Lankester House (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Lankester House (fmr) significant for the long associations with the Lankester family. The place also has associations with other orchard properties in the locality and the development of the orchard industry on the banks of the Canning River. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Maddington for agriculture in the early 20th century.

Physical Description

Lankester House, together with Brennan House (fmr) were two of the original houses in the locality surrounded by rural development. Whilst the setting to Brennan House has altered beyond all recognition, the setting to Lankester House has not been as severely impacted due to its tucked away position at the top of a dirt track. The house is located on top of a slope which drops down to the river at the rear of the property and is surrounded by remnant citrus plantings. The original façade of the house has been obscured by an enclosure of the verandah with fibre cement sheeting whilst the rear elevation retains much of its original detailing and looks out over the rear of the property and towards the river. The property was constructed at the end of the Federation era and presents with some Federation detailing. The timber framed house is clad with weatherboards with timber framed sash windows. The roof is an extensive hipped form with vented gablets at the ridge and a brick chimney to the side elevation. The replacement zincalume roof sweeps down and breaks pitch to form the canopy for the verandah which extends around much of the property. The canopy is supported on timber columns and remnants of the timber balustrade remain extant in places. The deck is timber and supported on timber stumps and is in variable condition. Timber steps lead from the back verandah to the river. A fibre cement addition has been constructed to the side and front elevation with casement windows which has impacted on the aesthetics of the place. The house has a central passageway leading from the front door to the back door with four rooms opening off it: the kitchen/dining room, bedroom, lounge and study. The fibre cement addition is used as a sleepout. The back door is an original feature with a transom leadlight window.

History

This house was built in 1913 at the rear of the orchard property on River Avenue for Alfred Ernest Lankester, his wife Emily, and family. Alfred Lankester was born in Sydney in 1868. In 1896, he was working in WA as Inspector of Orchards with the Agriculture Department. In 1898 he married Emily McLean from Bendigo. They settled first in Subiaco, where their children were born. In 1913, they took up the property on River Avenue, built the house and planted a citrus orchard. The property was named 'Ettamogah' for Alfred's boyhood home in Albury. The Lankesters had six children but one died as an infant and two died in their 20s, including their only daughter. Alfred was involved in local activities as secretary of the South Suburban Fruitgrowers' Association. He retired from the Agriculture Department in 1928 around the time his wife Emily passed away. Alfred's son, Keith, helped run Ettamogah while also managing his own orchard property at 2031 Albany Highway, Maddington. Following Alfred's death in 1951, Keith added another adjoining property to Ettamogah and occupied the place. In 1958 Keith sold Ettamogah due to ill health and took a position as orchard inspector with the Agriculture Department, in a reverse image of his father's working life. The Lankesters were one of the noted families of the area and had association with other orchardists in both Maddington and Gosnells, such as the Brennans, McNamaras and Wilkinsons. Lankester House (fmr) was restored in the 1980s following its purchase by the Sorgiovanni family. A more modern house, No. 78, has been added at the front of the property.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree: continual residential Authenticity: Moderate to high degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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