DUPLEX, 37 CARNAC STREET

Statement of Significance

Duplex 35 & 37 Carnac Street, is a typical brick and iron single storey duplex pair dating from the 1901. 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 Federation Queen Anne style of architecture.

Physical Description

Duplex 35 & 37 Carnac Street is a single storey, brick and iron duplex pair with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Federation Queen Anne style of architecture. The walls are face brick. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron, with a protruding dividing wall and a gable over the central section of the duplex pair. Each duplex half has a front door with fanlights flanked by a double hung sash window. The verandah has a separate corrugated iron bullnose roof and is supported by square timber posts with decorative timber brackets. There is a timber picket fence to the front boundary line.

History

Carnac Street is at an elevation from which Carnac Island can be seen, but not the other islands, possibly the reason for the name. Carnac Island was named after Lieut. John Ruett Carnac, of H.M. Frigate Success.
This duplex has always been numbered 35-37 Carnac Street; the numbering which occurred in 1934/35 did not affect this property.
This duplex was built c.1905; this was the first year it appears in the Post Office Directories. In that year the occupant was listed as Archibald Curtis. The two duplexes at 35-37 and 39-41 were all built at approximately the same time and it is likely they were built as an investment.
In 1908 the sewerage plan for this site shows that the two halves of the brick duplex were a mirror image of each other. The design of this duplex is identical to the adjacent property at 39-41 Carnac Street which suggests that the two buildings were constructed at the same time.
The duplex cottages each have a verandah at the front and rear with an internal bathroom. In the back yards are brick closets and a galvanised iron shed which was likely to have been a wood shed.
This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Red: "Significantly contributing to the unique character of Fremantle") A photograph of the duplex taken in 1979/81 shows that the dark coloured roof of the building was in a relatively poor condition. The front yards of the houses are enclosed in cyclone mesh fences.
Photographs were taken of 37 Carnac Street in 1987 and these show that the house had been painted and a picket fence had been installed at the front boundary. At the rear was some terracing of the garden with red bricks. The former verandah was shown to have been enclosed with asbestos sheeting.
In 1988, the cottage was nominated for an architectural design award in the category of interiors for residential and non-residential. The architect for these renovations was Bernard Seeber.

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.