House

Statement of Significance

• The place is indicative of the standard plan and type of housing in the Inter-War period.
• The place has value for its association with the adjacent properties which were built at the same time as part of the establishment of the adjacent fertiliser works.
• The place has historic value for its association with the development of this area of Bassendean in the Inter-War period..

Physical Description

Single storey rendered brick and tile dwelling which presents with an asymmetrical façade. On the east corner of the façade is a projecting section with a timber detailed gable ending. Centrally located on the projecting section is a metal framed sliding window with a window sill and a decorative rendered element below. Located within the recessed section abutting the projecting section is the front entrance. To the west of this is a window but, due to dense planting no further detail of front entrance or window is visible. The roof is hipped with a gable ending over the east projecting section, all of which is clad in terracotta tiles with terracotta ridge tiles and finials. The pitch of the roof breaks and continues over the recessed section to form the verandah which is supported by rendered brick posts topped with small Ionic columns with a highly decorative cement balustrade.

History

The Ashfield Estate was first subdivided for sale as a residential development in 1929. The nearby Cumming Smith factory and other industries in the vicinity made it a logical choice for development. An article in the local press in 1929 stated that residences in the new suburb were to be of brick or stone with tile roofs and only one dwelling per lot. This residence was one of five built in c1929 (29, 31, 33, 35, and 37) at the eastern end of Maidos Street
which demonstrate the style and scale of the homes as stated in the promotional material for the estate. They were the first houses in the street and local sources indicate that this group of five houses were built for the managers of the Cumming Smith factory although the majority of the first occupants appear to be unskilled workers or tradesmen. One of the houses (29) has subsequently been demolished. The first recorded occupant of this residence in the Post Office Directories was painter, Gordon Harold Wise (c1904-1980) and his wife Mary Rhoda Wise. The residence appears to have been later occupied by a
series of tenants.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

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.