Stevens Street, 7, Fremantle WA 6160
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleLIMESTONE FEATURE(S), 7 STEVENS STREETAddress7 Stevens Street FREMANTLE WA 6160Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No22073Location DescriptionStreet Number7Construction MaterialWall – STONE: LimestoneFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionStatement Of SignificanceThe use of limestone is part of the Fremantle landscape and gives the City coherence and character. Limestone walls were built around properties in Fremantle to prevent sand drift in response to an early building regulation dating from the 1830s. Limestone walls are one commonly encountered example of use of this stone as a building material, most of them dating from the 19th century and early years of the 20th century. Most of the limestone in small walls came from local quarries.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistoryStevens Street was originally known as Church Street c1900, the boundary of the old Alma St Church of England Cemetery. It changed to Stephen Street in c1930. In 1962 spelling was changed to Stevens Street, probably to honour Jimmy Stevens, Councillor (1905-1929; 1929-1943). 7 Stevens Street was formerly 5/7 Church Street. This weatherboard duplex was built in 1899 for owner Charles Purdie. The first occupants of the two dwellings were Andrew Shine, labourer; and Francis Morris, tally clerk. The duplex continued to be leased out to tenants throughout the first half of the 20th century. Owners during this period were George Cresswell, Emily Cresswell, Mildred Ann Crockett and Violet May Lovett. Violet Lovett continued to own the properties until the late 1980s and for some of that time occupied 5 Stevens Street. The two dwellings became separately owned after this time and owners of 5 Stevens Street included Ross and Louise Appleton; Clifton Watkins and Scott Harcourt Douglas. The 1908 sewerage plan of this site shows that the lot had a stone wall on the front boundary which is likely to have been built at the same time as the original house. The stone wall stretched across five lots finishing at the boundary between 11a and 11b. There was only a break in the wall at the street address, 11 Stevens Street. The duplex is shown as a simple rectangular form with a verandah at the front and rear of the building. Galvanised iron closets are shown in the rear of the lot. A photograph of the duplex in 1994 shows that the front verandah of the building had been enclosed with a structure of windows and fibro panelling. An awning is located over the front of the building. Each half of the duplex had a door to this enclosure. The limestone wall has a single set of entry steps to the property from Stevens Street. At the top of the wall is a metal balustrade. This place was identified in the "Heritage Report on 19th century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle" prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986. Physical DescriptionLimestone front and side wallsAssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – OTHER: OtherOther Use – OTHER: OtherPresent Use – OTHER: OtherArchitectural 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 TypeHistoric site
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 3
RELATED
Stevens Street, 7, Fremantle WA 6160. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 08/04/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/31160




