HOUSE, 20 THOMPSON ROAD

Parent Place or Precinct

10945 Thompson Road Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 20 Thompson Road, is a typical stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. 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 simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 20 Thompson Road, is a single storey stone and iron cottage with originally a symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are limestone with tuckpointed brick quoins and reveals. The roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. The verandah is under a separate bullnose corrugated iron roof, supported by chamfered timber posts with decorative iron brackets and frieze. The front elevation was symmetrical; now with a fibre cement sheet and glazed infill to one end. The front facade has two timber sash windows (one in the enclosed verandah room) and a central front door. There are two brick chimneys with rendered corbels. The verandah floor is at ground level and is concrete. There is a low brick wall to the front boundary. From the Hevron Street elevation, the side walls to the front section are limestone and walls to the rear rooms are tuck pointed red brick with rendered bands. There is a skillion roof to the rear, and a two storey section is visible, made possible by the ground sloping downwards.

History

Thompson Road was named for George Thompson (1838-1874), Fremantle's first town clerk (1871-73). The street is mainly residential, with some commercial development at the northern end between Alfred Road and McCabe Road. The majority of the houses were built c. 1900. Only a few lots on the street remained vacant in the 1920s.

House, 20 Thompson Road was built in 1894 shortly after the land was subdivided by developers Frederick Mason and G.A. Davies. The four roomed timber cottage was owned and occupied by labourer, H. Harkins. D Hevron was listed as the owner and occupier of a three roomed cottage in 1895. [There is no indication in the record if there were two buildings on the lot, or if the house was recorded as having three/four rooms in one of these years.] A 1913 plan shows 20 Thompson Road as being a square timber house, with full length front and rear verandahs.

Agnes and Dennis Hevron retained ownership of the property for a considerable number of years, although they moved out of the house in 1927/28 and subsequently leased it out to tenants. After Agnes' death, the property was purchased by Frederick Arthur Gray, and he lived there with his wife, Monica Alice until at least 1964. From 1974 until 2003/04, Kevin and Carol Dawn Coleman lived at 20 Thompson Road.

A 1939 diagram shows House, 20 Thompson Road as being a large weatherboard house with a full length front verandah. A path led down the northern side of the house and around the back and extending into the back yard.

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) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials).
Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric.
(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.