HOUSE, 7 STIRLING HIGHWAY

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 7 Stirling Highway, is a typical limestone, brick and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. 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

House, 7 Stirling Highway, is a single storey limestone, brick and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are limestone and brick, some face and some rendered. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah is under separate bullnose corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by timber posts. \side are enclosed with weatherboard. The rear skillion is weatherboard clad walls. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door with top and side lights. Front elevation obscured by plantings and high rendered fence to front boundary.

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. The stone, brick and iron cottage at 7 Stirling Highway (formerly 18 Bruce Street) was built between 1897 and 1913 for an unidentified owner. It was part of a larger landholding owned by Mrs Andrew Burns in 1895 and subdivided circa 1896. In 1921, the property was described as a five-roomed brick house and was owned and occupied by Peter Duff. He had the cottage from 1915 but it has not been established if he was the owner for all that time. Mrs Esther Duff occupied the cottage from 1933 to 1945. From 1955 to 1980 the property was owned and occupied by Mrs Dorothy Sims. Later, Christopher D. Wall and Maxine Any McEwin owned the property jointly. In 1913, the rear of the property had a large extension across half the rear wall. By 1940, the rear of the cottage had a substantial weatherboard extension, almost doubling the size of the original cottage. All of the back boundary of the lot had structures built across it. A small verandah was located off the rear wall of the cottage and a water tank was located close to the house. The property was connected to mains sewerage system in 1952. In 1979, the front façade of the cottage had a striped iron roof on the verandah and the front boundary had a cyclone wire fence. 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

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, restored, sympathetic rear extension). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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