ARCHITECTURE
No 52 Allen Street is a single storey house constructed in rendered brick with a hipped and gabled corrugated iron roof. It is an expression of the Federation Bungalow style. The front elevation is asymmetrically planned with a thrust gable bay and a full width, return verandah. The verandah is set on turned timber posts with a simple timber frieze. The front elevation is dominated by a half-timbered gable over a bay window. The remainder of the house is arranged in a receding plan from the gable bay. There is an offset entry door and hopper light flanked by sidelights and another door and hopper light. There are rendered quoins and the brickwork has been rendered.
HISTORY
1933 The funeral of the late Mr. Edward James Hewitt, of 52 Allen-street, East Fremantle, and of the Fremantle Municipal Tramways, took place in the Church of England portion of the Fremantle Cemetery yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering of friends… Deceased was born in London 66 years ago, and came to this State in 1907, and, for the past 26 years, was employed by the Fremantle Municipal Tramways Board. The cortege moved from the private mortuary of Horace L. Green, High-street. Fremantle, the hearse being heavily laden with beautiful floral tributes. Employees of the Fremantle Municipal Tramways Board preceded the cortege to Parry-street, and from the cemetery gates to the graveside. The late Mr. Hewitt leaves a widow, one daughter, one step-daughter and one step-son to mourn their loss. The chief mourners were Mrs. Marian Hewitt (widow), Joyce (daughter), Mrs. T. D. Bruning (step-daughter), Mr. George Balston (step-son), Mr. T. D. Bruning (son-in-law)... (reference)
‘‘My wife Meagan Moraday (b 1953) resided in this property with her sister Leonie (b 1951 -married McLarty) and her parents from the time of her birth at Woodside Hospital until she married in 1975. Her parents George William Augustus Moraday (Water-side worker) and Eva Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Moraday, nee King, bought the property for 3000 pounds from a Mr Evans (more than likely Ernest who is believed to have continued to own it after vacating in 1930 and who rented the property until 1952 when it was purchased by the Moraday’s).
George was born in Fremantle in 1913 and was educated at CBC Fremantle. As a young man (circa 1940s) he was a projectionist at the Princess Theatre in Market Street Fremantle and screened the first talking movie on the jazz singer Al Jolson. George and Eva married in 1950 and George became a Waterside worker or lumper until he retired circa 1978.
Betty was employed in the office at Barney Silbert’s shoe store in Fremantle prior to her marriage and then predominantly spent her time as a housewife and mother until later in life when she undertook casual work.
Following the deaths of George (1987) and Eva (2005) the home was sold to their granddaughter Kathryn (Kate) Langford (nee McLarty) and her husband Jason Langford in 2008. (correspondence from Robert Cox 2020)
RESIDENTS
1915 - 1920: Ward, Sydney L.
1921 - 1930: Evans, Ernest A. owner until 1952
1931 - 1932: Kemp, Frank
1933 - 1934: Hewitt, Edward J.
1934 - 1935: Hewitt, Mrs Marion & Bruning, T. D.
1935 - 1938: Smith, James W.
1938 - 1941: Steven, John B. (medical practitioner) & Kidd, Mrs A.
1941 - 1942: Vacant
1942 - 1946: Jones, Mrs Lily M.
1947 - 1952: Hurst, John
1952- 2008 George William Augustus and Eva Elizabeth Moraday
