HOUSE, 74 WRAY AVENUE

Statement of Significance

House, 74 Wray Avenue, is a typical limestone, render and iron single storey house 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 workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

74 Wray Avenue is a single storey, single room width, limestone, rendered masonry and iron house with asymmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone and rendered masonry. The roof is gabled and clad with corrugated iron. The verandah has a bullnose corrugated iron roof supported by side rendered masonry walls and turned timber posts. There is a rendered masonry pier and metal fence to the front boundary line.

History

Wray Avenue was originally Hampton Street. The named was changed to avoid confusion with the intersecting Hampton Road. It became Alexander Road, after Laurence Alexander, Mayor 1901-1902, and a representative of Falk & Co. The street name was again changed to avoid confusion with Alexandra Road in East Fremantle, and became Wray Avenue in 1923. It was named for William E Wray, at one time with the Education Dept as Truant Inspector, and a resident of the street. He was on the Fremantle Tramways Board and Mayor of Fremantle, 1914-1918.
House 74 Wray Avenue was formerly 82 Wray Avenue; renumbering occurred in 1930.
This cottage was one of several which is claimed to have been constructed on the lot by architect John McNeece. The sequence of development of this lot is difficult to establish as the rates book for this early period do not distinguish clearly the individual buildings on the lot. The six homes, which have frontages on Attfield Street and Wray Avenue, were originally on two titles and have only changed ownership four times from the 1890s to the 1990s. Further research of certificates of titles, rates books and post office directories is needed to attempt to establish the original owner and occupier of this specific house.
A plan of the site in 1907 shows that the house had a verandah across the front façade and a galvanised iron addition at the rear of the building. The roughly triangular shaped block had a galvanised iron closet in the rear corner. On this plan the house is denoted as a brick construction but photographic evidence shows that it is limestone with brick quoins.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Purple: "Of architectural and historic significance in its own right.”)
A photograph of the house at that time shows that the front façade had been painted and the front verandah enclosed with a brick wall. A low brick wall of a later construction was evident on the front boundary.
In 1991, architect Richard Seward designed renovations and extensions to this property and those at 47/49 Attfield Street for the owner Elina Santioni. The extensions consisted of freestanding bathrooms and toilets in the back yard. The front verandah was reinstated with timber verandah posts.

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.