Little Howard Street, 4, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleDUPLEX, 4 LITTLE HOWARD STREETAddress4 Little Howard Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No21193Location DescriptionStreet Number4Construction Commenced1894Construction MaterialRoof – METAL: Corrugated IronWall – RENDER: SmoothFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionStatement Of SignificanceDuplex, 2 & 4 Little Howard Street is a single storey, rendered masonry, limestone, brick and iron duplex pair dating from 1894. 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 a simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistoryThe street was formerly known as Old Cemetery Road, and a continuation of Howard Street, which was named after Lord Edward Howard, grandson of Lord John Russell, British Prime Minister 1842. 4 Little Howard Street was formerly 12 Little Howard Street. The numbering changed in 1935/36. The three duplexes at 2/4, 6/8 and 10/12 were built in 1894 for the Commissioners of the Presbyterian Church. Each residence was leased out to tenants and the first occupants of the six residences were; Francis McDonald, grocer; Ezra Parry, chemist; Thurston, clerk; Mr L. Henderson, carpenter; George Keayman, storeman; and Alfred Sargent, clerk. The records kept in the rates books of this period does not provide enough information to determine who occupied which residence. Occupants of 4 Little Howard Street from 1905/06 to 1951/52 included; Clarent Haig Pearce White, Hilda Taylor, Sydney Clarke Barclay, Hugh Norman McLean, Douglas Fletcher, George William Morgan, Mary Brennan, Catherine Brennan, Henry Brennan and Lydia Freeman. The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows this brick duplex is replicated in the adjacent properties which are now 2/4, 6/ 8 and 10/12 Little Howard Street. It is probable they were built at the same time. The terraces have front verandahs across the full width of the front façade. At the rear of the building is a small verandah of which a portion is enclosed in timber. On the back property boundary is a brick closet. The Commissioners of the Presbyterian Church owned the three duplexes until at least 1924/25. After that time the ownership was split to two women; Catherine May Healy owned duplex 2/4, and 6/8; while duplex 10/12 was transferred to Ellen Melda Evans. A photograph of the house in 1979 shows that it was in relatively good condition with a tiled roof and rendered front façade. The verandah roof and main roof have been integrated into one structure. The windows appear to be original although the verandah masonry balustrade and supports are a later addition. The design of the verandah is replicated at the adjoining half of the duplex. A timber and cyclone mesh fence was present on the front boundary. This place was identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80 as being of cultural heritage significance. (Coded: Brown: "Positively contributing to the built environment") A photograph of the place in 1997 shows that the building was relatively unchanged from the front view. It was noted at this time that a new limestone addition had been constructed. A photograph of the place in c.2000 shows that the place had undergone renovation including a new corrugated iron roof removal of the render on the side of the building. Security screens had been fitted to the front windows. Physical DescriptionDuplex, 2 & 4 Little Howard Street is a single storey limestone, brick and iron duplex pair with a symmetrical facade designed as an example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. One of 3 pairs of duplexes (2&4, 6&8, 10&12) constructed at the same time in Little Howard Street. The walls are limestone with brick quoins to no. 2 and rendered masonry to no. 4.. Each duplex pair has a separate hipped corrugated iron roof. The front facade to each duplex half has a front door with fanlight and a pair of double hung sash windows. The front verandahs are under a continuous corrugated iron roof. Both verandah roofs are supported by ionic columns on rendered masonry piers with a rendered masonry balustrade between. The duplexes are raised above the ground level at the front boundary and there are two separate sets of concrete steps leading up to the verandah level. There is a low limestone wall to the front boundary of no. 2.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Conjoined residencePresent Use – RESIDENTIAL: Conjoined residenceArchitectural StylesIntegrity/AuthenticityMedium to high degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). Medium degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining but with some alterations. (These statements based on street survey only).Place TypeIndividual Building or Group
Local Government Statutory Heritage Listings
Local Government Statutory Listing CustodianCity of FremantleLocal Government Statutory Listing TypeHeritage ListLocal Government Statutory Listing StatusYesLocal Government Statutory Listing Date8/03/2007
Local Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey
Local Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey CustodianCity of FremantleLocal Government Non-Statutory Local Heritage Survey Date18/09/2000Local Government Non-Statutory Listing Local Heritage Survey Management CategoryLevel 3
RELATED
Little Howard Street, 4, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 11/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/29178