E B Johnson House

Parent Place or Precinct

03494 Houses (fmr), 257 & 259 Adelaide Terrace

Statement of Significance

The place provides a visual reminder of the former residential character of this area of the city of Perth in the pre Gold Boom era and demonstrate the standard of building and accommodation to which the city’s leading citizens aspired in the 1880s and early to mid-1890s.
The place 259 Adelaide Terrace (E. B. Johnston House) was built for well known Swan River colonist Stanley Parker, and from 1934 became the home of Senator Edward Bertram Johnston and his wife, Hildelith Olymphe Johnston (later Elliott).
Despite extensive alteration, they are examples of finely detailed residences influenced by the Victorian Italianate style, relatively rare in the city of Perth, with 257 Adelaide Terrace relatively intact when viewed from the street and 259 Adelaide Terrace retaining much of its original internal spatial qualities and details.
Together the two houses have landmark value and add depth and meaning to Adelaide Terrace as two Victorian houses in juxtaposition with the late twentieth century high rise buildings that now dominate the street.
They are representative examples of Victorian houses that have been altered and adapted to provide for changes of use to residential flats and later commercial use as the city expanded and the needs of society changed over the twentieth century, a pattern of use that is not just typical of this locality but is common in western cities everywhere.
The individual significance of each of the houses that comprise Houses (fmr) 257 & 259 Adelaide Terrace is increased by its proximity to the other.

Physical Description

Two storey (originally residential) building with pitched roof, bay windows and curved balcony and loggia which is probably not original.
English bond brick work to front elevation. Garden wall bond to side elevation.
Site to the rear of the building approved for development in March 1985 for 15 level office. Reference made on the approval for the retention of Johnson House.

Site to the rear of the building approved for development in March 1985 for 15 level office. Reference made on the approval for the retention of Johnson House.

History

From the years of early years of settlement the most prestigious residential address was St George's Terrace. By the late 1880's Adelaide Terrace was characterised by large houses over looking the river. This area was considered to be the prestigious part of the city prior to the development of West Perth.
Edward Bertram Johnstone worked in the Lands Office in Katanning in early 1900s. He was the Member of the Legislative Assembly Williams-Narrogin 1911-1928. During the 1930s he focused on his family and hotel business commissioning Marshall Clifton to build the Captain Stirling and Inglewood hotels. He died in 1942.
In May 1944 Hildelith Johnston married George Davidson Elliott and continued to live at the house. Changes were made to the house during the 1940s to 1950s. in 1962 a steel staircase was built. At that time Berta Johnston was living at the property with her mother.
The property was transferred to H O Johnston Estates Pty Limited in 1962. In c2000 the property was vacant. In 2004 an educational college was operating from the building.

Integrity/Authenticity

Substantially intact curved balcony and entrance probably not original.

Condition

Very Good

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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