House

Statement of Significance

The place at 51 Albany Hwy has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: It is significant individually and as one of a group of historic houses on the western side of Albany Highway, originally named Perth Road and historically being an important main road linking Albany to Perth and the entry to the townsite. Together with 55, 75, 77, 81, 85, 135 137 and 139, the group forms an important and eclectic streetscape representing different periods of development from the 1880s, various architectural styles and uses of fabric but which illustrates the residential development. The streetscape is also heightened by the presence of the old Albany Primary School on the eastern side of the Highway. The place is a fine yet simple example of a timber and iron Federation Bungalow, and its use of timber relatively rare for residences in and around the historic townsite, particularly the western side of the town which is dominated more by brick and stone construction.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Asymmetrical form with projecting gable • Timber weatherboard clad (painted cream) • Gable corrugated Colorbond roof (red tone) • Bullnose front verandah with zincalume roof and timber balustrade, posts and decorative brackets • Corrugated iron painted sun hoods over front and side windows • Situated on an elevated site • Timber skirt to foundation space Some modifications of this place include: • Aluminium windows • External paint scheme

History

The land on which Lot 1 now sits was created from the subdivision of the larger Lot 38 which had been owned by Thomas and Andrew Muir. The rate book from 1890 has two houses on Lot 38 – which would be 51 and 55 Albany Hwy. One is occupied by Mrs Haggerty (midwife) (owned by Thomas Muir) and the other Robert Greenshields (owned by Andrew Muir). Greenshields was the Town Clerk of Albany and also designed the Rotunda on Stirling Terrace. In 1900 the tenants were Mary Liversey (widow) and George Roberts (waiter). The Muirs were early settlers to Albany and ran a successful merchants business A Muir and Sons (in Earl Street) and also active in local government and community affairs. In 1949, Albany Council adopted a by-law across designated areas of the central townsite requiring that all dwellings, shops and warehouses be built only of brick, stone or reinforced concrete, thereby not permitting timber to be used as the primary building material for external wall cladding. This by-law was not an uncommon one and adopted by most local councils in both metropolitan and regional areas owing to the hazards of timber mainly in relation to fire. However, this later policy makes the timber houses still extant in Cuthbert Street an important part of its historic and eclectic mix of building materials. Originally called Perth Road, many of the private houses built along here were later converted for commercial use as Albany Highway developed and became a major road. The name of the house today may allude to Pietro Capararo or a member of his family. Capararo, a builder originally from Italy, moved to Albany in 1948 from Kojonup. He was married to Pierina and they had four children: Harry, Matilde, Peter and Rio. Capararo’s brother, Carlo, was also a builder and settled in Katanning. Capararo served 2 years as a town councillor. He died in 1980 in Albany.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate-high Authenticity: Moderate-high

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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