aka Duffel House,
135 Hamersley Road, Subiaco W.A.
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- Related page: Historic Subiaco W.A.
Iconic Subiaco Landmark
- May 2017 - Offered for Sale, Mid $2 Millions
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| Joseph Duffel House, 135 Hamersley Road, Subiaco W.A. |
Glorious one of a kind Federation Queen Anne style brick and slate roofed home, possibly the most distinctive residence in Subiaco.
Table of Contents
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| Hon. Joseph Duffell |
- Exquisitely presented and faithfully restored, this splendid 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom single level home is situated on two lots of land totaling 614 sqm and represents the essence of Subiaco.
This home has a character unobtainable elsewhere. If you are a devotee of such architectural richness it demands consideration!
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| 135 Hamersley Road, Subiaco WA 6008 |
Apart from the distinctive turret and spire at the front of the home, a plethora of character features distinguish it.
- Tall corbelled chimneys, sweeping bull-nosed verandah with carved brackets attached to the turned posts, spectacular stained glass windows, high ornate ceilings, fireplaces, jarrah floors….the list goes on!
- The formal living room is an exercise in elegance and all other rooms suggest a home of superior quality.
- The modern kitchen with walk in pantry, wine cellar and meals area for six people, plus the two traditional style bathrooms complement the ambience.
- Landscaped gardens and a beautiful below ground swimming pool provide a resort feel and a large double garage with auto door completes the picture.
Description
One of the most original and distinguished houses of its period by a foremost architectural practice of the day. It has been sympathetically maintained and its location opposite the memorial clock tower, together with its tower and verandah features, has deservedly made it a local landmark.
- Located opposite the clock tower in Hamersley Road this is one of the most handsome houses of the district.
- It was erected in 1906 by Totterdell Brothers, builders, to the design of Hine and Selby, architects, for Mr Joseph Duffell.
- Several characteristics of this house are unique within Subiaco:
- the use of a slate roof;
- an arched verandah entry; and
- a front vestibule with small tower above.
- The original verandah posts have disappeared together with the original very ornate timber verandah brackets.
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- The dining room, a bedroom and the drawing room are entered off the hall.
- The kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms are entered off a large rear vestibule.
- The plan also incorporates a small cellar and there is a trademan's entrance to the kitchen.
- The location of the house is interesting as it is outside the triangle where most of the more important local residences were situated. It was, however, close to the triangle, very close to the tram and faced North over reserves for parklands and civic and public functions.[4]
Statement of Significance
Joseph Duffel Residence aka Duffel House
- The place has aesthetic significance as a particularly fine example of the architectural style typical of the area and period.
- It has historic significance reflecting the development and settlement of the area, and for its associations with former Mayor, Joseph Duffell, a former resident.
History
Built for Joseph Duffell, later Mayor of Subiaco in 1914, designed by Hine & Selby.
- Bricks were from France, brought to Australia as ship's ballast. Folklore has it that the ornate tower, since it had no windows or access, contained treasure. (Ref: AHC documentation; Schlatter, F., A History of Subiaco and A Short Historic Walk Through Subiaco, 1979.)
Perth Suburban Lot 253 was purchased by John Brandon, John Thomas Lawler and Thomas Tate of Sydney in October 1889 and, about six months later, it was transferred to Thomas Read of Sydney, solicitor.
- Read did not develop the 5 acre site and it was on-sold to the Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company of Sydney in October 1897. Building lots in Deposited Plan 1933 began to be sold along the Rokeby Road frontage of PSL 253 from May 1898 and the first sites to be sold along Campbell Street (Lots 31 and 32) were transferred to a new owner in June 1899.
- However, development was slow and the first houses were not built until 1903/04.
- Lots 37, 38 and 39 were sold to William Frederick Robey (a resident of NSW) in March 1903. By 1904, Lot 37 and part Lot 38 had been transferred to Joseph Duffell (butcher) – which was at about the time that he moved to Perth from the eastern states. A house was then designed by Hine & Selby architects and built in 1905-06:
- TO BUILDERS.
- TENDERS are invited for a BRICK VILLA RESIDENCE, At Subiaco, For J. Duffell Eq.
- Tenders to be sent in by noon November 1. The lowest or any Tender not necessarily accepted.
- HINE and SELBY. Architects. Queen's Buildings.
Research by others has concluded that it was constructed by local builders, Totterdell Brothers.
- By July 1905 Joseph Duffell had commenced work as the attorney and manager for Harrison San Miguel (Cork Merchants). Approximately four years later he acquired the Western Australian branch of this company and established the firm of Duffell & Sons, Wine & Spirits Merchants.
- Joseph Duffell served as a councilor (1906-1911) and Mayor of Subiaco (1912- 1914). He then went on to represent the Metropolitan Suburban Province in the Legislative Council from 1914 to 1926.
- Joseph lived at 135 Hamersley Road with his wife, Mary, and, during the early years at least, their three children - John (born 1884), Harold (born 1891) and Ruby (born 1895). During this period the house was known as “Ambeena”. He moved away from Hamersley Road at about the time of his wife’s death in January 1919, later settling in Cottesloe.
The house was then occupied by Ernest Terry (a senior, and later head-brewer with the Emu Brewing Company), followed by Frederick Synnott (a wool
classer). By the late 1920s the name of the house had been changed to “Canberra”, as referenced in the following newspaper article:
- Mrs. Margaret Synnott gave a reception at her home, “Canberra,” 135 Hamersley-road, Subiaco, last Sunday evening to Count and Contessa Filippini and some of the principals of the company. [Contessa Filipini was conductor of the Western Australian Grand Opera Company)
The next long-term resident was William Murphy (a manufacturer), who settled here with his wife, Barbara, in 1933.
