Russell Street, 17, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleTERRACE, 17 RUSSELL STREETAddress17 Russell Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No24598Location DescriptionStreet Number17Other NamesClyde CottagesConstruction Commenced1899Construction MaterialFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionStatement Of SignificanceTerraces, 11-19 Russell Street (Clyde Cottages) is a group of five attached single storey rendered brick and iron terraced houses dating from 1899. 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. The place has rarity value as a group of four terraces still extant.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistoryTerrace, 11-19 Russell Street was formerly known as 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 Russell Street the numbering changing in 1935/36. The direction of numbering reversed at this time therefore the relationship is as follows (35 is 19) (37 is 17) (39 is 15) (41 is 13) (43 is 11). The origin of the name ‘Clyde Terraces’ is not known. This land was acquired by Alice Pearse, the wife of the Councillor W. S. Pearse, first Chairman of the Fremantle Town Council in 1894. The terrace was built in 1899 of bricks and iron. At the time of completion of the terrace a 4 foot picket fence was erected on the front boundary. The first tenants of the terraces were a harbour worker, a draper, a herbalist, a civil engineer and their families. A history of these terraces states that the buildings were constructed of clay bricks laid on lime joints in ‘English Stretcher bond’ style of brickwork. The ornamental cast iron work was apparently original. The 1908 sewerage plan of the site shows these terraces were made of brick with verandahs at the front and verandahs on the long axis between the individual terraces at the rear. Bathrooms were located at the rear of the houses. Each house had a galvanised iron shed and a brick closet in the back yard. This place was included on the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society in 1979/80. Fremantle Society Classification Purple: Of architectural and historic significance in its own right. In 1989, architect David Melsom submitted plans to the City of Fremantle for the renovation and additions to 13 Russell Street. Photographs of the house prior to the renovation show that the roof was dark green and in poor condition. The rear verandahs had been enclosed. The renovations and extensions progressed as indicated by information supplied from a 1994 real estate article. In the same year 11 Russell Street was photographed and shown to have renovated and an extension added to the rear which included a new kitchen, bathroom and living area. A photograph of 11 Russell Street in c.2000 shows the house had been renovated, including a new roof. Information in 2006 from a real estate article shows that 17 Russell Street had also undergone renovations and an addition to the rear of the building prior to that date. Physical DescriptionTerraces, 11-19 Russell Street (Clyde Cottages) is a group of five attached single storey rendered and painted brick and iron terraced houses dating from 1899. Walls are rendered and painted brick. Roofs are gabled corrugated iron with dividing masonry parapet wall between each terrace visible through roof. Verandahs are under separate corrugated iron bullnose roofs. Each unit has a rendered masonry and timber picket wall to the front boundary line. Each terrace house has a single front door and a double hung sash window to the front elevation.AssociationAlice PearseDavid MelsomPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Terrace housingPresent Use – RESIDENTIAL: Terrace housingArchitectural StylesIntegrity/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
Biographies
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 2
RELATED
Russell Street, 17, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 20/03/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/30633