House, 32 Railway Parade

Statement of Significance

• This place has aesthetic value as a good, late example of the Federation Bungalow style.
• 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 20th century.

Physical Description

Elevated single storey brick and iron house. The hipped roof is clad with short sheet corrugated iron sheets with tall corbelled brick chimneys project from the east and west planes of the roof. A separate skillion verandah canopy is positioned directly below the eaves and extends across the full width of the elevation, supported on square timber posts with a decorative timber frieze. The façade of the house is symmetrical in plan form with a centrally positioned front door flanked by timber framed 1-over-1 sash windows. Rendered brick and timber picket boundary wall enclosing the garden.

History

This portion of Bassendean, formerly part of location R1, was subdivided by a group of investors c1898. The group of investors included some of the most well known members of colonial society: Stephen H. Parker, George H. Leake, Harry Anstey , Dr Daniel Kenny, John James, James Grave, Henry E. Parry, Dr. James Hope and William Paterson. Three of these men; Parker, Leake and Paterson; were at various times members of parliament. The demand for housing in the late 19th century was a result of the increasing population
drawn to Western Australia following gold discoveries in the east of the colony.
Railway Parade was named as a logical response to its location alongside the railway line. From the available information this residence was constructed c1913 and the first occupant was carpenter Robert Brooks Penaluna (c1874-1948) and his wife Annie Grace, nee Munro (c1876-1961). Robert Penaluna worked at the Midland Railway Workshops in the Wagon Shop. The couple had one son and lived at the house until the 1940s. Following Robert's death in 1948, Annie Penaluna stayed on in the house during the 1950s. Aerial photographs indicate that the form and extent of the original residence are still evident despite additions to the rear in the second half of the 20th century.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update

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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.