Second Cowen House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Second Cowen House (fmr) has aesthetic value as a good example of the Inter-war bungalow style. The comparison to Third Cowen House (fmr) directly opposite on River Avenue illustrates the evolution of the style in this period. The place has historic value for its association with the original owner, Robert Cowen, who contributed significantly to the community as a local Road Board member and as a leader in the rural practices of the district. The place has social value as a demonstration of the type of housing built for professional men and their families in the inter-war period.

Physical Description

Cowen House No. 2 is located opposite Cowen House No. 3 and expresses similar design qualities. The single storey red brick and tile building is an ‘L’ shape, with a gable to the street and a further gable to the east elevation with the remainder of the roof in the hipped form. A broken pitch verandah extends around the majority of the property supported on rendered brick piers with paired timber columns. The windows are timber framed casements, each window divided into 6 small panes. The property is set back from the road behind a small enclosed garden and a larger open green space that had previously been an orchard but now forms part of the garden. The rear of the property backs onto the Canning River.

History

This house was built for Robert Cowen in 1923. Robert was joint owner of Stoke Farm and from 1908 to 1913 lived with his family in the original mud brick home (now demolished) on the property. When Stoke Farm was subdivided in 1913 the family relocated to a house in the orchard (First Cowen House (fmr)). In 1923, the family bought back a 10 acre portion of Stoke Farm because of the good water supply for a citrus orchard (a permanent creek used to run through the area) and this new house was built in the middle of the orchard. Robert served for a time in the early 1920s as Chairman of the Gosnells Road Board. He instructed many people in orcharding and experimented with many crops such as peanuts and apples, but recommended oranges be grown in the district. In 1928, the Cowens built another house on the opposite side of the street (Third Cowen House (fmr) - 21 River Avenue) but continued to operate the orchard. Robert Cowen died in 1933 and his wife sold the orchard with this house to the Noack family. Later owners have been the Russells, who owned race horses, the Blacks and then the Chieras. The house has been sympathetically restored by recent owners.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree: continual residential Authencity: High degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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