Adelaide House

Statement of Significance

The building is a simple, yet dignified representative example of Australian Colonial Vernacular architecture. The building, for it's form and characteristics of its class, makes a positive contribution to the streetscape and townscape of Pingelly. 'Adelaide House' is an important building in the history of Pingelly and a history of it's construction and ownership by the Smith Family, a prominent family in the Pingelly district, has been duly noted in this brief statement.

Physical Description

The residence is constructed back from the street alignment. The building has a low, stone boundary fence and is approached by a curved staircase with masonry steps. The building is built in the Australian Colonial Domestic Vernacular Style. The exterior walls are in stonework and the openings and building corners feature rendered quoins. The exterior of the building features double-hung sash windows, and rendered window reveals and sills. The window panes are divided into smaller panes by slim glazing bars. The roof form dominates the exterior of the place. The hipped roof is broken back, pitched from the exterior walls to cover an encircling verandah. The verandah roof is supported by turned timber posts that now sit on a rendered masonry low wall. The front elevation is symmetrical about a central doorway. A window is either side of the entrance. A verandah along one side of the building has been enclosed with masonry, now painted.

History

Pingelly began construction with materials which were readily available in the township - stone, mud and wood. The first buildings were wood that were later replaced by mud bat and stone houses with shingles cut from local trees or thatching made from Xanthorea (blackboy) rushes for the roofing. With the advent of some local industries, a need for a more adequate building programme became evident. The buildings became more uniform with the use of locally made bricks and the extensive use of corrugated iron. To a certain extent the climate dictated the housing style. To overcome the heat of summer, a bungalow was developed with four main rooms and a central passage, all or part way through the middle, with a wide wrap-around verandah, where possible, part of which was allocated as bathroom, laundry and kitchen. As the family grew, it was common to add enclosed areas as sleepouts. However, often finance did not permit four main rooms so two large rooms and a lean-to at the back sufficed, with additions being added when possible. Wood - was used sparingly in Pingelly. It was economical and uncomplicated but due to the local brick industry it was not used to its fullest potential. Masonry - brick, and to a much lesser extent stone, provided the bulk of the building construction. Stonework was mainly used in the first houses of Pingelly along with mud bats. With the advent of locally made bricks, the use of stonework was diminished to only large buildings, especially the churches. Corrugated iron - cgi was used extensively for roofing. It was also used for wall cladding, lining of eaves and in some cases ceiling linings. The extensive use of cgi expressed the importance of it as a building element. The house was perhaps the first, or one of the first,stone houses in Pingelly and was named 'Adelaide House' after the city where the first owner came from. The house was built in 1894, and owned by J Bateman, a merchant from Fremantle. Presumably, the only reason Bateman owned property in Pingelly was for the cartage of his merchandise to Kalgoorlie. After the railway to the goldfields was opened in 1896, there was no reason for Bateman to own property in Pingelly. The house was purchased by George Beaumont Smith on the 22 Nov.1898 and remained in his family until 25 March 1942. Gladys Mena Smith, a well remembered school teacher at the local school owned the house from 1932-1942.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate-High

Condition

Fair-Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update