked as typistes, one a teacher and two were performing home duties. One son married and the other, Frank Rees Fiveash, lived at the house with his unmarried sisters until his death in 1953. Annie Bertha died in 1930 and at that time, Frank and his sisters, Lemilda and Norah remained at the house.
Lemilda appears to have been the last member of the family living at the house when she died in 1958. The house was numbered 31 Iolanthe Street during the early 20th century.
The Fiveash family appear to have secured seven lots for their family home, the property occupied all the land to Parmelia Way and approximately two housing lots to the south (37 Iolanthe St and 27 Parmelia St inclusive). It was still one entity in 1965 but was subdivided into the current smaller lots by the mid-1970s. The residence has remained consistent with its original form.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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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.