House

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • For its aesthetic value as a representative example of a well designed Federation era weatherboard cottage. • For its historic value as a demonstration of the period in which Subiaco underwent rapid development in the early 20th century. • For its aesthetic contribution to a largely intact Hensman Road streetscape of early twentieth century houses.

Physical Description

132 Hensman Road is a single storey timber weatherboard residence with a corrugated steel hip and gable roof displaying characteristics of the Federation Bungalow style of architecture. The residence has an asymmetrical form with a projecting bay addressing Hensman Road. There is a painted brick chimney. The residence is clad with timber weatherboard that has a segmented profile along the front elevation to imitate stonework. The front gable is clad with pressed tin and has a timber finial. There is a corrugated steel bullnose verandah to the front. The verandah is supported by timber posts. The windows are timber double hung with a corrugated steel bullnose awning above. The place is enclosed by a painted brick fence that is approximately 1800mm high with a central timber gate and planting in front and behind the fence line. The place is obscured by dense vegetation and mature verge trees. The place is serviced by a rear laneway.

History

The east side of Hensman Road between Heytesbury and Nicholson Roads appears to have been one of the last areas in West Subiaco to be subdivided for residential lots. A c.1903 plan shows no structures on Hensman Road between Heytesbury and Nicholson Roads, including at 132 Hensman Rd. The Post Office Directories in 1901 showed no residents of Hensman Road is this area. By 1905, there were 27 residents listed in the street, of whom three were in the block between Heytesbury and Nicholson Roads. In 1910, the number of houses remained at around 27, increasing to around 42 in 1915 and around 51 in 1925. 132 Hensman Road was first listed in the Post Office Directories in 1914, at which time it was occupied by Henry Campbell (gardener). He remained here until c.1916. Occupants of the residence changed relatively often through its first twenty years, until Emma Coffey arrived c.1933. She remained until around the time of her death in June 1954. An analysis of information from online birth, death and marriage records, newspaper notices and online family trees suggests that Emma Campbell (c.1869-1954) had married John Joseph Coffey in Perth in 1922 but had been widowed in 1925. A sewerage plan from 1927 shows a timber residence with verandah across half the front width. The front section matches the extant building in 2021, but the residence shown in 1955 extended further into the lot than the early portion that has been retained. A substantial rear portion of the house was removed in 2001 (probably removing two rooms and a rear verandah and leaving a four-room core) and a large modern extension was added.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High Authenticity - High

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

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