HOUSE, 3 CENTRAL AVENUE

Statement of Significance

House, 3 Central Avenue, is an example of a single storey timber framed house dating from 1930 and is of cultural heritage significance for the following reasons;
the place is of aesthetic value albeit altered, the original form remains intact and it contributes to the intact streetscape;
the place has historic value as an example of a typical workers’ houses and living conditions from the Inter War period;
it has social value as it contributes the community’s sense of place;
and, it is representative of the typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area.

Physical Description

Central Avenue is located between South Street in the north and Lefroy Road in the south. House, 3 Central Avenue is situated on the western side the street.

The streetscape comprises intact group of timber framed houses dating from the first decades of the twentieth century. The houses which form a significant group and contribute to the streetscape of Central Avenue include; 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15 &17. There are also some recent single storey residences.

House, 3 Central Avenue is a single storey timber framed hipped roof house built originally with a symmetrical façade. The walls are clad with weatherboards which are possibly not original boards and the roof is clad with corrugated iron. The hipped roof is constructed over the front two rooms and a skillion roof is beyond. There is a brick chimney extant. The front verandah has been enclosed. The front entrance timber framed door and highlight window door remains within the enclosed front. The original windows have been removed.

Internally, the front rooms have timber paneling to dado height and fibrous cement sheet walls with battens above. The ceilings have decorative cornices and ceiling roses. Timber floorboards are intact.

There is a high brick fence to the front boundary fronting the garden. There is a brick pergola and shed at the rear of the site.

History

The land for Part of Crown Grant of 10 Acres was issued to Thomas Gardiner Yeoman of Fremantle in 1857. The land was advertised in the "Morning Herald" on 25th August 1885.The area was bounded by South Street, Fifth Avenue York Street and Cockburn location 67. The land was transferred to John, David and William Chester in 1892. In 1901 it was transferred to George Webb who subdivided the area in 1903.
Lot 58 Cockburn location 62 was transferred to Erdman Heman Ernst. The Certificate of Title shows that in 1922 Eva Ettie Lang was listed as the owner. Note, some sources show Eva Ettie and some show Eva Hetty). In 1899 Matthew Alexander Lang (plumber) and Eva Hetty Loftus were married in Fremantle.
The house was constructed for the Lang’s in 1930 and according to the Rates Books Matthew Lang is listed as the owner., although it appears that they resided in Hampton Road Fremantle. Matthew died in 1937 aged 69 and Eva Ettie died in 1967 aged 92. 3 Central Avenue (lot 58) was originally known as number 4 until the numbering changed in 1939/40.
Wise Post Office Directories show that G. Gimblett was listed and resided there from 1939. In 1945 the property was transferred to Gerard and Victoria Gimblett. Gerard married Victoria Charlotte Kleesh in 1936 in Fremantle. Gerald was a tram driver. They had four children Gerard, Maureen, Paul (1941-1972) and Thomas. The Gimblett’s were still listed in 1949 in Wise’s which was the last year of its publication. It is believed they owned the property until 1977.
The Metropolitan Sewerage map dated 1951 shows a four roomed weatherboard house at 3 Central Avenue.
In 1977 the property was transferred to Edward William Allen (tyre fitter) and Joanne Rose Allen. In 2004 the property again changed ownership.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.