Liddelow Homestead & Trees

Statement of Significance

Liddelow Homestead and Trees, comprising a rendered brick and iron Homestead constructed c. 1880, a timber clad Outbuilding (c.1990), a rammed-earth Arts and Crafts Building (1995), two mature Ficus trees, together with plantings, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

The place is indicative of the pastoral settlement of Western Australia in the mid-1800s, which was the earliest form of European settlement in the State and opened the way for agricultural settlement and residential development;

The spreading verandah and residential scale of the Homestead, are representative of a vernacular homestead and are valued for their contrast to the surrounding light industrial development. The two mature Ficus trees at the main entrance provide a picturesque setting and contribute to the landmark quality;

The place is associated with John Liddelow, a prominent butcher in Perth in the 1860s to 1880s, Perth City Councillor 1886-1889, and active in farming and local affairs in the Canning district;

The remnant historic plantings at the place are representative of exotic species common in the late nineteenth century; and,

The Homestead was constructed c.1882 as the residence for Kenwick Park, an extensive property in the Canning River area, which gave its name to a suburb in the district and was the centre of local social activity for a number of years.

The timber Outbuilding and the Arts and Crafts Building have little significance.

Physical Description

Liddelow Homestead was originally located in a semi-rural area but over time the land use has changed and the former homestead is now located in the centre of the Kenwick industrial area.

The former Homestead is positioned on the southern side of Cooper Avenue behind significant and spectacular fig trees. The site is enclosed by cyclone fencing which allows for visual permeability of the site. The former Homestead overlooks Cooper Avenue with additions to the rear of the site built around a central lawn.

The former Homestead is of brick and iron construction and despite the modifications to its presentation the form of the building is still evident. The brickwork has been rendered and painted, the roof has been reclad with Colorbond and the front windows have been replaced with timber framed casements. The front elevation and the north western elevations have an open verandah supported on timber columns. The canopy to the verandah is the continuation of the main roof of hipped design.

The windows to the side elevation have also been altered, with the sash windows being replaced with wider and shallower openings containing three sectional openings with two multi-paned windows flanking a larger fixed pane. All evidence of the traditional sashes and sills has been lost through the render. The smaller windows comprise the two multi-paned casements without the central fixed pane.

The current house dates from the 1880s and was the second Liddelow Homestead, the first being destroyed by fire. The current house when it was rebuilt included servants quarters and outbuildings to the rear, some of which are still extant.

A rammed earth building was constructed to the rear of the site in 1995.

To the front of the building, within the fence, are two significant fig trees; a large Moreton Bay Fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) and a large Weeping Fig tree (Ficus macrocarpa Hillii) which have become a landmark in the streetscape. The trees date from the original homestead and had been planted by the Bickley family so were already established by the time the current property was constructed.

History

The former Liddelow Homestead is situated on part of the land purchased by Samuel Wallace Alexander Bickley in 1833 (Locations 3 & 12) and 1854 (Location 11). Bickley spent the years 1837 to 1851 in India before returning to WA. The property, of 2,555 acres, was known as 'Kenwick Park' and Wallace Bickley bred horses for the Indian remount trade and established an export business in Fremantle, handling sandalwood, whale oil and horses. The Bickley family lived in a weatherboard residence built on the site of the present Homestead.

The large Moreton Bay Fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) and Weeping Fig tree (Ficus Inherit pa Hillii) growing in front of the Homestead are said to have been planted by Wallace (Samuel) Bickley. A real estate map dated 1907 shows a photograph of these trees that were already large. They were referred to on the map as old Indian fig trees.

John Liddelow leased Kenwick Park from Wallace Bickley's estate in 1874 and acquired the title in 1883. After the timber house was destroyed by fire in 1883, Liddelow built the Homestead. Liddelow was a prominent wholesale butcher with premises on the corner of Barrack and Murray Street (in Perth), and used Kenwick Park to graze and slaughter the cattle brought down from the North-West.

The Liddelows were the centre of the social set of the area and their property became a popular gathering place for local residents. John Liddelow was a founding member of the Kenwick Church, St Michael's, and he also worked towards the formation of the Canning Road Board and the Canning Park Race Course. He was Chairman of the Road Board in 1891. His son Frederick was to iInherit Kenwick Park, but he died of pneumonia, aged 39, in 1892, supposedly brought on by constantly fording the Canning River in winter to tend to his market gardens in Spring Road. When John Liddelow died the following year, Frederick's 10-year-old son, Beverley John Liddelow iInherited, with his mother Eliza as trustee.

The property was leased out until Beverley reached legal age in 1904. Beverley Liddelow did not care for farming and in 1907 Kenwick Park was put up for auction. The description of the eight-room homestead at this time matches the building that currently exists. The property was sold and subdivided. Lot 1, comprising 42.56 acres with the Homestead with river and Albany Road frontages, huge dairy, workers' quarters, an extensive orchard and rose gardens, was purchased for £3,000 by Walter Robert Hayes. The Hayes established a dairy herd but the business was not successful. The workers' quarters were demolished and the materials used for construction of a shop on the corner of Royal Street and Albany Highway in 1915.

In 1923, Ada and Ernest Hicks from New Zealand ran a small dairy, producing butter for local consumption, with the milk used in a piggery. Several other unsuccessful ventures included a sawmill in a back paddock and an upholstery stuffing business in the dairy building. In 1929, Liddelow Homestead was divided into two residences. In 1941, brick makers L. Whiteman Ltd acquired the property for the clay deposits. Later owners further subdivided the land and the remaining outbuildings were removed. In 1972, the Homestead, on 0.824 acres ( Inherit 3,330 square metres), was purchased by the Shire of Gosnells.

The building was restored in 1975 by the Shire in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government under the Regional Employment Development Scheme, during which some of the timber verandahs were replaced with concrete. The Homestead was occupied as Liddelow Homestead Museum and Arts and Crafts Centre, which opened on 14 February 1976. In 1990 the Museum function was relocated to another site and a timber-clad outbuilding was added to cater for the growing function as an Arts and Crafts Centre. In 1995, a rammed-earth building was added, connected to the Homestead by a covered way at the rear.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate degree
Authenticity: Low degree: roof, windows and verandah replaced, walls rendered, and extensions.

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.