There are only a handful of houses built in Northam around the time of Australia's Federation of States that showcase magnificent architectural features characteristic of the era. Most of those houses are located in or close to Gordon Street.
It has been said that; "These Gentlemen's Villas built for professional and other local business men helped establish the character of the street as a desired place of residence." Today the Shire of Northam has adopted the street into its Heritage Precinct to conserve and enhance the cultural significance and character of the area.
Those few houses have features such as prominent corbelled chimneys, gabled roof design with timber facia detailing, panelled front entry doors framed in stained glass sidelights and highlights and dark, random coursed stone walls with contrasting redbrick quoins, sash windows to floor level. It goes without saying that interiors feature 13' high ceilings with fancy cornices, fire places, jarrah floor boards, generous room dimensions.
It is thought that construction of 70 Gordon Street was commissioned by the Baptist Church in 1905 which might explain why the fourth bedroom has a separate exterior door allowing members' access to church meetings. It's also believed the foundation stones of the house were quarried from the property's block.
The house comprises four bedrooms, lounge with bay window, folding doors that expand the lounge into the dining room, a traditional long passage from front to rear, large walk-in pantry off the passage near the kitchen's door, remodelled kitchen with oak timber cupboards where one section of the cabinetry is a corner office station, bathroom with toilet, another toilet off the laundry, enclosed back verandah with a small workshop/work bench at the far end.
The focal point of the exterior must be the less-than-seven-years-old lockup double garage built in the same character as the house and of such good quality than 'grandma' could almost reside out there. There's a patio that could be used as a double carport if needed and an older single lockup garage/store shed. The earth below the fourth bedroom is excavated forming a cellar with door to the yard and decommissioned door to the kitchen.
The house is set well back from the front boundary alignment and there are views to Mt Ommanney from the rear of the enormous 2,592sqm block which is securely fenced, has rear laneway access and only one adjoining neighbour.
There's ducted evaporative air conditioning, room heaters in kitchen and lounge, gas stove and hot water heating, 7 panel solar PV array.
This is a rare opportunity to capture a piece of Northam's history. Steve Hill and Lara Turnbull would love to walk you through this home. Call us any time.
