Thompson Road, 23/54, NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159
DESCRIPTION
Heritage TitleDUPLEX (DEMOLISHED), 54 THOMPSON ROADAddress23/54 Thompson Road NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159Geo tag[1] Heritage Place No22179Construction Commenced1904Year Of Demolition1990Construction MaterialFormer W.A. Heritage ThemesDEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY: Land allocation & subdivisionStatement Of SignificanceArchaeologyConditionHistoryThompson Road was named for George Thompson (1838-1874), Fremantle's first town clerk (1871-73). The street is mainly residential, with some commercial development at the northern end between Alfred Road and McCabe Road. The majority of the houses were built c. 1900. Only a few lots on the street remained vacant in the 1920s. House, 54 Thompson Road was constructed at some time between 1904 and 1922, by which time the property was owned and occupied by James Dunne. Dunne soon rented the house to tenants and in 1927 (by which time Jane Dunne held the title), the house was sold to Maud Bryant. Charles Rutland, who leased the property from Bryant, bought the house in 1935, but by the early 1940s, Mrs Barbara Scott was listed as the occupant. A 1939 diagram shows House, 54 Thompson Road as being a weatherboard house (not duplex) well set back from the street. It had full length front and rear verandahs and a retaining wall in the back yard near the rear of the house. Long path led from the street to the front door. By 1955, Redvers T. and B. Backshell owned and occupied 54 Thompson Road. They remained there until after 1968, upon which time Daniels and Ward acquired the title. They were responsible for the addition of a workshop that appears in Rate records from 1968. From 1974, Daniels and Ward and Phillips Engineering were listed as the owners of the property and it appears likely that the place was used for manufacturing purposes at this time. In 1985, 54 Thompson Road was acquired by Homeswest and the site was amalgamated with the adjacent house at 52 Thompson Road. In May 1989, planning consent was granted for the demolition of the residence and the construction of 26 grouped dwellings and 12 aged persons units. Work on the new buildings was completed in 1990 by Woodland Constructions. The places were designed by architect Chris Hair. The place was included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - BROWN -significant for making a positive contribution to the built environment of Fremantle. Physical DescriptionDEMOLISHED. Retained on MHI for historical information only.AssociationPlace UseOriginal Use – RESIDENTIAL: Conjoined residenceIntegrity/AuthenticityPlace TypeHistoric Site
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 CategoryHistoric/Archaeological Site
PARENT PLACE
Parent Place No22385
RELATED
INTERNAL
Heritage EntryYes
Thompson Road, 23/54, NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159. City of Fremantle Local History Centre, accessed 31/05/2026, https://history.fremantle.wa.gov.au/nodes/view/35696