Howard Street 13
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 13 Howard Street |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler |
DESCRIPTION:
This single-storey double-fronted Victorian villa of single bay depth is constructed of face dressed bluestone, tuck-pointed with red brick dressings and side walls, atypical in Gawler. The dwelling features high quality Victorian detailing in typical Gawler style with brick pediment hood mould and unusual oriel gable vent. The hipped roof with projecting gable is clad with corrugated galvanised iron with cast-iron lace frieze and timber finial to gable. The windows are timber-framed, double-hung sashes with arched heads and the main door is panelled timber. The chimney is of face brick with corbelled cap. The concave verandah is clad with corrugated galvanised iron, supported on timber posts with cast iron lace frieze and corner brackets. The rendered masonry fence features a non-original wrought-iron gate.
STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:
Likely constructed around 1889, the modestly scaled villa at 13 Howard Street, Gawler, is a residential component associated with the ongoing use of the site by the notable Gawler brickmaking firm, Busbridge and Bright. Established in 1857, the company initially took over the site and adjoining allotments for brick pits and kilns, later establishing this residence. The villa, a diminutive example only one bay deep, is a good and substantially externally intact example of a mid-Victorian era villa displaying use of local stone, brick and cast iron embellishment in the distinctive ‘Gawler’ typology. Unusually, the side walls are constructed of fine red face brickwork, rather than the usual stone rubble typical of most in the area, reinforcing the historic connection with the Busbridge and Bright brickmaking business.
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The Gawler township was planned by Light, Finnis & Co and laid out by William Jacob in 1839. The Deposited Plan No. 138 of 1863 confirms this plan of Gawler; the original landholder for Allotment 167 is later recorded as James Fotheringham.
Rate assessment books indicate that the land was vacant and unsold until 1861 when it was rated jointly with the neighbouring Lot 168 (containing a cottage and ‘brick pit’ owned by Samuel Snell). In 1868 the subject property, then only containing ‘brick yards’, is rated to Busbridge and Bright. The description and ownership remained the same until 1889, with the first mention of a dwelling, which was owned by James Busbridge.
Certificate of Title confirms that in 1869 the title was held by Richard Chaffey Baker, barrister, pastoralist and politician. Baker transferred the allotment to Henry George Woodman, Builder, in 1869 however in 1870 the property was transferred to James Busbridge and James Bright, Gawler brickmakers. Busbridge and Bright first established brick kilns at the western end of Jacob Street in 1857. Bright was also partner in brick kilns with Weaver in Paxton Street, Willaston (1866), and with Samuel Snell elsewhere in Howard Street; the business flourished to provide local bricks to the burgeoning township and district, obtaining clay from the Howard Street property. The Busbridge family owned the property until 1935 when James Busbridge died, thereafter it was owned by Ellen Ireland.
The original allotment was subdivided in 1977.
Please <click here> to view photos of 13 Howard Street.
Acknowledgments
This report has been prepared by the following people:
• Nancy Cromar (Flightpath Architects)
• Deborah Morgan (Flightpath Architects)
• Kate Paterson (Flightpath Architects)
• Douglas Alexander (Flightpath Architects)
The study team would like to acknowledge the assistance of the following people:
• David Petruzzella (Strategic Planner; Town of Gawler)
• Jacinta Weiss (Cultural Heritage Centre Coordinator; Town of Gawler)
• Jane Strange (Senior Development and Strategic Policy Officer; Town of Gawler)
Gawler History Team Inc. thanks:
Flightpath Architects, Ryan Viney and the Town of Gawler for allowing us access to this important document of Gawler History.
www.flightpatharchitects.com.au
.
Related Articles
References
- Gawler Rate Assessment Books North Ward
- Hignett & Company Gawler Heritage Study 1981 p.20.
- LTO Certificate of Title CT 1 34/34 1869
- Phillips Pilkington Gawler’s Industrial Buildings p.56-59.
- Playford Australian Dictionary of Biography http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/baker-sirrichard-chaffey-5107
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