HOUSE, 20 PRICE STREET

Statement of Significance

House, 20 Price Street, is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey house dating from 1896. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

20 Price Street is a single storey, weatherboard and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are timber framed and clad with weatherboards. The roof is gabled and clad with corrugated iron. The facade has a central front door with fanlight flanked either side by double hung sash windows. The verandah has a separate corrugated iron roof and is supported by square timber posts. There is a low level brick wall to the front boundary line and a rendered corbel chimney.

History

House, 20 Price Street was formerly 24 Lord Street. Lord Street was changed to Price Street in 1908/09 in honour of James Price, MLA for Fremantle 1905 to 1920 and the Minister for Works 1906 to 1909. The previous name was used to represent the title held by the persons after whom the adjoining streets were named ie: Grey and Russell.
This house was one of six identical houses at 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 Price Street, that were all built at approximately the same time. This house was built for John Wesley Bateman in 1896 as an investment property to be leased out to tenants. Bateman was a prominent merchant and land owner, he was a Fremantle City Councillor 1880 – 1882 and President of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce.
The first tenants of the properties at 20 and 22 Price street were Charles Matthews, engineer and Albert Edwin Thurston, iron monger. These two buildings were on the same lot and the rates books do not identify which tenant occupied which house.
The Bateman family owned the property until 1920/21 and a later owner was John Nunn Pinkerton. A long term tenant of the property was Captain Henry (Harry) Moore Sargent who was a second officer aboard the SS Australind.
The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows this timber cottage has a simple ‘L’ shaped plan. There was a verandah at the front and rear. The rear verandah was partially enclosed to form the bathroom. A water tank was located close to the rear of the building. In the back yard was a well, a timber closet, a timber shed with a small verandah.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Brown: "Positively contributing to the built environment")
A photograph of the place in 1978 shows that the house is in good condition the front windows do not appear to be original and portion of the front façade is clad in sheeting not weatherboards. The corrugated iron roof is in good condition.
A photograph in 2006 shows that the exterior of the house is substantially unchanged since 1978.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability).
High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.