Shenton House

Statement of Significance

Refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places.

Physical Description

Two storey Georgian/Edwardian style building with two-storey verandahs. For more detail refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places.

History

The farming property was first owned by prominent figure Henry Charles Sutherland, and then by George Shenton, MLA & Lord Mayor. The house was the first in the area, and the only one for several years. It was a prominent landmark. Shenton died in 1909 and the property was reserved for public use. UWA was established in Crawley from 1914, with the first engineering classes being held in Shenton's house. It became the Faculty of Engineering from 1914-1960, and was then converted by Marshall Clifton for use by the Faculty of Education, and later the Chaplaincy from 1997. In 2001, the place is used as a support centre for Aboriginal students at UWA. For more detail refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places. (Ref: HCWA assessment documentation; Spillman, Ken, Identity Prized: A History of Subiaco, City of Subiaco, UWA Press, 1985, pp. 60, 157.) Marshall Clifton was born in Wokalup, WA in 1903, and began his architectural career in the PWD in 1922, under W. B. Hardwick. He was an Assistant Architect from 1927-1929, before working privately for a short time with G Herbert Parry. He then traveled abroad to work and study, with painting excursions to the Continent. On his return to Perth in 1933, he formed a partnership with Parry, then set up his own practice in 1937. Clifton joined the army during WWII, and afterwards, from 1946-1953, formed a partnership with Eric Leach. Marshall Clifton is best known for his 'Spanish influenced' private houses, his skill as a water colour artist, and his UWA Crawley Campus buildings. He died in 1975. (Ref: B. Chapman & D. Richards, 'Marshall Clifton Architect and Artist,' Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1989.) A government decision in favour of a university for Western Australia was made in 1901, however a shortage of funds prevented it being established until 1913. The University Endowment Bill in 1903 allowed for land to be set aside for the future. The first location was a temporary one in Irwin Street, Perth, in a weatherboard building. The first Chancellor was John Winthrop Hackett. In 1921 Crawley was chosen as the permanent site for UWA. The Irwin Street building was relocated there in 1932.The foundation stone for the Hackett Memorial Buildings was laid in 1929. They form the focal point and symbolic landmark of UWA.

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