36 Devon Road, Claremont

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1961

Overview

Ornate two-storey weatherboard house with corrugated iron gabled roof. There is an oriel window on the side elevation. Both upper and lower rooms on the right jut forward and both have bay windows with bull-nosed iron shades supported by decorative brackets.The remaining front section features a verandah with end and lower front enclosed. The balcony above, supported by wooden corbells, is partially enclosed . All gables have turned finials and there are two double chimneys, each with three chimney pots. There is a simple open picket fence in front of the house which appears slightly dilapidated.

Historical information

John McQueen was born in Forfarshire Scotland and worked his way to Australia as a ship's carpenter. He spent some time in Brisbane where he met Harriet Hannah Southgate. They were married in Victoria and four of their children were born there. They left for Western Australia in 1895 where he worked at the Western Australian Government Railway (WAGR) Workshop in Fremantle (later Midland) as a carpenter. He built his family home at 36 Devon Road, Claremont while living in tents on the property with his family. John and his wife Harriet went on to have three baby boys who died in infancy and then three girls (twins) Hettie and Charlotte and Jessie. Upon Johns death, his daughter Charlotte and her husband moved back into the home for several years.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-28--9-92-

Item type

Photographs

Themes

Social History

Inscriptions and markings

In pencil on the rear is [10 AUGUST 1961/ SWANBOURNE, DEVON ROAD 36, WA] and in ink [ 02/10/99 / Hello,/ I am a tourist from Germany. This/ is the first time in Australia/ for me. I took this opportunity to/ visit your house, in which my/ parents used to live in th early/ sixties. They came over to/ Australia in 1961 and lived/ for two years in Swanbourne before/ they went back to Germany. My/ parents took this picture during/ this time and I recognised it/ right away. Unfortunately you haven't/ been at home - I would have liked/ to talk to you./ Regards Jorg Magar/ GERMANY/ SCHEUREN STR.53/ Adress: JORG MAGAR 40215 DUSSELDORF]

Year

1961

Geotag

-31.976614625676, 115.77020980914

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Links to additional resources

Claremont Museum.