House

Statement of Significance

• The place has aesthetic value as a well-executed intact example of the Federation Bungalow style, with much of the original detail of the exterior in evidence. • The place has historic value for its association with the former Cleikum Inn which was located at this site which provided a valuable service to the West Guildford community in the mid 19th century. • The place has historic value for its association with Charles Rickwood Wicks who was a successful builder and prominent citizen in the community. • The place has social value as a landmark in the community since the early 20th century.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and render dwelling with a hipped corrugated metal roof and three diverse facades on a corner lot. It was re-roofed early 2009 seeing a change from tiles to the current corrugated metal. It appears to be two buildings on one site, the smaller building closest to North Road faces due west whereas the main building to the rear of the site is slightly angled aligning with Guildford Road and the Swan River. The west facing North Road façade to the smaller building is painted brick with aluminium framed windows. It is very plain in appearance compared to the ornate features of the larger building. To the south of the building is an enclosed alfresco area adjoining the driveway and the smaller building. The main building at the rear overlooks the Swan River to the east, making the main facade of the building at the rear of the site. This building is rendered brick construction with textured elements at the gable and above the stained glass bay windows. It has a brick chimney penetrating the corrugated roofing and a verandah extending to the north east with a separate corrugated roof. The verndah is adorned with a simple timber frieze and decorative timber brackets and posts. The verandah to the north is less ornate than the verandah adjoining the main façade, however it also has a separate corrugated roof and simple timber columns and frieze. A gable over stained glass bay windows to the north seems to match the front façade with its textured render, vertical elements and shell like feature.

History

This portion of Bassendean was one of the first areas to be subdivided as town lots of approximately 2 acres each. The land was subsequently subdivided as smaller residential lots in the early 1900s. North Road was named in honour of Lord North of Guildford, an early Secretary of State for the Colonies. Descendants of Lord North were influential in the government and parliament of Western Australia. This residence was built on the site of the ‘Cliekum Inn’ which was the site from which travellers would set off across the river to Guildford. The land was purchased by prominent local citizen, builder Charles Rickwood Wicks. Wicks had built a residence in Carnegie Street and ‘Holmehouse’ in Anstey Street prior to building this residence for his family c1907. This residence was built to a grand scale and included tennis courts and a private jetty. Charles Rickwood Wicks, formerly of Melbourne, had settled in Western Australia with his wife and two children in the late 1890s. He came from a family of builders of high repute in Victoria and quickly established himself in that profession in Western Australia. This home was originally called ‘Abbotsford’ after the locality in Melbourne where the Wicks family originated. Charles Wicks continued to work as a builder and was responsible for the construction of ‘many fine homes in the district’. Anecdotal information from his grandson states that these homes included 1 North Road, 26 and 28 North Road and possibly 89 Old Perth Road. Wicks was an active community member, taking his place on the West Guildford Roads Board from its first meeting in 1901 to 1913 and then again from 1917 to 1920. Charles Wicks lived at the Guildford Road property until his death in 1956 at the age of 96. The building has been added in several programs of work since its construction. A large addition to the west was undertaken c1970 and many additions and alterations have been undertaken as requirements have changed. The roof appears to have originally been tiled and changed to zincalume cladding c2009.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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