Maslin House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Maslin House is of significance for the local community as one of the oldest houses in Bridgetown, which is located within the central commercial district. It is also of local importance due to its use for varied significant purposes over time.
Aesthetic Value
Maslin House forms an important part of a significant streetscape which contains many fine late nineteenth century and early twentieth century buildings and retains much of the ambience of a pre-World War One rural town centre.
Historic Value
Maslin House is of historic value for both its social and commercial purposes to the town and as an early settlers residence.
It is believed to be one of the earliest surviving houses in the township of Bridgetown (noting that the town was surveyed in 1868 and just over 10 years later was recorded as having only 20 householders).
Research Value
Maslin House has some research value relating to building construction techniques and fabrics of the 1870’s.
Social Value
Maslin House has always had a high social value, for its use as a ‘lying-in’ house by its original owner, as a lodging house, shops, various restaurants and with its more recent extension as Bridgetown’s only purpose built art gallery.

Physical Description

Maslin House is a small cottage of iron and handmade wire cut bricks, fronting Hampton Street, which now sits below street level at the original road height.
From the front of the house, painted short sheet corrugated iron can be seen, which covers the original shingles that remain in situ. The rear portion of the roof however was covered with Zincalume after damage during Cyclone Alby in 1978.
Internally, a number of walls have been removed, to open up the building for commercial use, however many of the structural changes can be interpreted due to materials left in place or uncovered. An original window remains in the southern wall.
A second timber cottage was transported to the rear of Maslin House around the early 1940’s and an addition of a gallery and workshop space was adjoined to the northern side of Maslin House in 1984/85. The original building flows through to this extension (pottery/gallery). Hand hewn floor boards can still be seen in the building as well as pressed metal ceilings.

History

The two acre Town Lot 16 in Bridgetown was originally purchased by John Douglas in 1869, then sold to Thomas Neate Maslin in 1877. Thomas and his eldest son, James Andrews Maslin, built the house on the property and James took up residence here with his wife, Elizabeth.
The design was somewhat based on his father’s property, the Blackwood Inn, Mullalyup. Although it was meant to be a residence with room for a shop in the front room(s), it is thought that the shop did not eventuate, as there was a demand for Elizabeth Maslin’s care as a midwife. Hence the front rooms were used early on to care for women “lying in” prior to and following childbirth.
In the 1940’s the place became known as the Macedonian House, as it was owned by a young Macedonian couple (Keremelevich) who ran it as a boarding house, grocery and vegetable store and dwelling, with the addition of a transported weatherboard cottage from the local Awcock farm added to the rear of Maslin House at around this time.
In 1978 winds from Cyclone Alby tore the short sheet iron from the western (back) side of the roof, which was replaced with Zincalume. Since the late 1970’s Maslin House has been a restaurant and café.
In 1984 the house was owned by Mark Smitchins, a potter, who had the northern extension built as a gallery and pottery. After opening the extension in 1985, Smitchin unfortunately died the following year. The property was soon after bought and is still run as Bridgetown Pottery Tearooms (Restaurant), with the gallery remaining in use for public art exhibitions and similar functions.
In 2011 a portion of the Gallery was sectioned off for use as a hair salon.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium Integrity: The original design as a private residence can still be readily understood.
Medium Authenticity: There have been some alterations to the detailing (including enlargement of the front windows) and some alterations to the original layout, which are quite easily interpreted.

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.