Village Green Townhouses

My client wanted to build a house for his mother, where she could enjoy safely living within the local community with which she was very connected. Neil carried out feasibility studies and together with the client resolved that the site could accommodate not one but three such dwellings that would provide not only for my client’s mother but would also serve as an investment. With the major resolution of the development resolved, Neil then engaged with the client’s mother, Olive, for the detailed design requirements of what would best serve Olive.

In what was a very walkable neighbourhood to almost everything that Olive needed to access, the accommodation of cars was not a priority. What was important was a master bed and all living spaces on the ground floor without steps. Some connection to the outside world would be nice with a primary school and playing fields across the road.

Originally, the area around Jualbup Lake (Shenton Park Lake) was a favourite gathering place for Aboriginal people. Noongar people, who knew the place as 'Jualbup', meaning 'waterhole for Spring'. (Source: Collections WA, Subiaco Museum).  Shenton Park was originally known in periods post European occupation as West Subiaco. The Rosalie Park (originally spelt Rosalea) land release in the northeast portion of the precinct east of Hensman Road, and the City of Perth Estate (1896) bounded by Commercial, Onslow, Herbert and Aberdare were the first areas to develop. There was also the Subiaco Highlands Estate bounded by Hilda, Onslow, Derby and Aberdare. West Subiaco, like Jolimont, was perceived as isolated from the heart of Subiaco, with most facilities being north of Hamersley Road. 

After 1910, Shenton Park's development was boosted by construction through the Workers' Homes Act 1912. The commercial strip developed along Onslow, and also Nicholson Road, where the Shenton Park Hotel was built in 1907. The Shenton Picture Gardens opposite from 1920s provided local entertainment for many years. 

The Rosalie Primary School opened in 1906. Onslow Road was gazetted by 1883 and named after Sir A C Onslow, Chief Justice. Waylen Road was named after Dr Alfred Waylen, Colonial Surgeon. Derby Road was named after Lord Derby, Secretary for Colonies. Hensman Road was named after Mr A P Hensman, Judge and Attorney General. (Source: DPLH Our Heritage). James Dyson was a sawyer who had used it as a watering place for animals whilst working in the area, and it was frequently used by horses and even camel trains journeying from Perth to Fremantle along the nearby track. In 1877 a speculator named George Shenton (later 3 times Mayor of Perth) bought all the land around the lake, perceiving that subdivision of the land would follow in time and make him handsome profits. The swamp was still a frequent haunt of local Aborigines despite the erection of settlers’ houses nearby.

As water levels rose, by the winter of 1920 the lake had spread over parts of Herbert Road, and Excelsior Street on the east side where there was also a dairy. By then, householders from all parts of Subiaco were actually being encouraged to tip their rubbish into the lake in order to reduce the size of the swamp! Trying to get the water level under control went on until the mid-30s, by when the council announced that “with the finalisation of the drainage scheme, further attention will be given to the improvement and beautification of Shenton Park”.

The Perth region original landscape was one of a series of interconnected wetlands in per-European times. The area around Shenton Park contained wetlands that over time were filled in, often used to dump rubbish as rubbish tips until they were completely gone or simply reduced in their size and disconnected from one another.

These wetland areas are found in the troughs between the high points of the land mass. These high and low points run in a north / south orientation as they are the former dune systems of ancient shorelines.

The design has optimised the site into three two story town houses with parking accessed from the rear laneway and guest access form the street frontage via the front courtyard. Each town house has a front court entertaining area, a central courtyard entertaining area and separate drying court. The accommodation of each townhouse is the same with a master bedroom and ensuite at ground floor as a single-story component allowing more light and ventilation through each townhouse and those of the neighbours. The two-story component has kitchen, dining and living spaces at ground floor and two bedrooms and a bathroom at the first floor.

Each townhouse is only 5.0-meters wide which required efficient planning to make the project the success that it is having been the recipient of the 2003 R.A.I.A. Architecture Design Award Commendation. The perceived spaciousness within the living areas is quite incredible, with guests marvelling at the achievement when they are told that the town house is only 5-meters wide. 

The maximising of the development into the three townhouses needed to be carefully balanced with the available outdoor space and landscaping. Each townhouse contains deciduous trees to both the front and central courtyard spaces. The articulation of the building mass and ensuring that the rear portion of the townhouses are single story allows excellent cross ventilation and access to light.

Photographer: Robert Frith.

Photo styling by Anna Flanders.