Thomas Terrace 11
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 11 Thomas Terrace |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler |
DESCRIPTION:
This single-storey, double-fronted projecting bay Victorian villa has a quality park-front location. It is constructed of sandstone rubble with a tuck-pointed finish, and red brick quoins and dressings, including ornate Gawler-style pediment hood mould and gable vent. The hipped roof with gabled bay is clad with overpainted corrugated galvanised metal and includes carved timber bargeboard with cast-iron lace and finial to gable end. The façade features a moulded timber panelled door, half glazed, and timber-framed, double-hung sash windows. A face red brick chimney with corbelled cap is evident. The deep ogee verandah is clad with corrugated galvanised iron and supported on timber posts with cast-iron lace brackets. An early stone wing to the east and south sides is also of note and likely comprises an earlier cottage on the site.
STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:
The villa at 11 Thomas Terrace, Gawler, demonstrates the early housing of the area established with the development of the township and its subsequent prosperity, evidenced by the simple original building form and subsequent addition of the elegant villa facing Thomas Terrace.
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The site comprises a portion of allotment 143 of sub-division of Section 24 laid out as Gawler Town. The property which is bounded on 3 sides by Thomas Terrace, Porter Street and Sutton Street was owned by Jerningham in the original ownership of Gawler lots of 1863.
The Town of Gawler was first surveyed and planned by Light, Finnis & Co in 1839 as part of the Gawler Special Survey sponsored by a syndicate of wealthy investors including Henry Dundas Murray, John Reid and others. The original town plan devised by Light and laid out by William Jacob comprised 240 acres, made up of 100 acres of allotments (as 200 half-acre allotments) and 140 acres of streets, parklands, city squares, churches, cemeteries and other public places.
Each of the original Special Survey investors was allocated township blocks along with their country acres, proportionate to the extent of their investment. The new town's advantageous location adjacent to the junction on the North and South Para Rivers and on the main northern road route put Gawler in an ideal position to benefit from subsequent pastoral and mining developments further north. The emergence of successful local industries, and the completion of the Gawler Railway connecting with Adelaide led to further significant growth of the township. During the mid to late nineteenth century, Gawler enjoyed a prosperous period as South Australia's second most important town.
This allotment was purchased by William Steven Taylor (builder and Councillor for east ward 1870-71 ) in January 1867 and transferred to George William Willsmore (carpenter) in September 1874. It was transferred to Hannah Willsmore in 1888. Thereafter it was owned by Margaret Alexander (wife of John Alexander, farmer) in February 1905. It was then bequeathed to family members Thomas Alexander (farmer) and Mary Alexander (spinster) in January 1915. The property transferred to Charles Patten (farmer) in February 1919 and later to Alfred Stevens (farmer) in March 1922.
The date of construction of the original dwelling is between 1862 and 1868 and a formal garden is noted by 1882.
Please <click here> to view photos of 11 Thomas Terrace.
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
- Gawler Rate Assessment Books East Ward
- LTO Certificate of Title CT 95/59
- Hignett Gawler Heritage Study: Stage 1
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