Old Rectory

Statement of Significance

The Old Rectory is significant to the history and development of Bridgetown and to the history of the Anglican Church in the region. The built-in portion of the verandah on the south-east corner and the additional southern wing are of little or no significance.
Aesthetic Value
The Old Rectory is a substantial late Nineteenth century Victorian Georgian residence, although its traditional aesthetic values have been compromised by later additions. It is not visible from the road and therefore does not have local landmark value.
Historic Value
The Old Rectory has moderate historic value as town’s first purpose built Anglican Rectory. In this context the place represents the development of Bridgetown around the turn of the twentieth century, when the town was becoming more established and members ot the local faiths were focussed on attaining and holding onto permanent ministers.
Research Value
NA
Social Value
The Old Rectory was only used by the Anglican Church for a short time, however in those few years it had a high social value. In the years that the Old Rectory was used as a restaurant, it had some social value for the local community.

Physical Description

The building has rendered brick walls with decorative rendered quoins, stone foundations, and a corrugated profile pre-painted steel roof. Internally the original building comprises eight large rooms, a spacious reception hall and a return verandah. The building was altered circa 1940s and now contains a mixture of detailing from the 1890s and the later period (such as the concrete posts to the front verandah). Internally the building includes some fine detailing including fireplace surrounds and built in timber cupboards.
More recent changes include the infill of a portion of the south west corner of the verandah and a new wing on the western side of the house. These additions have used detailing based on the existing fabric.

History

The first reference found for an Anglican Rectory in Bridgetown is the following newspaper item dated October 1893: “…. at Bridgetown the rectory has been completed and the land immediately about it fenced, and to a large extent cleared and planted.
Other references state that it was built for £450 and officially opened in 1894. In June 1905 the house was sold to Mr Stretch for £800 in preparation for the erection of a new Church and Rectory on a single site within the Bridgetown townsite. The place continued to be occupied by the Anglican minister and his family until 1907, after which it is believed to have been occupied by the local bank manager. In 1912 “The Old Rectory” was purchased by Robert Farquhar, who remained here until c.1920. By the early 1920’s it had been purchased by Irving Wheatley and remained the Wheatley’s family home and the centre of a large rural property until it was sold to Vernon Williams in 1964. Over the years it has also been used as a restaurant, and is currently used as a private residence again. To this day it is still known locally however as the “Old Rectory”.

Integrity/Authenticity

High to Medium
While it is no longer used as a rectory the place continues to be used for residential purposes.
Medium
Alterations dating from the 1940’s, and the more recent additions and renovations, have reduced the authenticity of the place.

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.