Ninth Street 15
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 15 Ninth Street |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler South |
Former home of Keith Johnson.
DESCRIPTION:
In external appearance, this building presents a single-storey, double-fronted, symmetrical villa with projecting bays to the north and south, however it contains two dwellings. It is constructed of sandstone rubble, overpainted on the east elevation, with red brick quoins and dressings. The dwellings display fine quality Victorian detailing including dentil to the frieze and chimneys. The hipped roof is clad with corrugated metal, with skillion forms concealed by parapet wall to the projecting bays. The windows are timber-framed, double-hung sashes concealed by hoarding, and entrance doors to either projecting bay are panelled timber with arched heads. A very large chimney located at the centre of the dwelling and smaller chimney to the rear are of face red brick with dentilled caps. The return ogee verandah is supported on timber posts with cast-iron shoes on a cement floor (over stone and brick).
STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:
Constructed around 1868, the attached dwellings at 15 Ninth Street, Gawler South, are associated with the early residential development of the suburban township at a time where sustained growth of nearby industrial business was heightened. Likely constructed as a speculative investment, they also demonstrate the need for affordable accommodation for workers at the time. The typical ‘Gawler styled’ pair found elsewhere is eschewed in this case in preference for a distinctive composition which gives an overall appearance of a large villa. Of construction using local stone and brick the dwellings include a number of fine details and composition suggesting the involvement of one of two notable local builders, William Stephen Taylor or Henry George Woodman.
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The original plan of Gawler prepared by Light, Finniss and Co in 1839 was extended as additional townships were added over the next two decades. Gawler had by then already become an established commercial centre with its own local industry and trades, serving both the farming districts and its own growing population. Completion of the railway connection from Adelaide to Gawler in 1857, and the location of the railway terminus at some distance south of Gawler Town and the commercial precinct along Murray Street, created an opportunity for landowners south of the South Para River. The new township of Gawler Town South was laid out in 1858 on Section 3 of the Gawler Special Survey, comprising 379 acres originally allocated to Edward Moore in 1839. One hundred and fifty allotments were offered for sale at a public auction on 22 March 1858 held by Green and Wadham, land agents, on behalf of the proprietors of allotments A B & C Smith and Cullen. The availability of cheaper land convenient to the station and to the numerous local industries, which were by then becoming established on the south side of the river, was attractive to investors, and many of the initial land purchases were speculative, anticipating the subsequent growth in industrial activity and resident population.
Ninth Street is one of a handful of short streets running off Water Street in a small section of the subdivision enclosed by a loop of the river on three sides, known as Goose Island. The area was prone to flooding and, with the exception of larger allotments on raised ground, was not densely occupied for many years. It was characterised by small (1/4 acre) blocks where residents kept market gardens, chickens and other livestock.
Title to two adjacent allotments, numbered 7 and 8 of Blocks 18,19, 20 and 21 of section 3, laid out as the Township of Gawler South in the Hundred of Mudla Wirra was transferred from William Stephen Taylor to Henry George Woodman of Gawler, builder, on 8 September 1868. These blocks of about ¼ acre each ran between Ninth and Bridge Street (now Tenth Street). Woodman transferred the land to William Henry Loveridge, of Gawler, draper, two years later. The title was transferred to the Bank of South Australia Ltd in 1889, and subsequently to the Union Bank of Australia Ltd in 1894, who transferred it to Sidney Frederick Fotheringham of Gawler, Brewer, in 1886. SF Fotheringham was the eldest son of Thomas Fotheringham, well known brewery proprietor. The company also owned a cordial and aerated waters factory located in a former flax mill in nearby Water Street, suggesting the property may have been purchased for worker’s accommodation.
In 1909 the title (still including two complete allotments) transferred to Henry John Coles of Gawler, draper who sold to Alice Alexander Winton, wife of John Winton of Gawler South, wood merchant, in 1911, and thence to Alexander Morgan, of Angaston, labourer (1920); Herman Ludwig Twartz of Gawler, farmer (1922); Lena Sophie Taylor, of Gawler, widow (1934); and Eva Emily May Ratcliff, of Gawler, widow (1936); In 1949 Mrs Ratcliff subdivided the two allotments, and a new certificate of title was issued to her for the northern portions of Allotments 7 and 8, containing the present residence.
The substantial stone residence occupying the north-eastern corner of part allotment 8 appears to be of an early construction date. It was possibly built by Henry George Woodman (a builder by trade), at some time between 1868 and 1870 when the property was sold to William Henry Loveridge. Its unusual form of attached symmetrical dwellings resulting in a villa scale with projecting porticos at either side and suggests it was used for dual occupancy. The style and scale of the individual portions is typical of worker’s cottages, intended as rental properties for employees of local industries or businesses.
Please <click here> to view photos of 15 Ninth 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
.
References
- LTO CT 119/114; CT 1627/159; CT2029/132
- George Warren surveyor ‘Plan of the Gawler Town and its Suburban Townships’ 1863
- Green and Wadham land agents ‘Plan of Gawler Town South being Section No 3 of the Gawler Special Survey 1858
- Hignett & Company Gawler Heritage Study Stage 1 December 1981
Memories of Ninth Street 15
Do you remember Ninth Street 15 ? Then Join up and add your memory here.
Support our sponsors!
