House

Statement of Significance

The place at 75 Albany Hwy has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
The place is associated with Francis Bird, well-known and prominent WA architect, including serving as Chief Government Architect for WA, who then started his own private practice after moving to Albany where he lived with his family for many years at the Strawberry Hill Farm and designed many significant residential buildings.
The place is associated with Mrs Lena Arrow who established a private school for girls in this house and which was later known as the Victoria College.
Paired with 77 Albany Highway next door, also designed by Bird, the place is a fine and well executed example of a Federation Queen Anne residence that has maintained a high level of authenticity particularly of its architectural features and with its prominent corner location it has high landmark value.
It is significant individually and as one of a group of historic houses on the western side of Albany Highway, originally named Perth Road and historically being an important main road linking Albany to Perth and the entry to the townsite.
Together with 51, 55, 77, 81, 85, 135 137 and 139, the group forms an important and eclectic streetscape representing different periods of development from the 1880s, various architectural styles and uses of fabric but which illustrates the residential development. The streetscape is also heightened by the presence of the old Albany Primary School on the eastern side of the Highway.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Elevated position, set close to road
• Projecting gable with finial and curved barge boards
• Prominent projecting bay window with three panels
• Highly distinctive patterned brickwork and cement render panel below window
• Steps leading up to small front verandah
• Tall chimneys with moulded capping

Some obvious modifications include:
• Removal of original front verandah
• Single-storey addition to the rear 2010

History

The place at 75 Albany Highway was originally built on Lot 37 and was subdivided into two lots in 1891. The first Rate Book entry to show a house on the Lot was in 1900 with Lena Arrow (schoolmistress) as tenant and Barnett, Edward and Co. as the owner.

The residence, and 77 Albany Highway next door, was designed by Francis Bird, who served as Chief Government Architect for WA in 1883. By 1889, Bird and his family had settled in Albany and lived at/owned the historic Strawberry Hill Farm. In Albany, Bird worked as a private architect and also designed other significant residences including 23 Aberdeen Street (which became the Albany Club), 120 Brunswick Rd (Lawley House), 55 Burt Street (The Priory), 64 Spencer Street and 136 Brunswick Rd (Parkville). The house next door at No. 77 was also designed by Bird and is a mirror image.

Mrs Arrow established a private school for girls, located on Perth Road in Albany in the second half of 1898 [Albany Advertiser, 25/6/1898]. However, she lived in Serpentine Road. Advertisements and notices about the school indicated this building was used as the school. It was later called Victoria College after Queen Victoria, and from 1902 was being run by Mrs C E Watkins and operated from St Johns Schoolroom.

Born in London then moving to Victoria, Edward Charles Barnett first arrived in Western Australia in 1881 and then to Albany in 1886. He served as a councillor on the Albany Municipal Council for various terms between 1893 and 1905 and was President of Chamber of Commerce. He entered parliament in 1905 – defeating sitting member and well-known builder Charles Keyser - but resigned in 1909 because of business pressures. Edward retired in 1913 and returned to Melbourne where in 1922 he died a single man aged 67. His remains were returned to Albany where he was buried.

Originally called Perth Road, many of the private houses built along here were later converted for commercial use as Albany Highway developed and became a major road.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High/Moderate

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.