85 Fraser Street (map)

ARCHITECTURE

Interwar, Bungalow Porch House with Federation Influences -Now Demolished

RESIDENTS

The vacant 1/4 acre block was purchased on 7 March 1945 for 100 pounds. The Federation style house was completed in 1947 for the cost of 1,100 pounds by builders R. Bracks & Son of 12 DeLisle Street, North Fremantle.  The owners were Albert Richard Barrett (1920 – 2013) & Lorna Winifred Barrett (nee Hughes) (1924 – 1986). Final payment was made on the 20th August, 1946, with 1d (one penny) stamp duty.  After WWll materials and labour were in short supply so they may have jumped the queue a little by saying a few would live there; the final invoice saying: "We agree to live with the applicant A. Barrett when his house is completed at Fraser St., East Fremantle until building material is more available".  The initials GB, VB, & SB appear on the bottom- George and Violet Barrett (parents) and Sylvia Barrett (sister). Albert’s war service may have also given priority. 

There was a small allocation of bricks, which was used for the toilet only.  The original plan consisted of kitchen, dining, lounge room and 2 bedrooms, Laundry & WC, and enclosed verandah and workshop (Store room), a ‘sleepout’ or study was also included, sometime later, this was converted into a 3rd bedroom with the roof line altered (circa 1960’s).  A single car garage was added in 1956. Situated in the western corner of the yard was a Southern Cross Windmill which was erected in the late 1950s.  By 2014 the windmill was long gone but the 1’ wide hole still remained with a cover on it.

My father, Albert Barrett worked his entire life at the Great Southern Roller Flour Mills at North Fremantle.  Dad started in 1935, age 14 as an office boy and worked until his retirement in 1982 – 47 years in the one job which is something quite unique these days.  The Great Southern was state of the art flour mill built in 1922, with electric power to run the machinery; it is still a working flour mill today, although it is now Allied Mills.  The red dingo (originally black) stood looking out to sea and is a well known landmark, although the image was blanked out during the war.  The mill is now heritage listed.   

Albert lived at this house until his death in 2013, when it was sold and the house demolished. Stephen Carrick Architects Pty Ltd made a comprehensive report in 2014 for the new owner, Don Wanigasikara-Mohotti.   

By a strange co-incidence the new house at 87 Fraser Street painted the sign of the Red Dingo on their fence. (see photo)

Kind regards Marcia van der Merwe (nee Barrett), Kangaroo Island.

Sonia Barrett:. I’ve passed this on to my 3 kids and grandkids. Many generations played at that house!

Sherryn McBride: Sonia Barrett -I remember delicious cream sponges decorated with red jelly cubes for your birthday parties

Lee Evelegh: WOW! Mrs Hughes looked after us when we were kids. She was amazing and we adored her.