HOUSE, 315 HIGH STREET

Statement of Significance

Significance removed by demolition

Physical Description

No physical evidence remains.

History

High Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975. On 12 December 1928, building plans were approved and passed by Council for the erection of a brick residence on Lot 1 of 1060. The house was erected for Henry Wright to the value of £1,100 by J. Bovell of Preston Point Road, East Fremantle. Henry Wright owned four lots in the street and arranged for the building of Nos. 315, 317, 319 and 321 High Street. Henry Wright occupied No 317 from 1911 to 1923-24, before moving to No. 321 in 1924-25 and then No. 315 in 1929. One occupier of the house (1937-42/43) was Frederick Austerberry, the proprietor of Atlas Engineering Works in Queen Victoria Street. Mr Austerberry arrived in Western Australia from Victoria in 1896. After working in Perth and the Goldfields, he joined the State Implement Works (later State Engineering) where he was in charge of the meter section. Later he joined Atlas Engineering as an assistant manager and eventually acquired the business. On 20 July 1979, an application (No. 1087) was submitted to Council for the erection of a screen wall and new WC. According to Building Department records, however these plans were cancelled. House, 315 High Street was included on the Fremantle Municipal Heritage Inventory when it was first adopted in 18 September 2000 and the Heritage List on 8 March 2007. The Statement of Significance for the place was: House, 315 High Street, is a single storey brick and iron house dating from the 1920s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the larger worker's homes located within the residential areas of Fremantle. It is historically significant and a representation of Federation Bungalow style houses in the Fremantle area. In 2000 the physical evidence was described as: House, 315 High Street is a single storey brick and iron house constructed as a simple variation of the Federation Bungalow style of Architecture. There are concrete steps leading up to the house, with rendered balustrade and front verandah. Prolific vegetation in the front yard prevents further description of the front elevation. In 2019 houses, 286, 288, 315, 319, 321, 323, 325 & 327 High Street, Fremantle were demolished as part of High Street upgrade. On 23 February 2022 Council resolved to remove 315 High Street from the Heritage List and to change the management category in the Local Heritage Survey to Historic Record Only.

Archaeology

No archaeological potential

Integrity/Authenticity

No Integrity No Authenticity

Condition

poor

Uses

Creation Date

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