W. W. Alcock House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

W. W. Alcock House (fmr) has historic value for its associations with the first Chairman of the Gosnells Road Board and the development of the Gosnells District.

The place has social value as a demonstration of the type of home occupied by professional men and their families in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

W. W. Alcock House (fmr) benefits from a semi-rural setting amongst the industrial sector of Maddington. The property is located on the eastern side of the road amongst a number of other properties all benefiting from large lots. The property is located at an angle to the street and has a triangular front lot with a gravel driveway running along the northern boundary of the house.

The single storey property is of brick and tile construction with a complex hipped roof with tall brick chimneys with rendered corbeling. The roof is hipped and clad in painted corrugated iron sheeting. The facebrick work is orange in tone, laid in stretcher bond with three rows of header bricks forming the window arches.

The view of the property from Kelvin Road is of the rear of the property. The front elevation is of asymmetric plan form with a bullnose verandah across the recessed section of the façade. The canopy is supported on concrete piers with timber columns. The windows are timber framed sashes, with a corrugated iron awning above the window to the projecting bay.

History

This house was built for Walter W. Alcock in 1905 near the railway line, on a 10 acre portion of the 2,200 acre property owned by his brother Frank Morley Alcock. The house faced into the property with its back to the street and the railway line.

Walter and Frank Alcock were solicitors who came to the Maddington area seeking a rural lifestyle. Their aim was to work a small farm while continuing to commute to Perth for their professional work. They managed to do this quite successfully with the help of hired labour to run their dairy. Frank Alcock's home was located at the other end of the property beside Bickley Brook, on what is now Madrid Place.

Walter Alcock became involved in local politics as the first Chairman of the Gosnells Road Board in 1907. He was instrumental in the location of the Road Board Office to Maddington in 1908. He also acted as spokesman for the Dairymen and Cattle Owners' Association, and initiated the Burswood-Armadale Association to watch over matters of common interest, for example flooding and the state of Albany Road.

Walter Alcock's government appointments, first as Assistant Public Service Commissioner and later as Chairman of the Licensing Appeal Board, took him out of the district in 1914. The property has been subdivided for residential and industrial use.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree: continual residential
Authenticity: Moderate degree

Condition

Fair

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.