House

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as a particularly fine example of the architectural style typical of the area and period. It has historic significance reflecting the development and settlement of the area.

Physical Description

226 Heytesbury Road is a single storey timber weatherboard dwelling with a corrugated steel hip and gable roof displaying characteristics of the Federation Bungalow style of architecture. The residence has an asymmetrical form with a projecting bay addressing the street. The pitched roof has a ridge gablet addressing the street and a face brick chimney with brick corbelling. The gable end is clad with fibre cement sheeting and features a turned timber finial above. A corrugated steel verandah extends off the main roof line and returns around the eastern corner. The verandah is supported by timber posts with corner brackets. A timber framed entry door features highlights and sidelights. The projecting wing has a bay window addressing the street. The dwelling has a two-storey weatherboard addition to the rear with a detached lofted garage in the northern corner of the property at the intersection of the rear laneways. The dwelling is set close to the front boundary enclosed by a timber picket fence approximately 2000mm high with a timber lattice gate. The front fence is covered in ivy and along with a mature eucalypt and other verge trees, the dwelling is largely obscured from the street. The place is serviced to the side and rear by a laneway.

History

The triangle of land bounded by Hamersley, Derby, Heytesbury and Railway Roads was subdivided for sale around 1896, marketed as Redfern Estate No.2 by the Intercolonial Investment Company Ltd. It comprised 93 lots, of which about one third remained unsold in 1896, particularly along Nicholson Road and in the triangle formed by Bronte and Redfern Streets and the laneway. Lot 45, the future 226 Heytesbury Road, was unsold at this time.

A c.1903 plan shows a vacant lot at 226 Heytesbury Rd. Post office directories list only one resident on Heytesbury Road in 1901 to the west of Rokeby Road (being Austin Bastow, the Mayor of Subiaco). This increased gradually to 14 by 1905, but by 1910 there were around 50 houses. Development then continued steady with around 75 houses in 1915, 90 in 1920, 115 in 1925 and 135 (most of the available lots) in 1930.
The first occupant of what became 226 Heytesbury Road appears to have been James T. Wilkinson, tuck-pointer. James Thomas Wilkinson (c.1865-1906) married Mary Ann Baker (c.1866-1944) in Perth in c.1897. They had at least three children: Alma Theresa (born 1898); Harry James (c.1901) and George Thomas (1903). Wilkinson died in 1906, aged 41. He is officially recorded as Thomas James Wilkinson.

Although 226 Heytesbury Road was vacant for a short while after James/ Thomas’ death, by 1910 Mrs Mary Wilkinson is recorded living at the place. She remained here until around the time of her death in 1944. In 1912, Mary was listed in the first Register of Midwives in WA, one of the few paid jobs considered suitable for women at the time.

A sewerage plan from 1927 shows a timber residence with a corner verandah addressing both Heytesbury Road and the laneway, which matches the extant building in 2021. Substantial additions were made in the latter 1980s, which included removing a rear portion of the original house.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High
Authenticity - Medium: This aspect of the significance of the place has been diminished by alterations and additions to the rear.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in a good condition.

Uses

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.