SHOP & TERRACES, 79 - 85 SOUTH TERRACE

Statement of Significance

Shop & Terraces, 79-85 South Terrace, a corner shop and attached terraces dating from 1895, has aesthetic value for its landmark qualities, and contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It represents the expansion of Fremantle in the gold boom period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is historically significant as a representation of people’s living conditions and commercial activity in the Fremantle area. The place has rarity value as a corner shop and three terraces still extant.

Physical Description

Shop & Terraces, 79 South Terrace is a two storey limestone and iron corner shop and three terraces, built in the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone to the side and rendered to the front, and the corner shop is rendered. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. Each of the four places has a corbelled chimney.
The shop has a truncated corner entrance, with double timber doors flanked either side by pairs of eight pane timber framed windows. There is a corrugated iron flat roof awning hanging from steel tie rods, and a rendered and decorative parapet.
The terraced buildings are set well above the street as the ground slopes down towards the back, allowing for an understory/basement. They have a dropped iron verandah roof supported by timber posts, a timber balustrade, with some sections also glazed above the balustrade. The verandah at the other end to the shop is enclosed with horizontal timber battens.
There is no setback and the front boundary is a limestone rendered wall, which forms the front wall of the understory. There are circular air vents/windows to the wall.

History

John Bateman, of the well known Fremantle trading family, purchased the lot in 1889 and by 1896, there were five dwellings and a shop on the lot (although two were listed in Arundel Street).

A Metropolitan Sewerage plan dated c. 1910 shows a run of three attached commercial buildings with basements. No 83 and 85 were a mirror pair. All had full length front verandahs to the street front and a variety of outbuildings to the rear. No. 79 was occupied by James Moore, a storekeeper, and there was an oven and stables to in the rear yard along Arundel Street.

In 1916, title to the properties passed to Harry James William Higham and Frederick Hollis as joint trustees and tenants. After Harry died in January 1917, Frederick Hollis became the sole proprietor.

In 1926, ownership was transferred to James and Norah Moore, storekeepers. The following year, the property was bought by Herbert Leslie Penfold Hyland, a ‘gentleman’. Following Herbert’s death in 1940, ownership passed to Francis Hyland, a vigneron, and Geoffrey Hyland. However, ownership was soon formally transferred to Penfolds Wine Pty Ltd.

John Baille, an electrical fitter, bought the property in 1957 and was soon advised that the City of Fremantle Council had resolved to declare that all buildings in the City Ward of the City of Fremantle that were constructed of timber frame should be demolished, and if rebuilt, they should be of brick. The City wrote to Mr J Baille in November 1959 advising him to reconstruct:
•79 South Terrace – motor garage
•81 South Terrace – laundry
•83 South Terrace – laundry and bathroom
•85 South Terrace – laundry and bathroom

John Baille died in 1981 and ownership was transferred to his wife, Helen.

This place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - PURPLE - of architectural and historic significance in its own right.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.