Stirling Highway, 13, North Fremantle WA 6159
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleHOUSE, 13 STIRLING HIGHWAYAddress13 Stirling Highway NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No22411Location DescriptionStreet Number13Construction Commenced1897Construction MaterialRoof – METAL: Corrugated IronWall – TIMBER: WeatherboardFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionStatement Of SignificanceHouse, 13 Stirling Highway, is a typical weatherboard and iron single storey cottage dating from the 1890s. 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 North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of typical workers' houses in the North Fremantle area. The place is a very late simple example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture.ArchaeologyConditionCondition assessed as poor to fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).HistoryThe portion of Stirling Highway to the north of Queen Victoria Street was originally part of Perth Road. The area developed with mixed residential, commercial and industrial uses from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. The portion of Stirling Highway that runs between the Swan River and the junction with Queen Victoria Street was formerly called Bruce Street. It was named after Colonel Bruce, head of the Pensioner Guards. In the early days of North Fremantle’s development, the favoured residential area for settlement was slightly west of the North Fremantle oval and named ‘Brucetown’. Settlement of North Fremantle began in earnest in the late 1890s and Bruce Street was characterised by a mix of building types. On the southern side of the street between Queen Victoria Street (formerly Perth Road) and Tydeman Road (formerly Pensioner Road and then John Street), the buildings were predominantly residential. Industrial use was more common on the northern side. Stirling Bridge was constructed across the Swan River at the end of Bruce Street in 1974. As Bruce Street was now the major arterial link between the bridge and Stirling Highway, the street was widened and renamed as an extension of Stirling Highway. In recent years, new high-density residential development of the areas adjacent to the river on either side of Stirling Highway has seen a significant change in the mix of buildings in the southern section of Stirling Highway. In 2004, the street continues to have a mix of residential, retail and industrial land use. The weatherboard and tile cottage at 13 Stirling Highway (formerly 12 Bruce Street) was built between 1897 and 1913 for an unidentified owner. It was part of a larger landholding owned by Mrs Andrew Burns in 1895 and subdivided circa 1896. In 1921, the property was described as a five roomed wooden house owned by Percy Cross and occupied by James Winstone. Percy Cross continued to own the property and lease it to a variety of tenants until 1935. Information is not available for the period between 1936 and 1954. Between 1955 and 1961, the property was owned and occupied by Walter Johnson. In 1974, Mary Bearsby owned the cottage and in 1981, David Timothy Courtley was listed as owner. In 1940, the cottage had a few small additions to the rear of the house but the back yard was dominated by five large built structures on the south and west boundaries. The cottage was connected to the mains sewerage system in 1955. In 1979, the front façade of the cottage remained substantially unchanged. In 1989, additions were made to the cottage consisted of rear additions, a garage and a solid front wall along the boundary. In 2004, the place is used as a residence. This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle. Physical DescriptionHouse, 13 Stirling Highway, is a single storey weatherboard and iron cottage with symmetrical facade designed as a late example of the Victorian Georgian style of architecture. Walls are timber framed clad with weatherboards. Roof is hipped corrugated iron with no eaves. Verandah has been removed. Front elevation is symmetrical with two timber sash windows and a central front door. There is a limestone wall to the front boundary.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residencePresent Use – RESIDENTIAL: Single storey residenceArchitectural StylesIntegrity/AuthenticityModerate degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, some loss of fabric). Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining.Some loss of fabric. (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
PARENT PLACE
Parent Place No22385
RELATED
INTERNAL
Heritage EntryYes
Stirling Highway, 13, North Fremantle WA 6159. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 18/03/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/35395