Nineteenth Street 9-11
| Place type: | Building |
|---|---|
| Address: | 9-11 Nineteenth Street |
| Town or Locality: | Gawler South |
DESCRIPTION:
This attached pair of substantial late-Victorian single-storey villas demonstrates a distinctive Gawler architectural style and form. The tuck-pointed dressed bluestone construction with red brick quoins and dressings displays characteristic detail. The symmetrical façade is divided by a central stone wall with rendered coping, which separates the front gardens of the two dwellings and divides the front verandah in two. The double gable and hipped roof, along with the central verandah, has been clad with metal roof tiles at a later date. There are multiple brick chimneys with corbelled caps. Each gabled projecting front bay includes a canted bay window which is roofed with corrugated galvanised iron; each gable end includes a characteristic slotted vent with decorative brick detail. The verandah retains its deep cast-iron lace valance and bracket decoration. Timber-framed French doors open onto the verandah at the front of each dwelling, which have separate side entrances. The bays feature narrow timber-framed double-hung sash windows (three per bay). Elsewhere, windows contain timber-framed double-hung sashes and some are screened by timber-framed awning canopies. A non-original rendered and painted plinth has been applied to the base of the building. The street boundary is defined by an elaborate palisade fence with brick plinth and piers (overpainted) and cast-iron panels; the gates are modern aluminium spear-topped palisade (No.11) and Cyclone wire (No.9). The arched masonry fence extends along the eastern boundary. Alterations include a large steel framed and clad shed along the northern boundary.
STATEMENT OF HERITAGE VALUE:
The pair of attached houses at 9-11 Nineteenth Street, Gawler South, likely to have been constructed during the 1890s as a speculative investment, demonstrate the ideal location near the railway station and close to several large industrial establishments. Purchase of the property by the important engineering company May Bros Ltd in 1915 suggests it may have been intended to accommodate the firm’s employees at that time. The imposing pair are a fine and largely intact example of the attached dwelling mode, constructed of quality local stone, brick and cast iron with the distinctive ‘Gawler style’ detail. The composition is made complete by the imposing stone, brick and cast iron palisade front fence.
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The township of Bassett was laid out in 1857 by surveyor George Warren on land owned by William Bassett jnr. It comprised part of section 8, of 76 acres, originally granted to James Fotheringham as part of the Gawler Special Survey. The subdivision closely followed the completion of the main railway line to Gawler in October 1857, which passed through the property, and adjoined the new railway terminus. The initial sale of blocks was held on the grounds on 2 November 1857, with a special train put on to convey prospective buyers from Adelaide and a champagne lunch provided in the marquee.
With the new railway terminus located in Bassett Town, to the south of the main township, Adelaide Road was anticipated as the principle link between the two. Originally named ‘Murray Street’ on the registered plan, the section of road connecting the new railway terminus and the Adelaide Road became ‘Nineteenth Street’ when most of the streets in Gawler South were renamed in 1928. Certificate of Title for Allotment Number 16 of Section 8 in the Hundred of Mudla Wirra was issued to William Churchman on 14 December 1885. The title for Allotment 17 immediately to its east was issued to William Henry Gome, accountant of near Gawler, on 6 May 1886. On 26 July 1890 the title of Allotment 16 was also transferred to William Henry Gome, then in 1901 [or 1907] both were transferred to Henry Charles Swan of Semaphore, SM, and Isaac Rowe Killicoat of Adelaide, land agent. Henry Swan died in 1908, and Killicoat transferred both allotments to Frederick Eyers of Gawler, a wheelwright employed by May Bros & Co Ltd, in 1914. The property was next transferred in 1915 to May Bros & Co Ltd, whose registered office was at the time in Blanche Street Gawler, just a block away. Title was transferred from May Bros to May Bros and J K Jones Ltd in 1921.
Allotment 16 was re-subdivided and that portion of Allotment 16, together with the whole of Allotment 17 were transferred from the Commercial Bank of Australia, as mortgagee, to Maggie Jacob, married woman of Gawler on 12 December 1928. It remained in Jacobs family ownership until 1970.
The pair of attached houses on the allotment is likely to have been constructed as a speculative investment by William Henry Gome between 1890 and 1900. [Then] Murray Street was ideally located near the railway station and close to several large industrial establishments including May Bros, James Martin & Co Ltd., Roediger’s and Dawson’s Mill. From 1879 a horse-drawn tramway passed along Murray Street (now Nineteenth Street), so would have added extra convenience to the location for those working in Gawler or travelling by train to Adelaide, making it very attractive to prospective renters. Purchase of the property by the important engineering company May Bros Ltd in 1915 suggests it may have been intended to accommodate the firm’s employees at that time.
Please <click here> to view photos of 9-11 Nineteenth 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 470/98; CT 499/81; CT1530/22
- George Warren Surveyor Gawler ‘Plan of the Township of Bassett’ 1858
- Hignett & Company Gawler Heritage Study Stage 1 December 1981
- Gawler History website: https://www.gawlerhistory.com
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