House, 78 Oliphant Street

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as it demonstrates a simple form of the Inter-war Californian bungalow style in timber.

The place has historic value for its association with the development of the area for agriculture in the 1920s.

Physical Description

The single storey house is timber framed and clad with a stucco dado and battened asbestos above. The expansive corrugated iron clad roof is hipped and continues at break pitch over the perimeter verandah. The tall chimneys are stucco with face brick geometric detailing at the top. The verandah posts are rendered brick to dado with chamfered timber posts above. Part of the northeast corner is enclosed in brick. The rear garden has large trees within it.

History

The house located at 78 Oliphant Street was originally situated on a nine acre property. The earliest records available (1927) show the home was owned by Australian Homes Limited. Shortly after that it was sold to C. M. Watkins, the first of a long series of owners and occupants. This is likely to be Christina Marion Watkins, the wife of Frederick Edward Watkins, an accountant; the couple lived in Victoria Park.

Aerial photographs of the site in the 1950s and 1960s show that the house was surrounded by a cluster of farm buildings and was accessed from the west via Belmont Road. Around the homestead were several large trees and orchards. The property was relatively unusual as it remained as a large landholding until the early 1990s.

The Carrie family owned the property in 1995 and a subdivision of the property since 1998 has left the house on a 1,120 square metre block, with mature trees at the rear. No further information about the former owners or occupants has been determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree: continual residential
Authenticity: High 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.