HOUSE & LIMESTONE FEATURE(S), 2 SOLOMON STREET

Statement of Significance

The place is a good example of a stone residence in the Federation Filigree style, representing the expansion of Fremantle in the gold boom period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The place contributes to a substantially intact late nineteenth and early twentieth century streetscape close to the centre of Fremantle.

The use of limestone is part of the Fremantle landscape and gives the City coherence and character. Limestone walls were built around properties in Fremantle to prevent sand drift in response to an early building regulation dating from the 1830s. Limestone walls are one commonly encountered example of use of this stone as a building material, most of them dating from the 19th century and early years of the 20th century. Most of the limestone in small walls came from local quarries.

Physical Description

Two storey painted stone with painted brick house has a terracotta tile (not original) roof with decorative rendered chimneys extant. The house is partially hidden behind landscaping and a rendered fence with cast iron inserts.The verandahs are supported by turned timber posts, the first floor has timber balustrades. The place has a limestone feature.

History

Solomon Street was originally known as Mary Street, gazetted in 1905. It changed its name in 1951/52 to honour Elias Solomon, a Fremantle merchant and politician who built a house and lived in this street. Solomon was a Town Councillor 1878-1880, 1883-1886, Mayor in 1889-1891, 1896-98 and 1900-01. He was a state parliamentarian, MLA for the seat of South Fremantle 1892-1901, then transferred to Federal Politics with a seat in the House of Representatives from 1901-1903. Solomon was the first Member for Fremantle in the Federal Government.

Lots 805/806 subdivisions 10, 11, 12 and pt.9 were vacant in 1900. By 1901-02 a ‘villa residence’ was built, owned and occupied by Joseph John Holmes. By the 1940s the house was divided into two upstairs flats and one downstairs flat. In 1980, Ray and Chris Murray were owners and they undertook extensive renovations of the property.

This place was identified in the "Heritage Report on 19th century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle" prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986.

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Historic Themes

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