House

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a well-executed and predominantly intact example of the
Federation style built for a professional family.
• 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 a demonstration of the form and scale of housing in the early 1900s for a professional family.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and iron house of asymmetrical plan form incorporating a central projecting bay. The house is of face brick construction with a rendered and painted band extending across the façade at sill height. The roof is a complex hip form with a gable to the projecting element. The gable is roughcast render with decorative timber detail. A three section timber framed window is positioned beneath the gable comprising of three casements and three highlights. The operable casements are divided into three panes
whilst the central casement is a single pane. The roof comprises a series of hips running north to south and east to west together with the central gable. The east-west hip was extended in the early 1990s when the garage was constructed. Both the roof and the
separate verandah canopy are clad in galvanised iron sheeting. The bullnose verandah canopy is positioned below the eaves and extends across all aspects of the façade including the garage and is supported on turned timber posts with a simple timber frieze.

History

In 1897, land speculator, parliamentarian and government assayer, Henry Anstey purchased a large parcel designated as Location Q which he subdivided and offered for sale under the name 'Bindaring Estate'. Devon Road was part of this estate and the name owes its origin to the county in England. From the available information this residence was built in 1912 for plumber, Frederick Henry Spencer (c1878-1958) and his wife Annie Burns Spencer, née Crawford (c1887-1961). The couple had married in 1911 and moved into their new home the following year. Children were born in 1912, 1914 and 1915 and the family lived at the house until c1931. Aerial photographs indicate that the house underwent significant alterations and additions c1990 including major additions to the west and the rear of the original building which altered the roof line.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

Condition

Good

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.