HOUSE, 5 STAPLES STREET

Author

City of Fremantle

Place Number

22487

Location

5 Staples St North Fremantle

Location Details

Local Government

Fremantle

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1922, Constructed from 1900

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List YES 08 Mar 2007

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 18 Sep 2000 Level 3

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 5 Staples Street is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottage dating from the early 1900s. 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 late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.

Physical Description

House, 5 Staples Street is a single storey weatherboard and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are painted weatherboard to the street and weatherboard and fibro clad to the sides. The roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. The verandah is under a separate bullnose corrugated iron roof. Verandah is supported by timber posts with simple central timber stairs and balustrade. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door. The house foundation is timber posts.

History

Bounded in the west by Stirling Highway and in the east by Rule Street, Staples Street is divided by Thompson Road. The area forms part of an original land grant to the Pensioner Guards (lots P57 and P66). On 31 May 1895, Lot P66 was subdivided, while Lot P57 was not subdivided until 26 February 1897. The street was listed as Davis Street in the Post Office directories between 1898 and c. 1915, and then as Davies Road until 1962. The street name was officially changed in June 1962 in honour of Ronald John Staples who served on the North Fremantle (1940-61) and Fremantle (1961-73) councils. Staples was born in Harvest Road, North Fremantle, in 1910; attended North Fremantle Primary School and Fremantle Boy’s School and worked in clerical occupations. Staples Street was developed between 1904 and 1920, although some lots remained vacant until the 1940s. The street was predominantly working class, with many male occupants employed on the nearby waterfront, the railways or in the construction industry as sawyers or bricklayers. Buildings in the street are characterised by small, modest cottages on small lots, with building materials ranging from weatherboard and asbestos or fibro cement to brick. House, 5 Staples Street was constructed c. 1900. By 1919, it was owned by Elizabeth Moss and occupied by Mrs J L and Percy Skelton, a moulder. In 1921, the house was purchased and occupied by Emma McNamara, who continued to own it until at least the mid-1930s, although from c. 1930 it was occupied by tenants. Elizabeth Pearson then owned the property for many years from the mid-1950s, when it was described as four roomed wooden house. A 1939 plan shows 5 Staples Street as being a weatherboard house, with a front verandah and galvanised iron lean-to at rear, a weatherboard laundry addition to the rear, and weatherboard outbuildings in the yard. 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) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

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

Condition

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

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use RESIDENTIAL Single storey residence
Original Use RESIDENTIAL Single storey residence

Architectural Styles

Style
Victorian Georgian

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Wall TIMBER Weatherboard

Historic Themes

General Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Land allocation & subdivision

Creation Date

20 Jul 2011

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

22 Mar 2019

Disclaimer

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.