17 Allen Street — Streets of East Freo

ARCHITECTURE

Singapore Cedar Bungalow, containing spacious hall and four fine lofty rooms, two of which are 19ft. x 15ft and two 17ft x 15ft., all solidly lath and plastered. Also kitchen, bathroom, and two small bedrooms. The verandahs are 7ft. wide and partly enclosed with jarrah lattice. There is a detached washhouse, with copper and rainwater tank. Electric light and gas connected, and the house is sewered.

HISTORY

1906 Perth Business Directory. Perth-Fremantle Steam Transit Co. S.S. Eclipse Leaving daily, with cargo. Receiving Stores at Wharf. Fremantle Agent: D. J. Gruer. Phone 568. Cargo received from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Perth, Fremantle and Suburbs. (reference)
1908 Mr. D. J. Gruer, of 30 Cliff-street, Fremantle, undertakes cartage from the customs, contract work, or the removal of household furniture. If you want anything in those lines ring up 568. (reference)
1917 Claim For Union Contributions. A Fremantle Case. In the Fremantle Local Court yesterday morning, before Mr. E.P. Dowley, LRM., D. J. Gruer, represented by Mr. J. David Moss, was charged by the Master Carters' Union of Employers with having failed to pay his annual contributions and special levy to the union, of which he was a member... The president of the union (P. J. Hevron) submitted the rules of the organisation. He stated that on November 15, 1915, a meeting of the members of the union was held at which… for some time defendant was on the committee of management of the union, but in view of the non-payment of his contributions he was no longer a member of the union. He had not resigned. E. R. Bastin, secretary of the plaintiff union, stated that defendant owed certain moneys to the union. The claim was made up as follows: Annual contributions, 4 teams at 10s. per team, £2; special levy, 4 teams at 5s., £1. total £3. The dues mentioned were for the year 1916, during which period defendant was a member of the union, and were collectable under the rules of the organisation...Mr. Moss then entered the contention that as the rules as amended had not been registered they were invalid, and. consequently the plaintiffs were not entitled to claim contributions under the amended rule. Mr. Dowley supported the defence, and dismissed the plaint. (reference)
1919 Strayed, Shetland Pony Mare, dark brown, ears clipped last seen Bibra Lake; reward. Gruer, Allen st., East Fremantle. (reference)
1920 Death on November 22, David John Gruer, dearly-beloved husband of Clara Beatrice Gruer, and father of Herbert, Clara, and Nellie, of Allen-street, East Fremantle; aged 53 years. (reference)...The Friends of the late Mr. David John Gruer, master carrier, of Fremantle, are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, the Church of England Cemetery, Karrakatta. The Funeral will leave his late residence, corner of Canning-road and Allen-street, East Fremantle...(reference) Mr. David John Gruer, one of Fremantle's best known master carriers, passed away on the 22nd inst, in his 54th year. The deceased was born at Kamerooka, Victoria, where he had farming interests prior to coming to Western Australia some 27 years ago. He resided in Fremantle for most of his 27 years' residency in this State, and was probably one of the Port's first master carriers. Mr. Gruer was a member of the Master Carriers' Association, Pride of the West Lodge, No. 2 P.A.F.S., Boronia Lodge, No. 42 W.A.C., and the Orient Lodge, No. 4 G.S.B.A., R.A.O.B. A widow and a young family of one son and two daughters survive him... The chief mourners were Mrs. D. J. Gruer (wife), Herbert Gruer (son), and Clara and Nellie Gruer (daughters)...The pall-bearers were ...E. Bastin (secretary) J. J. O'Sullivan,and T. Daly (of Fremantle Master Carriers' Association)...(reference)
1921 Letters of Administration. David John Gruer (died 23rd October, 1920), late of Fremantle, to Clara Beatrice Gruer, of Fremantle, £350. (reference)

