HOUSE, 23 PEARSE STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 23 Pearse Street, is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1910s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a very late simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 23 Pearse Street, is a single storey weatherboard and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are timber framed clad with weatherboards. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by chamfered timber posts. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door. The verandah is at ground level and has a brick paved floor behind a low timber fence.

History

The majority of Pearse Street was created as part of a circa 1890 subdivision by William Edward Marmion of Fremantle and James Grave, Edward Keane, Edmund Gilyard Lacey and Frederick Charles Monger Perth. The subdivision occurred when North Fremantle was experiencing rapid development and there was a demand for inexpensive housing close to industry and the railway line. Originally called Mason Street after local land developer and jeweller, Frederick Mason, the street was renamed Pearse Street in 1922/23 (only a year after Mason died) in recognition of George Pearse, Fremantle Councillor (1875-1881) and founder of the Pearse shoe and boot factory in Swan Street.

Many the street’s original occupants were working people who had jobs in nearby industries. Homes were modest in scale of brick, stone or weatherboard. Many of the buildings were owned by absentee landlords who leased the cottages to long and short-term tenants. The street has suffered from a poor reputation during its life, at one time known colloquially as ‘Pong Alley’. The short, narrow street has remained a residential street since its formation.

The weatherboard and iron cottage at 23 Pearse Street (formerly 23 Mason Street) was built after 1913 for an unidentified owner. The land was originally part of Lot P47, which was granted to a pensioner Guard George Costigan in 1884. The land was then transferred to James Roe (Perth Journalist), George Gallop (Fremantle Clerk) and then to a syndicate comprising William Marmion, James Grave, Edward Keane, Edmund Lacey and Frederick Monger. The Resident Magistrate of Fremantle, Robert Fairbairn, purchased the lot, although it remained vacant until at least 1913 apart from a small building close to the northern boundary.

By 1921 a cottage had been built at 21 Pearse Street, on the land adjacent to this small building. Owned and occupied by Henry Williams, the building was described as a six-roomed weatherboard house. From 1955 to 1961 the place was owned and occupied by the Sperring family.

In 1940, the cottage had a front verandah and a weatherboard shed in the back yard, with an earth closed in the northwest corner of the lot. The house was connected to the mains sewerage system in 1954. In 1960, building plans for alterations were submitted to the City of Fremantle but the nature of the alterations is not known. By 1978, the front verandah had been enclosed with an asbestos and louvred wall. This enclosure had been removed by 1994.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored).
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.