Smith's Cottage (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Smiths Cottage has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
The place is an early residence from the Victorian period built in what is now the Centennial Park area and which is now rare because of the transformation of the area from semi-rural and residential to predominantly commercial and industrial.
The place is associated with Albert and Hilda Smith who lived in the cottage from the 1920s to 1950s and after whom the cottage takes its name.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Set close to the road in a light industrial commercial area
• Simple rectangular design
• Façade unpainted brick
• Symmetrical with central door, windows either side and two tall chimneys situated at each end of the cottage
• Chimneys rendered with moulded capping
• Verandah under separate roof with concave corrugated iron
• Side elevation is rendered

Some obvious modifications include:
• Restoration includes new materials such as verandah roof and posts

History

The name of the cottage comes from Mr Albert Smith, who lived there with his wife Hilda from 1927 until his death in 1944.

Smith’s Cottage is located on what was originally Sub Lot 129. This area originally developed for predominantly dairying and market gardening in the early years of British settlement in Albany. By the 1890s-early 1900s it began transforming into a mixed semi-rural and residential area as the original large land holdings were being subdivided into smaller lots and roads such as Ulster, Sandford and Spencer Roads were formed or improved and gradually extended. However, rural holdings still existed, such as The Gloucester Dairy, run by Walkley Mason then Henry Field, which was located on Spencer Road from 1909-1915.

The Rate Book entry for 1890 lists owners as Henry Prior (Land) and William Douglas (Garden). No houses listed at this time. In 1891 Sub Lot 129 was subdivided, putting the cottage on Lot 2 (now currently lot 7). Lot 2 lists two houses in 1891, one owned Henry Monaghan (a tailor in York Street) and tenanted by A McCallum, labourer. The other house – being a three room cottage - is owned and occupied by James Richard and Florence Clarke which was possibly next to their store as this was also on Spencer Road. Clarke died in 1907.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.