1921 Mrs Gruer owned 4 lots- facing 208 Canning Highway and 17 Allen St

1921 Auction At Fremantle Town Hall- Splendid Tiled Roof Jarrah Bungalow. Three Magnificent Building Blocks, Canning-Road and Allen Street East Fremantle… have received instructions from Mrs. D. J. Gruer...the undermentioned property, being portions of the Woodside Estate: A. Lot 3, with 180 links to Allen st. by 200 links deep, on which is erected a fine Jarrah Bungalow, with tiled roof, containing 4 large rooms. l. and p. throughout, and 2 small rooms, with 8ft. verandah all around. B. Lot 1, with 94.3 links to Canning road by a depth of 289 links, a vacant block., C. Lot 2, with 209.7 links to Canning road and 186.6 links to Allen st, a corner block, D. Lot 4, with 115 links to Allen st. by a depth of 290 links, a vacant block...This is one of the most valuable properties in East Fremantle, the position being unsurpassed. Owing to circumstances, Mrs. Gruer is most anxious to realise and an opportunity is therefore given to buyers that should not be allowed to pass… (reference)
1921 Theft. John Douglas Trigg, a middle-aged man, denied a charge alleging that he had at Fremantle, on April 1 taken the sum of £5 the property of Clara Gruer, by whom he was then employed. The Bench found the charge proved. Sentence of one month's imprisonment was imposed. (reference)
1921 Between J. M. Drummond and Co. and Mrs. Clara Gruer. The Bailiff will Sell by Public Auction, in the Supper Room, Town Hall Fremantle (upstairs), on Tuesday, June 23, all the Defendant's Right, Title and Interest in the following land (unless the Warrant be previously satisfied)... (reference)
1924 Death on May 31, at the Grosvenor Hospital, Fremantle, Dorothy, the dearly beloved and only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mark Clayton, of Allen-street, East Fremantle; aged 6 years and 9 months. (reference) The Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mark Clayton, Chief Officer s.s. Kangaroo, and of Allen-street. East Fremantle, are respectfully invited to follow the remains of their late dearly-beloved only daughter, Dorothy, to the place of interment, the Anglican portion of the Fremantle Cemetery. (reference)
1924 Captain C. M. Clayton, owing to his departure for Singapore, to Offer for Sale by Public Auction as above: Part of Lot. 1 of Swan Locations 72 and 827, with a frontage of approximately 99ft. to Allen-street by a depth of 132ft. The improvements comprise a magnificently built Singapore Cedar Bungalow, containing spacious hall and four fine lofty rooms, two of which are 19ft. x 15ft. and two 17ft. x 15ft., all solidly lath and plastered. Also kitchen, bathroom, and two small bedrooms. The verandahs are 7ft. wide and partly enclosed with jarrah lattice. There is a detached washhouse, with copper and rainwater tank. Electric light and gas connected, and the house is sewered. The situation of this property is very fine, and the workmanship in the building has been pronounced by experts to be extraordinarily good. The timber of which it is built is practically everlasting and quite immune to the attacks of white ants. The house has recently been renovated and is in a perfect condition. Terms: £300 cash. (reference)
1927 Vehicle Transfer. 5082: From F. S. Grosser to I. Potter, 17 Allen-street, East Fremantle, Oldsmobile. (reference)
1933 Boy Electrocuted. Fatal Climb on Roof. In the Fremantle Police Court yesterday, before the Deputy-Coroner, (Mr. G. F Payne) an inquiry was conducted into the death of Peter Kenneth Broun (5) who was electrocuted at 17 Allen-street, East Fremantle, on January 4. Dr. F. H.U. Baker said that about 4.45 p.m. on January 4 he was called to 17 Allen-street, which is next door to his own house. He saw the child lying on the roof near the electric wire...The Deputy-Coroner returned a finding of accidental death, no blame being attached to anyone. (reference)
1938 Short Wave Amateur News: VK6ZO, who is interested in telephony on the 14 m.c. band, and has contacted some of our local stations with it, is Ted Potter, of 17 Allen street, East Fremantle, Western Australia. He is a member of the Wireless Institute of that State, and of the Subiaco Radio Society (W.A.)... (reference)
1947 Death of Capt. C. M. Clayton, a former member of the pilot service at Fremantle, died at the Fremantle Hospital on Monday after an illness of about five weeks. Capt. Clayton was well known in shipping circles in this State. He joined the State Shipping Service in 1917 and in 1924 went to Singapore, where he was wharf superintendent until 1936. He then returned to Western Australia and early in the war joined the Royal Australian Navy as a commissioned officer in the Naval Control Office at Fremantle. He was later attached to the United States Navy as a liaison officer. After the war he joined the pilot service and later became a marine cargo surveyor at Fremantle. (reference)