73 Duke Street — Streets of East Freo

ARCHITECTURE

Late Victorian / Early Federation / Georgian Influences

No. 73 (previously was no. 165) Duke Street is a single-storey house in random course limestone and brick construction with a hipped ‘M’ format corrugated iron roof. It is a simple expression of the Federation Bungalow style. The front elevation is symmetrically planned with a central door flanked by windows. The facade features a full-width bull-nosed roofed verandah on timber posts.

HISTORY

1920 Kalamunda Disaster. Any friends or well-wishers of the victims in the above disaster who wish to contribute towards the East Fremantle effort in aid of same can send their mite either to Mrs. D. Hicks, 165 Duke-street, East Fremantle, or to the treasurer, Mr. Will C. Sweet, secretary East Fremantle R.S.L. (reference)
1927 Winning number Wristlet Watch. No. 318. Won by J. Brady, 165 Duke-street, East Fremantle. (reference)
1935 Death on January 21, at his residence, 165 Duke-street, East Fremantle, Francis Thomas, dearly beloved husband of Davina, beloved father of Francis Thomas John and Margaret Davina (Peggy), loved brother of Ernest, Robert, Florence (Mrs. Lemons), Queenie (Mrs Welby), and Opie (deceased); fond son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. J. Brady; aged 55 years. (reference)
1938 Death on October 22, at 165 Duke-street, East Fremantle, Margaret Ann Brady, beloved wife of John Brady, loved mother of Davina (Mrs. Hicks), grandmother of Frank, Peggy and Jessie, and great-grandmother of Loris Joy; aged 82 years. (reference)
1942 Death on June 19, at 73 Duke-street, East Fremantle, John Brady, widower of the late Margaret Brady, loved father of Davina Hicks, loved grandfather of Frank and Peggy (Mrs. Harken), fond great-grandfather of Loris and Allan; aged 83 years. (reference)

1953 - 1955 ‘‘I used to knock around with a John Harken who lived down the street from me at 73 Duke Street. I think John might have been a year or two older than me, so I suppose you might say he was the “ringleader”. I can remember playing in boats that were moored to the jetties down on the river, having old chaps roaring at us to get out of the boats. I don’t know about John, but I couldn’t swim and it also beats me as to how we crossed Canning Highway… Another one of our jaunts/escapades was taunting the “prop men” who meandered down Marmion Street. The “prop men” were usually down on their luck types, troubled returned servicemen, vagrants and some would just say “bums” who used to hawk these cut down trees of about 2 to 2½ metres in length for ladies to prop up their washing line so that the drying laundry wouldn’t drag in the dirt. As they usually had a few of these props on their backs/shoulders they couldn’t do much to the little rag tags taunting them and running around them yelling out “Prop man”, “Prop man” as they’d lose their load…John Harken’s father (Allen Matthew Harken; wife Margaret Divina Harken) could have been a train driver/railway employee or a Prison Warder…” correspondence from Raymond Morris 2019.