House, 27 Preston Point Road

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE No 27 Preston Point Road is a single storey house constructed in brick and rendered brick with a tiled roof. It has historic and aesthetic value for its contribution to Riverside’s small concentration of fine houses. The place contributes to the local community’s sense of place. The place has exceptional aesthetic value as a Federation Bungalow. The place retains a moderate to high degree of authenticity and a high degree of integrity. The garage, additions and house to the rear have no significance. AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE No 27 Preston Point Road has exceptional aesthetic value as a Federation Bungalow. It retains most of the characteristic features of a dwelling of the type and period. HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE No 27 Preston Point Road has considerable historic value. It was part of the suburban residential development associated with the expansion of East Fremantle and the subdivision of Walter Easton’s Estate from 1901. The place has strong associations with the Bovell family. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE N/A SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE No 27 Preston Point Road has considerable social value. It is associated with a significant area of middle class Federation and Inter-War period development which contributes to the community's sense of place. RARITY No 27 Preston Point Road does not have qualities associated with the corresponding category.

Physical Description

Federation Bungalow No 27 Preston Point Road is a single storey house constructed in brick and rendered brick with a hipped and gable tiled roof. It is a very fine expression of the Federation Bungalow style. The place sits on a corner lot and addresses both Preston Point Road and Bolton Street. The front elevation is symmetrically planned with a full width return broken back roofed verandah. The verandah is supported on timber posts with timber post brackets. A vertical timber balustrade spans between the posts. A half-timbered gable sits centrally in the verandah roof. There is a central door and hopper light flanked by sidelights and bay windows. The bay windows feature double hung sash windows. The roofscape features tall render capped chimneys and finials. The walls are face brick with rendered details. The place retains its form and most of its details. There are additions to the rear. A garage has been constructed to the south and rear of the lot. The garage is accessed by Bolton Street. The lot has been subdivided and a residence built to the rear. The residence to the rear addresses Bolton Street. The place is consistent with the building pattern in the Precinct. The place plays an important role in the pattern of development of a middle class suburb.

History

Built for John Bovell in 1919-1920. It is a well designed and well built single storey residence in a late rendering of the Federation Bungalow style, simply expressed, confidently and competently executed. The Bovell family’s association with Preston Point Road endured for 110 years, the longest period of any East Fremantle family. Riverside Precinct was once part of Location 64 (10 acres). In 1896 the Riverside Precinct was subdivided into 47 lots following the developments of Plympton in the 1890s. It was not until 1900 before all of the lots in Riverside were sold. A number of substantial homes were thereafter built in the area. Concurrently riverside related industries were developed along the base of the limestone scarp now fronted by Riverside Road. More subdivisions to Riverside occurred in 1913 to Putney, Bellevue, Hillside, Surbiton and Hill Streets (Putney, Bellevue and Hill Streets no longer exist.). At the time a number of buildings were developed around Pier Street. Lot sizes were large in comparison to Plympton Precinct. By 1915 a dense group of houses was established in the Riverside Precinct. Large residences occupied the hilltop streets while smaller residences were developed along Preston Point Road and along the river bank. As a response to the topography of the precinct lots were irregular in shape and size. Substantial residences were developed along the east side of Preston Point Road in the Richmond Precinct around this time. The developments on the west side of Preston Point Road, however, were of a much larger scale and in the late Victorian style that contrasts the adjacent precinct.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate - High

Condition

Excellent

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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