8 Fullagar Road, Wentworthville  

War Service Homes Group
Inter-War bungalow
Constructed: 1920
Listings: Holroyd Heritage Study 1993; Holroyd Heritage Review 1998; Heritage Conservation Area 2 - Fullagar Road Conservation Area; RAIA Register of Twentieth Century Buildings of Significance

Statement of Significance

The Fullagar Road War Service Homes Group has local and state significance as the largest and most intact representative example of Inter-War service homes and provides evidence of contemporary social and architectural attitudes to housing service personnel in the years immediately following WWI.

The buildings are significant individually and as a group as fine and largely intact examples of Inter-War Georgian style constructed in quality materials with good layouts and style. This group is one of the earliest War Service Homes estates so far to the west of Sydney and one of the few groups which were constructed in this distinctive style.

Recommendations

This group of War Service Homes should be retained intact on the LEP. The group is significant for the integrity and quality of the style, form and detailing of the buildings and their integrity as a group. There should therefore be no redevelopment within the group which impacts on this integrity particularly from the streetscape quality. There should be no roof additions allowed or any modifications which alters either the visible facades or the form or fabric of the roofs.

Those buildings in the group which are face brick should remain unpainted or unrendered. There should be no modifications to either the classical detailing or fenestrations to the front of the buildings. Additions could be allowed at the rear of the houses but proposals should be consistent with the character of the building and existing fabric.

Description

The subject building is a single storey face brick 1920s Inter-War bungalow forming part of the War Service Homes Group of 6-38 Fullagar Road, Wentworthville. The group has two distinct styles - rendered or face brick with classical style details, or face brick with Federation style details. The subject house has a single hipped roof of terracotta tiles with a wide hipped verandah at the front, which is an extension of the main although at a lower pitch.Original exposed rafters have been enclosed in fibro boxed eaves.

The verandah is supported by four rendered classical style columns, similar to other houses in the Group. There is no chimney evident. A symmetrical front façade has a central entrance with a modern timber and glass panelled door and aluminium security screen, and pairs of timber framed multi-paned casement windows on either side. Window openings have painted concrete lintels and bullnose profile brick sills.

A sympathetic addition at the rear has similar face brick and timber casement windows, and is an extension of the main roof. A skillion verandah extends around the rear south eastern corner. A driveway on the western side leads to a small hipped garage of face brick and terracotta tiles. Located on a large suburban block, the property has retained its original subdivision boundaries. To the east and west are similar 1920s Inter-War bungalows.

Modifications / Condition

Largely intact and in good condition. Extension at the rear south eastern corner is of similar face brick and terracotta tile construction and includes skillion verandah. Extension constructed between 1990-1992 and pergola in 1992.

History

The subject property formed part of the 1065 acre Government Domain which was subdivided into 20 and 50 acre allotments from 1859. In 1859 William Fullagar purchased over 37 acres between Fullagar Road, the Great Western Highway, Toongabbie Creek and Bridge Road. Fullagar purchased extensive tracts in the present day Westmead and Wentworthville, particularly during the subdivision of the Government Domain. In 1920 the land along Fullagar Road was subdivided and purchased by the War Service Homes Commission, and the present property boundaries were formed.

The Commission was established in 1919 specifically to construct houses and provide loans at low interest rates for returned soldiers. The Commission purchased large areas of land in suburban Sydney during and after the war, and by 1920 a group scheme on Fullagar Road had been completed.

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