House, 41 North Road

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a mostly intact example of the Federation Bungalow style within a garden setting. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area of Bassendean in the late 19th and early 20th century. • The place has historic value for its association with early settlers the Pringle and Langan families. • This place has social value as a demonstration of the form and scale of housing in the 1900s for a professional family.

Physical Description

A substantial brick and iron house positioned in a large lot that backs on to Point Reserve and the Swan River. The house has been extended along the southern boundary and a separate garage has been constructed closer to the street frontage. The original section of the house is set back from the street behind gardens and driveway. The original section of the house presents with a symmetrical façade incorporating a centrally positioned gabled entrance flanked by tall 1-over-1 sash windows. The brick is paler red brick laid in stretcher bond. The gabled entry porch is not an original feature and was added when the house was reroofed in c.2012. The entry into the porch is of traditional arrangement with timber panelled door, side panels, side lights and fanlights above the entire. The roof is hipped with tall rendered brick and corbelled chimneys at north and south ends of the roof. A separate skillion verandah extends across the façade.

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. The parcel of land for this future residence was transferred to local building contractor, John Pringle (1840-1914) in 1898. John Pringle arrived in Western Australia in 1888 with his wife Mary, nee Jamieson (d1927). The couple had married in 1862 and had one son, Adam. John Pringle was a foundation member of the West Guildford Road Board. He took out several mortgages on the property during his time of ownership, but none appear large enough to fund building of a substantial residence. However, as Pringle was a builder himself, he may have been able to erect a house on his property at reduced cost by doing much of the work himself. The Post Office Directories list Pringle at North Road from 1900, suggesting the house was constructed c.1899. In 1906, the property was transferred to Thomas Langan (c1860-1920) and Patrick Langan (c1868-1944) (Bakers) of Midland. On relocating to West Guildford Thomas described himself as a ‘gentleman’ and Patrick who lived in nearby in Anstey Street was a gardener. Patrick and his wife Margaret Isabella Coulthard (c1880-1952) who had married in 1907 lived in the house until 1944 when the property was transferred to sisters Doris and Renee Milne Roberston who occupied the house until the 1980s. In 1991, the land parcel was divided into two lots. The house remained largely unchanged in form and extent until a major addition in 2012 which integrated a new wing on the southern elevation. At this time the red corrugated iron roof was replaced with zincalume. The front entry was altered to create one main door and a gable inserted into the bull nose verandah.

Integrity/Authenticity

High Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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