House

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance: • As a representative example of the standard of modest rental accommodation built for people such as tradesmen, junior employees, labourers and single women/widows in Subiaco during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. • For the evidence that this property and its local streetscape provides about the manner in which the family residences of senior professional men and business owners were developed side by side with the more modest residences of more junior employees and tradesmen in early twentieth century Subiaco.

Physical Description

• Weatherboard workers cottage. • Single storey with hipped roof with gablet facing the street. • Separate bullnose verandah across the façade supported on chamfered edge timber posts, timber deck. • Symmetrical façade with central entrance flanked by 1-over-1 sash windows. • Simple presentation of the place has been retained.

History

Subiaco's population increased significantly in the 1890s due to an economic depression in the eastern states and the discovery of gold in Western Australia. In the late 1890s, property developers bought large landholdings for subdivision in the Perth metropolitan area. The subdivisions were generally simple grid pattern developments with small lots for occupancy by working families. Subiaco was a popular and logical location for development and the increase in population and demand for services led to the proclamation of Subiaco as a municipality in 1897. A subdivision plan for this portion of Subiaco was approved in 1896. Park Street was named ‘Salisbury Avenue’ in this plan but was changed shortly thereafter. In the PO Directory of 1902 there were 16 primary residents listed along Park Street, increasing to 64 by 1905. Around 85 houses had been built by 1910, increasing to around 90 by 1915, after which the numbers remained relatively stable at around the mid 90s through until at least the mid 20th century. This confirms that this part of Subiaco was largely developed in the Federation era (in the period from the late 1890s to the early war years), with a relatively small amount of infill development through until WWII. From the readily available information this place was built c1922 and the first occupant was produce merchant William Leunig. No detail has been found about the builder of this place. William Leunig only stayed at this place for two years and in subsequent years there was a rapid turnover of occupants until c1938 Joseph Buchanan Russell (barman) and his wife Evelyn Susannah (nee McClymans) moved in. This couple were married in Fremantle in c.1934 and lived at 151 Park Street from c.1938 until the late 1950s. A plan of the lot prepared in 1927 and reviewed in 1955 for the purpose of planning sewerage and water supply services shows that the original footprint of this house has doubled with additions to the rear. Aerial photographs from the mid 20th century demonstrate that the largest additions were undertaken in the early 1990s. The most significant of these in 2002, and c2007 when the second storey was added. Originally the roof was clad with green corrugated iron.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High: The place continues to be used as a private residence. Authenticity - High: The original external form and detailing of the building is largely intact.

Condition

Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears to be in fair to good condition.

Uses

Creation Date

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