Heritage Houses of New Junction - 25 The Crescent

Council, at its meeting of 03 August 2022 resolved to include 35 new properties into the Local Heritage Survey. This included 9 properties within the New Junction precinct.

History

In 1886, the Midland Railway Company took up significant landholdings in the area and established its operations to build a railway north to Geraldton. The townsite of Midland Junction was gazetted in 1890 and private investor James Morrison, subdivided and sold large parcels of land to new settlers.  With gold discoveries in the mid 1890s, Midland Junction became a hub of the state road and rail system and was a logical site for the government railway workshops which relocated there in 1904.

This portion of The Crescent was approved for residential subdivision in 1912 but homes had been built in adjacent lots previously.  From the readily available information there is no indication this lot was developed until the construction of this house in 1935 which was first occupied by Mrs Hancock for only one year.  No detail of Mrs Hancock or the builder of this place has been found in this research.

During the Inter War period, Midland like most of metropolitan Perth had minimal development largely because of the Economic Depression.  Some modest improvements were experienced in the mid 1930s, for example in the construction of this residence, however it was not until World War Two and the significant work opportunities for the war effort, for example at the workshops that saw the area experience steady growth.

In the late 1930s, this place was occupied by butcher and ice manufacturer Herman August Lange (1905-1968) and his wife Eva Beatrice, nee Catherall (109-1981).  The place was subsequently occupied by; labourer Albert Baker, milk vendor Frank Hamilton and railway employee Leslie Brown. This turnover of occupants suggests the place was rented to tenants by an absentee landlord.

A plan of the site prepared in 1939 for the purpose of planning sewerage services shows that the extent of the house has not changed since that time. Aerial photographs since the mid 20th century confirm that the form and extent of the original residence has not changed.  The only major change to the site was the construction of a large shed in the rear of the property c2003.

Statement of Significance:

The place has aesthetic value as a modest example of the form and detail of the Inter War Californian Bunglalow style.

The place has historic value for its association with the development of Midland in the Inter War period.

The place has social value as a demonstration of the form and scale of housing for working families in the Inter War period.

Management Category:  Category 3 Some/Moderate

This is an extract from the Local Heritage Survey Place Record Form. The main image has been substituted.

For the full Place Record Form  please visit www.newjunction.com.au/about/heritagehousesof newjunction