East Street, 23, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleHOUSE, 23 EAST STREETAddress23 East Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No23262Construction Commenced1898Construction MaterialRoof – METAL: Corrugated IronWall – BRICK: Face BrickWall – STONE: LimestoneFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: SettlementsStatement Of SignificanceHouse, 23 East Street, is a single storey limewstone and iron house dating from 1898. 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 Fremantle. It is historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the Fremantle area. The place is an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as fair to good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistoryThis street was the original eastern boundary of the townsite. In 1896 Lot 898 was vacant and the name John Jarvis had been crossed out as the owner. In 1898 a five room dwelling was erected on the newly created Lot 1 of 898 and was owned and occupied by Joseph Ralph Davidson, a mariner. Davidson was born in Scotland on 1 February 1861. He came to Fremantle from Victoria aboard the Rocton in circa 1892 with his wife Mary Mussell Vine (1852 – 1938) and two children. Davidson had various occupations such as seafarer, wood merchant and rigger on the mines in Kalgoorlie. He died in Victoria on the 3 November 1943. The Davidsons lived in the house until 1909. In the rate period 1908/09 Mary Davidson is recorded as the owner until at least 1920. In this period the Davidson’s had several tenants including Catherine Brennan and Samuel Chester. The next owner was Esther Hendy from 1920/21 and until 1951/52. Esther had several tenants; John Phillips Edgar during the 1920s, John Payne in thePhysical DescriptionHouse, 23 East Street is a single storey, limestone, brick and iron house with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. The walls are limestone with red brick quoins. The roof is hipped and clad with corrugated iron. The façade is symmetrical with a central front door with fanlight flanked on either side by timber framed double hung sash windows with iron security grills fitted. The verandah has a separate corrugated iron roof supported by timber posts with decorative timber brackets. Decorative vents are visible between the roof and verandah. Part of the verandah has a lattice infill. There is a rendered corbelled chimney evident. There is a limestone block, brick pillar and timber picket fence to the front boundary line.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residencePresent Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residenceIntegrity/AuthenticityHigh degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).Place TypeIndividual Building or Group
RELATED
East Street, 23, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 06/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/27384