DUPLEX, 97 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

Duplex, 97 - 99 Stirling Highway, is a typical stone and iron single storey duplex dating from the 1888 - 1897. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical building stock located within the residential areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

Duplex 97-99 Stirling Highway. Single storey brick and iron duplex pair with overall symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are face brick. The roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves and no dividing parapet wall. There is one rendered chimney with rendered corbelling. The verandah is under a separate tiled roof again with no dividing parapet wall. Both verandahs are supported by round concrete columns on brick piers with a brick balustrade. The balustrade and piers to one half of the duplex has been rendered. The overall front elevation is symmetrical as is each duplex half with a central front door and timber framed double hung sash windows either side of the front doors. There is no wall or fence to the front boundary line.

History

The portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’.

Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side.

Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway.

In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use.

Duplex, 97-99 Stirling Highway was built on part of Lot P87, which was acquired by George Roberts in 1888. Roberts arrived in Western Australia in 1877 and was later employed as the station master at Fremantle Railway Station, before being appointed Station Master and Traffic Manager at Perth Station. Duplex, 97-99 Stirling Highway was built at some stage between 1888 and 1897 as a rental property for Roberts. It has been continuously used for this purpose, except for a short period in the 1960s. One of the first tenants was Alfred Cook, head teacher at North Fremantle Primary School. In May 1910, title to the property passed to Blanche Biddles, wife of pearler, Frank Biddles. Captain Frank Biddles made a name for himself as a building developer in Fremantle, and many of the properties were registered in his wife's name.

A 1939 diagram shows the duplex halves as mirroring one another. The brick duplex had full length front and rear verandahs and mirrored outbuildings in each of the back yards.

The property had a series of owners from the late 1940s to 1965, when it was purchased by the Metropolitan Regional Planning Authority. It later passed to Main Roads and was earmarked for demolition to make way for the realignment of Stirling Highway. However, it remained extant and Main Roads undertook a renovation program that included re-roofing in 1988 and replacement of ceilings in 1992.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials).
Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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