House

Statement of Significance

The place is a good representative example of the standard of modest rental accommodation built for people such as tradesmen, junior employees, labourers and single women/widows in Midland during the late 19th century. As a good representative example of the application of materials and detailing which were derived from the Federation style, but which were applied in a more restrained manner in modest residences in Midland. For its association with the rapid development of Midland in the late 19th century.

Physical Description

Timber framed and fibro house with hipped and gabled roof. The façade consists of an off-centre entrance comprising a single timber panelled door, a 1-over-1 timber framed sash window to the east of the entrance and pair of top hung timber framed windows to the west of the entrance, a verandah extends across the full width of the façade with the canopy supported on round timber posts. The canopy is the continuation of the main roof with a small vented gabled above the entrance. The rear section of the house is of timber framed construction with corrugated metal cladding. Internally the walls are timber framed lined with fibrous plaster sheets. Floors are concrete with laminate over.

History

In 1886, the Midland Railway Company took up significant landholdings in the area and established its operations to build a railway north to Geraldton. The townsite of Midland Junction was gazetted in 1890 and private investor James Morrison, subdivided and sold large parcels of land to new settlers. With gold discoveries in the mid 1890s, Midland Junction became a hub of the state road and rail system and was a logical site for the government railway workshops which relocated there in 1904. Byers Road was named in honour of William Byers Wood, successful butcher and business man of Guildford who was Mayor of Guildford between 1891 and 1892. A tender for the curbing of the road in 1901 indicates that the area was being developed in the first years of the 20th century. From the readily available information this house was one of the first in the street as it was built c1898 and the first occupants were John O'Mara (c1866-1937) and his wife Mary Bridget Regan (c1863-1924). The architect or builder of this cottage have not been determined in this research. The O'Mara's had four children and sadly a fifth child, Rose Agnes died at this house, aged 3 in 1903. The family lived at the house until c1914 and the house and the next long term occupants were Thomas Dixon [Dickson] Graham (1888-1966) and his wife Ada Amelia Philpott (1892-1952). Thomas, who worked as a labourer and later a carrier, married Ada in 1914 and the couple moved into this house in 1915. It is noted from the Post Office Directories that Ada's mother and father lived next door at 26 Byers Road from c1913. Ada's father died in 1913 and her mother, also Ada Amelia, lived on next door (now demolished). Thomas and Ada had 10 children which may have been the reason for the move from this house to Sayer Street in the early 1920s where Thomas's parents lived. After the Grahams left the house the place has a series of occupants which suggests the place was an investment property owned by an absentee landlord. A survey of the place in 1939, and revised in 1954 for the purpose of planning water and sewerage services, designates the house is constructed of asbestos and had a small galvanised iron verandah and addition across the rear elevation. It is proposed that the house was originally constructed of weatherboard and later reclad in asbestos. The date of the recladding has not been determined but must have been before the resurvey of the site in 1954. Aerial photographs of the site from the mid 20th century indicate that the addition across the rear was rebuilt and extended in the 1960s. Since that time there have been no major alterations or additions to the form or extent and the original footprint of the cottage can still be determined.

Integrity/Authenticity

Authenticity: Low to moderate as the external cladding is removed, internal layout is altered and much of the internal detail has been removed. Integrity: High as the place continues to be used as a residence.

Condition

Fair to Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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