Lenaville

Statement of Significance

Refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places.

Physical Description

Refer to Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places - Register and Assessment Documentation. There is inconclusive evidence as to the age of the cottage. According to George Seddon the cottage was built somewhere between the 1840s and 1850s, while Maxine Lanyon believes the cottage was built at the same time as Lenaville and that it was built as kitchen and domestic quarters to the main residence. The building then became uninhabitable until purchased by the Seddons and substantial structural changes were undertaken (Seddon, G. 1993). The cottage, like Lenaville, was built in two parts according to George Seddon, with the later extension being built when extensions to Lenaville were also completed. Seddon has identified the southern end to be the earliest section of the cottage, 1840- 1850, with the northern section being built around 1895. The cottage, as was Lenaville, is constructed in limestone random rubble but unlike Lenaville it has brick quoins around the doors and windows on the north side. This according to Seddon is one of the indicators that construction of this section took place at a later date than the rest of the cottage. The cottage was in a derelict and uninhabitable condition when Seddon purchased the property and has undergone substantial structural changes since.

History

Refer to Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places - Register and Assessment Documentation. For a history of the cottage see G. Seddon, A House, a cottage and a shop: 186 High Street, Fremantle, Guildford, 1993. Briefly, he points out that it is difficult to date the cottage as it apparently was built in stages - the first stage probably early, the secondm, where bricks were used, probably in the 1890s. It may have been used as a kitchen for the house. There is inconclusive evidence as to the age of the cottage. According to George Seddon the cottage was built somewhere between the 1840's and 1850's, while Maxine Lanyon believes the cottage was built at the same time as Lenaville and that it was built as kitchen and domestic quarters to the main residence. There is also confusion as to the function of the cottage with the 'Fremantle Gazette' (July 18, 1984, p.3) incorrectly identifying the cottage as "the original rum house for the early colony". From 1920 onwards the cottage has a shadowy independent existence in the Rate Books, being linked to the shop which was listed as 2 Ord Street. However it was not until 1947-1948 that the cottage is identified in the Rate Books as 4A Ord Street. The cottage appears to have been used as rental accommodation throughout its existence. After 1952 the cottage was empty for a time until Brian Klopper used the cottage as an office from 1984-1987. The building then became uninhabitable until purchased by the Seddon's and substantial structural changes were undertaken (Seddon, G. 1993).

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Historic Themes

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