21 Moss Street — Streets of East Freo

ARCHITECTURE

Federation / Inter-War / Inter-War Bungalow

No 21 Moss Street is a single storey house constructed in rendered brick with a hipped and gable corrugated iron roof. It is a good expression of the Inter-War Bungalow style. It is asymmetrically composed with a full width return hip roofed verandah. The verandah is supported on pairs of timber posts. A central gable is featured over the verandah. There is a pair of central doors flanked by sets of casement windows. The entry door is located under the return verandah and addresses the street.

HISTORY

1912 By the death of Mr. J. A. E. Humble, which occurred at his residence East Fremantle, Fremantle has lost one of her foremost and best respected citizens... The deceased gentleman, who was a son of Major George Bland Humble, was born in Fremantle in 1857. He received his first education at the port, and later was a scholar at the Geelong Grammar School in Victoria. At the age of 15 he entered the service of the National Bank of Australasia, and after filling various positions was finally appointed accountant in the Perth office. He remained with the bank until 1895. In that year he left the service, and together with Mr. W.A. Payne, he established the firm of Payne and Humble, accountants and Customs agents, at Fremantle. Mr. Payne was a fellow-worker of Mr. Humble in the bank service. The partnership existed right up to the time of the latter's decease. Mr. Humble enjoyed the esteem of a vast number of friends. He was associated with several organisations during his career, and though of a somewhat retiring disposition, his unfading courtesy and generous nature won for him a large measure of popularity. For many years he was an active member of the Fremantle Rifle Volunteers and was one of its most notable shots. When he retired several years ago he occupied the rank of Major. As the secretary to the Fremantle Building Society, Mr. Humble came into contact with hundreds of people, and in this, as in his other business connections, he was ever of a nature courteous and likeable. The bowling world, too, will suffer a loss through his decease. He was a member of the East Fremantle and Fremantle Bowling Clubs. He also took an active part in the affairs of St. John's Church. A widow and three children survive him. (reference)
1934 Two burglaries were reported to the Fremantle detective office yesterday morning. In the second case, a house at 21 Moss-street, East Fremantle, was entered, a fly screen being removed from a side window, during the absence of the occupants between 7.45 and 10 p.m. Jewellery, valued about £8, including brooches and sleeve links, the property of James Porter, was stolen. (reference)
1940 Death. A well-known and highly respected citizen of Fremantle, Mr. James Henry Porter, principal of Messrs. Porter and Salmon printers. Fremantle, and of 21 Moss-street, East Fremantle, died after a short illness...The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, when a Church of England service was conducted in the crematorium chapel, Karrakatta, by the rector of St. Peter's Church, East Fremantle (Rev. W. K. Elphick)... (reference)
1945 Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of 179 Egan street, Kalgoorlie, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter, Laurel Margaret, to Robert Charles (R.A.A.F.), only son of Flight Lieutenant and Mrs. R. McKenzie, of 21 Moss street, East Fremantle. (reference)