Local Government
Bassendean
Region
Metropolitan
54 Wilson St Bassendean
MI states 52 Wilson Street
Bassendean
Metropolitan
Constructed from 1903
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Documents |
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(no listings) |
Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
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Category | ||||
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 22 Aug 2017 | 3 | |
Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 22 Nov 2005 | 2d |
• The place has aesthetic value as a substantially intact brick and iron residence from the 1900s. • The place has historic value for its association with the development of the area known as West Guildford, later Bassendean in the 1910s. • The place has historic value for its association with member of the West Guildford Road Board, Charles McSwain and his family. • The place has social value as a demonstration of the scale of housing constructed for more affluent members of the community in the 1900s.
A single storey brick and iron dwelling with a high hipped roof and tall brick corbelled chimneys. The painted brick symmetrical façade features timber framed, 1-over-1 sash windows. The bullnose verandah canopy is supported on painted brick columns, extending across the full width of the front elevation. The dwelling is set within a mature garden enclosed by wire fencing.
This portion of Bassendean, on the eastern side of Wilson Street, was subdivided by a group of investors in 1898 under the promotional name of 'West End'. The group of investors included some of the most wellknown members of colonial society: S.H. Parker, G.H. Leake, H. Anstey, Dr D. Kenny, J. James, J. Grave, H.E. Parry, Dr J. Hope and W. Paterson. Three of these men; Parker, Leake and Paterson; were at various times members of parliament. Wilson Street was the western boundary of this subdivision and a slightly later subdivision was created c1902 on the western side of Wilson Street. The name of the street recognises either the Premier of Western Australia, Frank Wilson but more likely an early resident of Guildford, Colonel Wilson. From the available information this residence set within two of the housing lots was one of the first in the street built c1903 for carpenter, Charles James Morrison McSwain (c1870-1949) and his wife Annie Eleanor McSwain. The couple had four children. It is possible that McSwain contributed to the construction of this cottage. Charles McSwain was a member of the West Guildford Road Board, 1904-1908 and 1909-1913, and an employee of Cuming Smith and Co. In the 1910s he suggested the name ‘Florida’ for the suburb of West Guildford after the well-known brand name for the superphosphate made by Cuming Smith and Co.
High Moderate
Good
Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
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Wise's Post Office Directories,accessed online from State Library of WA | http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au | 1895-1949 | |
Carter, Jennie 'Bassendean A Social History 1829- 1976 | Town of Bassendean | 1986 | |
Land information and aerial photos from Landgate | |||
Australian Electoral Rolls | www.ancestry.com | 1903-1980 |
Ref Number | Description |
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A5635 | TOB Assessment No |
No.281 | MI Place No. |
Individual Building or Group
Epoch | General | Specific |
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Present Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
Original Use | RESIDENTIAL | Single storey residence |
Style |
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Federation Bungalow |
Type | General | Specific |
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Roof | METAL | Corrugated Iron |
Wall | BRICK | Common Brick |
General | Specific |
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DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Settlements |
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Land allocation & subdivision |
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.