HOUSE, 18 STAPLES STREET

Parent Place or Precinct

22385 North Fremantle Precinct

Statement of Significance

House, 18 Staples Street, is a typical stone and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1911. 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, 18 Staples Street, is a single storey rendered stone and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are painted and rendered. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. There is no verandah roof. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door with top light. There is a brick and timber picket fence to the front boundary line.

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, 18 Staples Street was built between 1911 and 1917. By 1923, the house was owned and occupied by Isabella Fettes. At this time, it was described as a timber house of four rooms. Isabella Fettes sold the property to Annie Green in 1927, when it was described as being a four roomed stone house. By the mid-1950s, the property was owned by George Jacob and has had a number of owners since Mr Jacob died in the mid-1960s. 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. In 2003 the place had a verandah roof with timber posts, but as at 2016 this has been removed.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, some later unsympathetic materials). Medium degree of authenticity with some loss of original fabric. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

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

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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