The Residency, Bunbury

The Residency (formerly known as Treverton) is a historic private residence located in Bunbury, Western Australia. It was built during 1896 for William Henry Timperley, the Resident Magistrate of the Wellington Magisterial District. The building is a single storey brick and iron structure, with rendered details and bull nosed verandah and designed in the Victorian Regency style, a typically used Australian residential architectural style of the time. History The residence was constructed on the site of a former blacksmith. Residence for the Resident Magistrate The Residency is believed to have been used as accommodation by successive Resident Magistrates up until the early 1930s. William Henry Timperley (1896 to 1905) The Residency was constructed during 1896 as a private residence for William Timperley, the Resident Magistrate of the Wellington District from 1890 to 1905. Timperley was granted title to the site of The Residency on 6 March 1896 and according to The Bunbury Herald of 19 June 1896, construction commenced in the first half of that year. At the time of construction, Stirling Street was known as White Road and the property was initially named Treverton. Timperley wrote a book in 1899 entitled Harry Treverton: A story of Colonial Life and the properties name Treverton likely derives from this association. An extract from The Bunbury Herald in June 1986 provides some background to the significance of the property's construction at the time: Though, construction of the property for a public servant did stir controversy from some sections of the community as demonstrated by this article in Truth newspaper: The Timperley's were frequently reported in local newspapers to hold social events at the property, including: An afternoon tea with Sir John Forrest (the premier of Western Australia at the time) and his wife Lady Forrest together with local residents in November 1899 A celebration following the Siege of Ladysmith, described as "patriotic" in March 1900 A "grand continental" by The Bunbury Orchestral Society in March 1902 The design of the building has been attributed to architect Robert Balding and construction by building contractor Joseph Hedley. William Lambden Owen (1905 - 1920) Timperley's retirement from the Resident Magistrate position was announced in December 1904 and he was granted a 6-month leave of absence on full pay from 1 January 1905. The Resident Magistrate position was relieved by William Lambden Owen during Timperley's leave, and Owen was subsequently appointed to the role permanently. In 1904, as William Timperley was preparing to leave the role of Resident Magistrate, the Public Works Department privately purchased the property at a cost of £1,500. This coincided with the appointment of William Lambden Owen to the position of Resident Magistrate in January 1905. Records indicate Owen resided at the property with his wife. Renovations were undertaken in 1913 by local contractor C. F. Coles. George Tuthill Wood (1921 to 1923) George Tutthill Wood became the Resident Magistrate of the Wellington District on 14 February 1921 and electoral roll records from 1921 confirm Wood and his family lived at the property. Lionel Lamont Crockett (1923 to c. 1932) Lionel Lamont Crockett became the Resident Magistrate of Bunbury on 26 January 1923 and remained at the property until c. 1932 when he moved to residential accommodation nearby. Youth hostel (1990 - 2001) The Bunbury Arts Council leased The Residency to the Youth Hostel Association for use as backpacker accommodation following an approach by the YHA in March 1989. It is unclear exactly when the property began life as a hostel; what is known is that consent to sublease was provided in September 1989, development approval to undertake works to convert the property to a hostel was granted by the City of Bunbury in July 1990, and a formal lease signed in December 1990. Accommodation for 35 beds was provided (other sources say approval was for 28 beds) and a freestanding ablution and laundry block was constructed at the rear/south of the main building. The YHA lease expired on 1 July 2001 and the Association vacated in June of the same year. Heritage status The property is an important part of the history of Bunbury and has been included in the City of Bunbury's Stirling Street Heritage Precinct (the name was changed in 2019 by the City of Bunbury to the East Bunbury Heritage Area). The property was classified by the National Trust of Australia on 17 October 1980 and given entry on the Register of the National Estate Permanent on 21 October 1980 and the City of Bunbury's Municipal Inventory on 31 July 1996. It was listed on the State Register of Heritage Places on 14 December 2001. References