16 Pearse Street, North Fremantle WA 6159

ORIGINAL LIMESTONE WORKERS COTTAGE

Stroll home from the beach. Relax with a wine in your charming courtyard garden. Then walk down the road for dinner at one of North Fremantle's renowned restaurants or bars, enjoying life from this wonderfully located three bedroom character home.

Built in the 1890s, this original limestone and iron worker's cottage is an integral part of the fabric and history of one of North Fremantle's oldest roads, iconic Pearse Street.
In modern times, Pearse Street is ideal for an easy lifestyle; the pretty, tree-lined street is situated within walking distance to everything you could desire - the beach, river, cafes, bars, dining, transport, childcare, medical facilities, parks and cycle paths.
Coupling its enviable location with its low-care courtyard garden makes this home an ideal residence for downsizers, retirees, couples, young families, or those looking for a seaside lock-up-and-leave as a city base.

The home's land has a history in itself. The block changed hands frequently in the 1880s, owned by multiple notable Fremantle locals including a journalist, a pensioner guard, a clerk of Fremantle, a politician and lastly a shipwright before the duplex was built on the site. The home was then later owned by a councillor and former Mayor of Fremantle, Edward William Davies.

The cottage is a charming example of Victorian Georgian architecture, built as part of a duplex with number 14 next door. Two tall robinia trees shade the footpath and flank the pretty front elevation with a white picket fence, tuckpointed limestone and red brick walls, traditional concrete front veranda and turned posts.
The original front door, surrounded on its sides and above by windows, opens onto a long hallway. Wider than standard for a building of its era; the hallway offers a pleasing blank canvas for art collectors to use as a gallery, or for storage to be added. A ceiling arch with ornate corbels by the front door distinguishes the immediate entry and draws attention to the soaring ceilings, while tall detailed skirting boards add character to the well-maintained honey tone jarrah floorboards. The original internal doors have been retained, with keyholes and brass hardware, their worn timber shows the patina of time.

Branching off the hallway are three spacious original rooms, each offering strong versatility for different purposes. The current owners used the large front room as a comfortable family room yet it could also be a bedroom or home office. An original timber fireplace features classic period tiling.
There are another two spacious bedrooms off the hall - one used as a comfortable master, the other another large room, with a pretty timber fireplace. Both orientated to the north, with tall sash windows, they receive lovely natural light and have high ceilings.

At the back of this home lies the wow factor that makes it feel truly special. At the end of the hallway, many a first-time guest has stopped to admire the charming exposed brick arch, then been delighted by the beautiful space beyond it, an open-plan kitchen, living and dining extension with mezzanine-style loft bedroom above. Added on in 1998, the loft feels as if it could have always been there, yet is invisible from the street.

The bathroom is included in the living extension, a high-ceilinged, light-filled room with a toilet, sink and a bath with shower above, set in front of a large French window.

Double glass and timber European-style doors by the kitchen open up onto the courtyard garden. Open the doors and windows to let in the cooling sea breezes in summer, snuggle into a cosy chair and curl up by the hearth in the winter. The room features a fireplace surround with antique timber mantel to the living space.
The handcrafted kitchen is a delight. The kitchen has a four burner stainless steel Smeg freestanding range, travertine marble floors, timber benchtops with a built-in solid marble slab for baking, a pine ceiling with exposed beams and beautiful French windows that overlook the courtyard garden, filling the kitchen with easterly light in the mornings. Private and retreat-like, the courtyard garden has a big, verdant lemon tree that offers ample shade beneath its branches, with a built-in limestone and timber bench seat beneath.

If entertaining is your thing, this home has lovely bones for doing so, with inviting spaces and a naturally warm, cosy ambience. There is space for a dining setting in the courtyard, where a 30-year-old grapevine climbs up a timber pergola, just begging to be hung with festoon lights for long, slow dinners with family and friends under the stars. In another corner of the garden is a quaint external laundry/store room with sink and plumbing. There is easy access to the back garden along the northern side of the home, with two gates for security.

With its location and lovely atmosphere, this charming old home is looking forward to the next chapter in its story - make it a part of yours.

Features:
• Three large bedrooms with north-facing windows
• Exposed brick arch feature walls
• Original timber fireplaces
• North facing courtyard
• Walk to the beach

Rates & Local Information:
Water Rates: $1021.11 (2021/22)
Zoning: R25
Heritage Listed
Primary School: North Fremantle Primary School
Secondary School: John Curtin College of the Arts, Fremantle College, Melville Senior High School & Shenton College

For more information please contact Sarah Bourke on 0474 310 500.

*PLEASE NOTE while every effort has been made to ensure the given information is correct at the time of listing, this information is provided for reference only and is subject to change.