House

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • As a representative example of a well designed and detailed bungalow of Subiaco dating from the early twentieth century. • 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 streetscape of early twentieth century houses. • For its occupation as the residence of Joseph Abrahams (longest serving Mayor of Subiaco, 1950-1974)

Physical Description

94 Heytesbury Road is a simple double fronted house with a projecting wing on the western side of the main façade. The walls (which were probably originally tuck-point face brick) have been fully rendered and painted. The roof has a hipped-gable form, with gablet vents at either end of the east-west ridgeline and a prominent street-front gable over the western wing. It also retains a single chimney with a painted (originally tuck-pointed) face, convex rendered cap, and terracotta pots. The street-front gable has a timber finial, vermiculated roughcast rendered face and timber battens set out around a central diamond pattern. The gable sits over a projecting wing on the western side of the main façade. This wing has a shallow rectangular window bay with a raked awning over a triple casement window. The awning has ‘sun-ray’ pattern end panels and carved timber brackets. The windows have square highlights, a moulded projecting sill and a decorative under-sill panel. The latter has a vermiculated pattern to curved side panels with a ‘fringed’ base, springing from projecting central panel. The front verandah abuts the projecting wing and extends across the remainder of the façade. This has a dropped bull-nosed roof supported on turned timber posts. At the western end of the verandah there is a large niche with a shallow arched head, set in the side of the projecting wing. The main entrance, which is located adjacent to the projecting wing, has a moulded timber frame, set with a traditional, early twentieth century style 5-panel door, single sidelight and highlight. The verandah also features a pair of individual double hung windows with segmental heads, set over a continuous sill and under-sill panel (matching that to the projecting wing). The house is set approximately 3.5m back from the street frontage, which is defined by a low timber picket fence.

History

In June 1903, Sydney accountants William James Douglas and Frank Dyson purchased Perth Suburban Lot 254 and a portion of Perth Suburban Lot 253. The land was subdivided into 36 lots and in August 1903 the pair divided the ownership of the lots evenly. Lots 34, 35 and 36 were sold to Minnie Lloyd in March/April 1906 (together Lots 29, 30 and 31 with in Dyson’s portion of the subdivision). Minnie’s husband, William Lloyd, was a builder (based in Rokeby Road) and newspaper advertisements calling for experienced tradesmen confirm that he was active in building in Subiaco from at least 1902. However, it appears that Minnie over-extended her finances as, in December 1906, “32 new, well-built, and finished Villas and Houses, situated in the best localities of the popular suburb of Subiaco” (valued at a total of £20,765), were offered for sale under the Bankruptcy Act, as means of clearing her debts. These included houses at 80 (Lot 29), 82 (Lot 30), 84 (lot 31), 92 (Lot 34), 94 (Lot 35) and 96 (Lot 36) Heytesbury Road, as described below: Lot, 4.-Being Lots 30 and 31 of Perth Suburban Lot 254, Subiaco, having a frontage of about 80ft. to Heytesbury -road, by a depth of about 133ft on to r.o.w. at back, on which are erected two double - fronted Brick Dwellings. In June 1903, Sydney accountants William James Douglas and Frank Dyson purchased Perth Suburban Lot 254 and a portion of Perth Suburban Lot 253. The land was subdivided into 36 lots and in August 1903 the pair divided the ownership of the lots evenly. Lots 34, 35 and 36 were sold to Minnie Lloyd in March/April 1906 (together Lots 29, 30 and 31 with in Dyson’s portion of the subdivision). Minnie’s husband, William Lloyd, was a builder (based in Rokeby Road) and newspaper advertisements calling for experienced tradesmen confirm that he was active in building in Subiaco from at least 1902. However, it appears that Minnie over-extended her finances as, in December 1906, “32 new, well-built, and finished Villas and Houses, situated in the best localities of the popular suburb of Subiaco” (valued at a total of £20,765), were offered for sale under the Bankruptcy Act, as means of clearing her debts. These included houses at 80 (Lot 29), 82 (Lot 30), 84 (lot 31), 92 (Lot 34), 94 (Lot 35) and 96 (Lot 36) Heytesbury Road, as described below: Lot, 4.-Being Lots 30 and 31 of Perth Suburban Lot 254, Subiaco, having a frontage of about 80ft. to Heytesbury -road, by a depth of about 133ft on to r.o.w. at back, on which are erected two double - fronted Brick Dwellings. Valued at £1,400. Lot 4a.-Being Lot 29 of Perth Sub. Lot 254 having a frontage of about 40ft. to Heytesbury-rd., by a depth of about 133ft. on to r.o.w. at back, on which is erected a double-fronted Brick Dwelling. Valued at £550 Lot 5.-Being Lots 34, 35, and 36 of Perth Sub Lot 254, Subiaco, having a frontage of about 120ft. to Heytesbury-road, by a depth of about 133ft., on to r.o.w. at back, on which are erected three Brick Villas. Valued at £2000. 82, 84 and 94 Heytesbury Road were sold to Mrs L Abrahams, who rented them out, and the first known occupant of 94 Heytesbury Road was William Ross. It then appears to have continued to be used as a rental property until it was advertised as part of a mortgagee sale in December 1911: THREE HANDSOME BRICK VILLAS, Nos. 82, 84, and 94 Heytesbury-road, Subiaco, Close to Tram. CHAS. SOMMERS has been instructed by the Mortgagee to SELL as above: Lots 30, 31, and 35 of Perth Suburban Lot 254, each 40ft. by 132ft. to a right of-way, upon which are erected three handsome brick villa residences, each containing 5 rooms, kitchen, bathroom pantry, washhouse with copper and troughs, all let to good tenants at 22s. 6d. per week each. These houses are faithfully built, in good condition, and within one minute's walk of the Rokeby-road tram. They would form an excellent investment for capitalists, and those in search of a good home in this favourite locality are strongly recommended to inspect. The first long-term occupant was George Francis Hymus, a Post Master, who settled here in c.1912. George lived at 94 Heytesbury Road until c.1925, with his wife, Minnie and their children, Leslie, Kathleen, Harold and Reginald, who were 13, 10, 8 and 5 years old respectively when they first moved here. When George relocated to Wyalkatchem in 1925, the property was again advertised for sale: SUBIACO: 6-roomed Brick Residence, close to tram, sleeping-out room, electric light, gas, granolithic paths, lawns, vines. Owner leaving district. Most be quick sale. Bargain for cash. 94 Heytesbury-rd. The next long-term resident was Joseph Abrahams, who settled here at about the time of his marriage to Olga Constance Browne in September 1928. Note: Joseph’s parents were Michael and Kathleen Abrahams and it is not known if he was related to the Mrs L Abrahams who owned the property in c.1906-11. Joseph was initially described as a student and later worked as a teacher. He was the honorary secretary of the West Australian State School Amateur Athletics Association from c.1931-1941, a Subiaco councillor from November 1945 and was elected Mayor of Subiaco in 1950. Joseph went on to be Subiaco’s longest serving Mayor, resigning due to ill health in late 1974. Occupants of the property from its time of construction until c.1972 included: 1907-1911 William Archibald Ross, manager 1912 Robert L Thompson 1913-1925 George Francis Hymus, Post Master 1926-1927 Mrs Alice Abbott 1928 Frank Vounder Olifent, land agent 1929-post 1971 Joseph Hyams Abrahams, teacher

Integrity/Authenticity

The rendering of the main façade has impacted on the authenticity and traditional character of the place. However, the underlying form remains consistent with the original design.

Condition

Good

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update