House

Statement of Significance

92 Heytesbury Road has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • As a good representative example of the application of materials and detailing which were derived from the Federation Queen Anne style, but which were applied in a more restrained manner that suited the budgets and expectations of the middle classes in Subiaco during 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.

Physical Description

92 Heytesbury Road has a symmetrical façade set under a hipped roof. The roof is clad with corrugated metal sheeting and features gablets at either end of a central, north-south ridgeline. Chimneys are centrally located on either side of this ridgeline, each finished with recessed panels above and below a projecting moulded cornice. The primary detailing of the façade is a very ornately moulded eaves panel with decorative ‘eaves brackets’ linked by a pattern of pointed arches with a scrolled leaf design. The shallow-pitched raked verandah roof, which springs from the base of the eaves panel, had a central gable over the main entry to the house. The render to the face of this gable is in the style of vermiculated stonework, faced by 4 vertical timber battens. The decorative detailing to the façade is further accentuated by the lacework to the verandah. This has an intricate floral design to the frieze and fringe panel, a ‘ribbon and cross’ design to the centre drops and semi-circular brackets The tuck-pointed face-brickwork to the main façade has been painted, but the plain rendered string course (set at just above door head height) continues to be highlighted by the use of contrasting paint. The main entry has a traditional, early twentieth century style, 5-panel door with moulded timber architraves. The door is framed by sidelights and highlights – featuring stained glass detailing in an Art Nouveau style. The rooms on either side of the main entry both have a pair of individual, full-height double hung windows opening onto the verandah. The house is set approximately 3.5m back from the street frontage, which is defined by a low, square-topped 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. Douglas began selling his lots in April 1905 and 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. Of the surviving examples of the above houses, No 92 is the only one that was designed with a simple symmetrical façade and a high level of decorative detailing (although historical aerial photographs suggest that the former house at No 96 (lot 36) may have had a similar plan form. The others (80, 82, 84 and 94) each had an asymmetrical facade with a projecting wing on the western side – and very restrained Federation Queen Anne detailing. From c.1906, 92 Heytesbury Road was occupied as the home of James Mortimer MacFarlane until c.1912 (shortly after the death of his wife, Ellen, in June 1911). Macfarlane was prominent in the development of the Western Australian dairy industry and served in political life, as summarised at the time of his death in 1942: Born in Victoria and educated there, Mr Macfarlane engaged in mining prior to 1897, in which year he came to Western Australia. Three years later he returned to Victoria, but in 1902 once again travelled west. He founded in this State the firm of Macfarlane and Co, Ltd, and became associated prominently with the milk and butter industry. In 1902 he obtained a lease of a butter factory at Busselton [the Vasse Butter Factory]. In 1910 he was appointed by the Government a commercial member of the Food Standards Committee, set up under the Pure Foods Act. He fought hard for recognition in the Eastern States of Western Australia's dairy industry and was instrumental in seeing that its claims were not overlooked when the Australian dairy organisation was being developed. He was chairman of the West Australian committee of the Australian Dairy Council until it ceased to function in 1935, and he then became chairman of the West Australian Pasture Improvement Committee of the Australian Dairy Produce Board, retaining that post until he retired two years ago. Mr Macfarlane became a member of the Perth City Council in 1915, and served his last term as councillor with that body in 1922 ….. He entered the Legislative Council as member for the Metropolitan Province in 1922 [serving until 1927. In c.1930 he] re-entered the House as member for the Metropolitans Suburban Province and he held the seat until his death. He was a Nationalist member during his Parliamentary career and for several years was president of the National Party. To a busy commercial and public life Mr Macfarlane added an active interest in social welfare and charitable organisations ….. While the Rates Books listed MacFarlane as the owner/occupier in 1906, the property appears to have been purchased by James Hodges in c.1908 and rented back. Hodges (a salesman, later manager of Messrs. Frost and Shipham, opticians), took up residence in c.1913, living here with his wife Emily (who died in 1935) and their only child, Marcia (B.A., L.R.S.M., L.Mus.A., L.A.S.A), who conducted ‘tuition on singing and the art of speech’, at this address from the 1930s. In 1931 it was reported that Marcia had received Western Australia’s first L.Mus.A. and, from the late 1920s through to the 1940s, there were numerous newspaper notices advertising concerts that included Miss Marcia Hodges, soprano. Following her father’s death in 1953, Marcia remained at 92 Heytesbury Road until at least the mid 1970s (conducting a tuition studio here for many years). Occupants of the property from its time of construction until c.1977 included: 1906-1912 James Mortimer McFarlane, merchant (McFarlane & Co, dairy produce manufacturers) 1913-1953 James Hodges, salesman (later manager of Messrs. Frost and Shipham, opticians)(owner/occupier) To post 1976 Marcia Irene Hodges, soprano and singing/elocution teacher

Integrity/Authenticity

While the face-brickwork has been painted, this house remains an interesting example of a relatively modest villa with ornate detailing. Its external character, finishes and detailing are still largely consistent with its original design.

Condition

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

Uses

Creation Date

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