Site of Tom Hungerford House

Statement of Significance

Tom Hungerford House (fmr) is significant for the association with the renowned author Tom Hungerford.

Physical Description

Built in the 1970's. The single storey brick dwelling is elevated on the east side where the land slopes down to a wetland area.

History

This house on a large rural lot was occupied by author T. A. G. (Tom) Hungerford from around 1976 to 1993. Tom Hungerford was born in Perth in 1915. He served in the Army in WWII and then worked for a period as press secretary to Prime Minister Billy Hughes. He then worked as a journalist, travelling widely. He was a press officer for two WA premiers, John Tonkin and Sir Charles Court, until his retirement in 1978, following which he continued to write and to travel widely. Tom Hungerford began writing in his late teens and his first published short story was in 1942, in the Sydney Bulletin. The Ridge and the River, the first of his four novels, was published in 1950, and his articles, poetry and short stories have been published widely in journals, newspapers and anthologies throughout Australia and overseas. His first collection of short stories was published in 1976 and he published Fremantle, Landscapes and People (with photographer Roger Garwood) in 1979, and three collections of autobiographical stories - Stories From Suburban Road, A Knockabout with a Slouch Hat and Red Rover All Over. Literature prizes Tom has won include the Crouch Gold Medal for Literature in 1951, the Patricia Hackett Short Story Prize in 1962 and the WA Weekly Literature Prize for Fiction in 1964. Other works include travel books, anthologies, a children’s book‚ a stage play, radio plays, articles, documentaries and poems. In 1987 Tom Hungerford was made a member of the Order of Australia, and in 2005, at the age of 90, he was the Citizen of the Year for Arts, Culture and Entertainment.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree: continual residential Authenticity: Moderate degree

Condition

Fair

Uses

Creation Date

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