Heritage Houses of New Junction 24 Keane Street

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 its planned 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 Keane Street was formally subdivided in 1912 but homes had been constructed prior to this date.  Keane Street was named in honour of Edward Vivian Harvey Keane, civil engineer for the Midland Railway Company. This house was previously designated as 8 Keane Street.

From research supplied by local historians and readily available sources, this residence was built in 1907.  Given the similarity of form and remaining detail it is probable this residence and the two adjacent at 20 and 22 Keane Street were constructed at the same time by the same builder as a small scale property development.  This was not an unusual practice in metropolitan Perth in the early 20th century. It is probable the houses were originally face brick on the external facades with red corrugated iron roofs. No detail of the builder or architect has been found in this research.

The first occupants were John Bracestead Wilsmore (c1877-1964) and his wife Lily Jane Perryman (c1873-1956). The couple had married in 1902 and when they moved to this house they had three children and their fourth was born at this house.  The Wilsmores lived at this place until 1911 and in 1912 the Robertson family, consisting of George a locomotive fitter, his wife Beatrice Isabella Marion, nee Holbrook (c1887-1967) moved into the home until c1915.  The change of occupants suggest this place was owned by an absentee landlord. 

During the 1920s and early 1930s the place was occupied by baker Charles Ambrose O'Loughlin (c1888-1967) and his wife Mary.  Later the couple move to 18 Keane Street (now demolished). During the 1930s and 1940s, the place is occupied by a series of tenants.

A survey of the property prepared in 1939 for the purpose of planning water and sewerage services and aerial photographs since the mid 20th century indicate the place has changed minimally since that time. The most significant addition is the skillion roofed addition was extended and the roof cladding has been changed from red corrugated iron to galvanised iron.

Statement of Significance:

The place has aesthetic value as a modest example of Federation era form and detail.

The place has historic value for its association with the establishment and development of Midland in the early 20th century.

This place and the adjacent houses at 20 and 22 Keane Street have historic value for their association with small scale development which was common in the early 20th century.

The place has social value as a demonstration of the form and scale of housing for working families in the early 20th century.

Management Category:  Category 3 Some/Moderate

This is an extract from the Local Heritage Survey Place Record Form.  For the full Place Record Form  please visit www.newjunction.com.au/about/heritagehousesof newjunction