- The 1943 electoral roll also listed their sons, Robert Frederick Murphy (a traveller) and William Richard Murphy (a bank officer).
- William (snr) died in 1947 and Barbara was the only member of the family still listed at this address in 1949, after which she returned to NSW (where she had been born and married).
Occupants of the property from its time of construction until c.1949 included:
- 1906-1918 Joseph Duffell, manager Harrison San Miguel (Cork Merchants) and later proprietor of Duffell & Sons,Wine & Spirits Merchants
- 1919-1924 Ernest William Terry, brewer (Emu Brewing Company)
- 1925-1929 Frederick Arthur Synnott, wool-classer
- 1930 Vacant
- 1931-1933 Hugo Victor Parrant, dyer
- 1933-c.1949 William Charles Murphy, manufacturer
From - City of Subiaco- Campbell-Union-Street-Heritage-Area-Assessment
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| 135 Hamersley Road Subiaco from the corner of the site |
Physical Description
(based on external inspection only) Source as above
135 Hamersley Road is typical of the Federation Queen Anne style in its picturesque and asymmetrical form and detailing.
- Key elements representing this style include the:
- Complex ensemble of varied roof shapes, clad with slate tiles and terracotta ridge capping;
- Decorative tower element; This features a pyramidal roof with convex roof planes and a decorative iron finial. Below the roof there is a deep moulded cornice with a curved face - decorated with Art Nouveau flower forms, flanking a central shield.
- Two, prominent triangular gables facing the street, with rough-cast rendered faces and centrally located, moulded, decorative elements; • Tall chimneys with terracotta pots;
- Complex, stepped façade; The section closest to the street is the western wing, which has a shallow, rectangular window bay under the main roof gable. This then steps back to the entry vestibule, which is located under the tower, with the door facing east (rather than north towards the street).
Both of these sections are faced by the front verandah, which ends immediately east of the tower. The eastern end of the front façade features another rectangular, window bay under the second roof gable. - Tuck-pointed face brick walls; These feature a moulded string course at window sill height and a plain string course at about 1.8m above the floor level. They also feature a rockfaced stone plinth.
- Banks of casement windows with curved timber heads and multi-paned highlights;
The bank of casement windows at the western end of the main façade (under the front verandah) has a curved, rendered head and a deep, rendered, under-sill panel.
The bank of casement windows at the eastern end of the main façade is set under a bull-nosed awning - Pair of narrow, vertically proportioned, accent windows to the entry vestibule; These have semi-circular heads and wide rendered surrounds, and are set over a continuous projecting sill and decorative under-sill panel. Both are set with Art Nouveau style stained glass.
- Wide verandahs with fluted square timber posts and decorative timber brackets;
A particular feature of this verandah is the barrel-roofed section, which leads from the entry steps to the main entrance.
This is off-set from the tower element and is a prominent element within the streetscape. - The front boundary of the site is defined by a low limestone wall with tall face brick piers and infill panels of closely spaced timber pickets. Together with the mature trees and shrubs in the yard, these limit views of the verandah area from the street.
However, the roof and verandah forms retain the prominence of the building within the streetscape. - Based on a streetscape inspection the building appears has been extensively renovated and is in good condition.
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| Verandah of 135 Hamersley Road Subiaco |
- Certificate of Title Volume 30, Folio 201
- City of Subiaco Rate Books (information provided by the City of Subiaco, April 2014)
- Western Australian Post Office Directories (www.slaw.wa.gov.au)
- Electoral Rolls (Ancestry.com.au) • Family trees (Ancestry.com.au)
- The West Australian 21 October 1905 • The West Australian 11 December 1906 p 3 • The Daily News 19 March 1918 p 4 • Sunday Times 17 April 1927 p 33 • The West Australian 11 March 1936 p 23
- Various other newspaper notices and advertisements relating to 135 Hamersley Road and/or the occupants of the house (trove.nal.gov.au) • Subiaco Heritage Trail plaque, 135 Hamersley Road • Australian Heritage Database (http://www.environment.gov.au/cgibin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=10418)
General References
- City of Subiaco - Local Government Inventory Place Record
- City of Subiaco- Campbell-Union-Street-Heritage-Area-Assessment
- Sale Notice, Listing and photographs
- West Australian - Steeped in history -Kaitlin Shawcross Tuesday, 30 May 2017
- WA Heritage Council - Joseph Duffel Residence
- Australian Heritage - Joseph Duffel Residence
Appendix
Members of the Parliament of Western Australia[1]
| Member Name |  | Joseph Duffell |
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| Birth | Date Circa 1862 Place England, United Kingdom | |
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| Arrival in W.A. | | 1905 |
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| Parents | | John, saddler and moulder, and Eliza |
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| Marriage and Family | | Married 25 December 1883, North Harborne Parish Church (Church of England), England to Mary Jane Tandy (born circa 1863), daughter of John and Emma Underhill Children: two sons and one daughter Widowed 6 January 1919 |
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| Death | Place St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia | |
| Date 28 February 1936 Cause of Death ? Cemetery Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia | ||
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| Religion | | Presbyterian |
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| Occupation | | Businessperson |
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| Employment History | | Warehouseman in Smethwick, England, 1883 Merchant, founded firm of cork importers and vinegar manufacturers, Perth |
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| House | | MLC |
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| Local Government Service | | Subiaco Municipal Council December 1906–1913 Mayor 1913–1915 |
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| Party | | Liberal to 1917 then National |
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| Date Elected | | 22 May 1914 |
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| Inaugural Speech | | |
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| Valedictory Speech | | |
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| Year Retired/Resigned | | 1926 |
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| Electorate | | Metropolitan-Suburban |
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| Parliamentary Service | | Electorates
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| References | | D Black and G Bolton, eds, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia: volume one 1870-1930, Parliamentary History Project, p. 68. |
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