House, 75 Guildford Road

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a predominantly intact example of the late Federation style in timber.
• The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area of Bassendean in the early 20th century.
• This place has social value as the house demonstrates the form and scale of housing in the 1900s.
• The place has social value for its association with small scale maternity hospitals which operated throughout the Perth metropolitan area in the early to mid-20th century.

Physical Description

Single storey rendered brick house with CGI hipped roof. All elevations have opened eaves and the dwelling has a separate bullnose verandah canopy supported on turned timber posts, with painted concrete deck. Façade is obscured by shade cloth.

History

Guildford Road was originally called Perth Road, or Perth Street and its alignment was roughly established from the mid-19th century. As the primary land route between Guildford and Perth many settlers and services were established alongside the road. From the available evidence this residence was constructed c1914 and the first occupant was engine
driver, William Thomas Smyth (c1875-1933). William Smyth married Eleanor Dickinson in 1896 in Queensland and the couple had seven children. The Smyth's lived in this residence until the late 1920s. During the late 1920s the Post Office directories record that the place was a Maternity Hospital with Mrs M Baker the nurse in charge in 1928 and Nurse E M Hocking in 1929. Several entries in the local newspapers refer to births at 'Nurse Baker's Private Hospital' in Perth Road Bassendean in 1927. Throughout the early to mid-20th century it was common practice for small, residential scale, maternity hospitals to be located in each suburb within walking distance to the homes of the women. Aerial photographs indicate that the form and extent of the building has changed little since the mid-20th
century although the roof appears to have been reclad and the front verandah may be a later addition.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate
High

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

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.