ARCHITECTURE
No 5 Bolton Street is a single storey rendered limestone and rendered brick house with a hipped tiled roof. The lot falls away toward the rear of the property. A two storey extension has been constructed to the rear. It is a fine expression of the Federation Queen Anne style. The front elevation is asymmetrically planned with a thrust bay and a full width return hip roofed verandah. The verandah is supported on stop chamfered timber posts with a decorative frieze. The verandah and its details are a replacement. A vertical timber balustrade spans between the posts. A section of the return verandah on the west elevation has been enclosed. The thrust bay features a bay window with double hung sash windows. There is central door and hopper light flanked by sidelights and double hung sash windows. Walls are rendered limestone with render brick quoins. The lower rendered sections are later modifications. A particular feature of the house is its richly decorative roofscape with elaborate render capped chimneys. The place retains its form and most of its details.
HISTORY
Edmund Harry Gray (1878 –1964) was an Australian trade unionist and politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1923 to 1952, representing West Province. Gray arrived in South Australia from England in 1898. In 1910 he moved to Western Australia, and moved to Fremantle, becoming a tally clerk on the Fremantle Wharf. Gray served on the East Fremantle Municipal Council from 1927 to 1946 and during this time was elected to the Legislative Council on four occasions (in 1926, 1932, 1938, and 1946). He lived at 5 Bolton Street, East Fremantle from 1926-1954.
The E H Gray Infant Health Centre is named after him.
1933 Public Notice. Notice is hereby given that as more Candidates have been nominated than are required up fill the Extraordinary Vacancy for the Owners Representative's seat on the Fremantle Municipal Tramways and Electric Lighting Board, an election by ballot will be Held in the town hall East Fremantle, 1938...The Candidates nominated are Gordon, Robert, of View-terrace, East Fremantle, Orchardist, and Gray, Edmund Harry, of Bolton-street, East Fremantle... (reference)
1936 Applications are invited for the Position of Bandmaster to the Fremantle City Band, up to Saturday, June 13. Applications, together with copies of testimonials, experience, etc. should be forwarded to the undersigned at 5 Bolton-street, East Fremantle, from whom particulars as to salary etc. can be obtained. E. L. Gray, Honorary Secretary. (reference)
1946 Nominations for the 1946 Legislative Council West Province Gray, Edmund Harry, legislator, 5 Bolton Street, East Fremantle. (reference)
1954 Death on Nov. 2, at Royal Perth Hospital, Ted Gray, loving husband of Mary, loving father of Lynette, Edmund and baby Dennis, step-father of John: aged 47 years. Rest in peace. Ted, dearly loved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Gray, of 5 Bolton-street, East Fremantle, Ted, dearly loved brother of Syd, of Francis (Mrs. W. F.Shea)…Goodbye Blue- From members of the Police Transport Branch. (reference)
RESIDENTS
1909 - 1924: Payne, William A. (P. Humble)
1925: Vacant- was Hill St up until 1926
1926 - 1941: Gray, Edmund Harry
1941 - 1964: Gray, Hon. Edmund H. M.L.C.
