Houses 51-53 Goderich Street

These two small brick houses at 51-53 Goderich Street, East Perth, were built in 1878 and 1881.  Although they were originally constructed as separate residences, they were later joined by a small linking structure to form a single residence. What is interesting about these pretty cottages is their historic connection to a former convict and the first telegraph message ever sent from the colony.  

Although little is known about who designed and built the houses at 51-53 Goderich Street, what is known is that they were originally built for and owned by James Coates Fleming.  Fleming, born in the UK, was working as a shipbroker merchant when he was convicted of falsehood and forgery and sentenced to 7 years transportation.  At the age of 30, he arrived in Western Australia in 1864 as convict ‘7688’.  Fleming’s wife Emma and his son John shortly after followed him out to Western Australia.  The Flemings lived in Fremantle and then Perth.  Tragically, their two sons born here died in infancy.   

One of Fleming’s first jobs was as a servant school master between 1867 and 1869.  He then worked at the Inquirer and Commercial News owned by Edmund Stirling.  Stirling, who had been lobbying the Western Australian Government for permission to set up a company to build and operate a telegraph line between Perth and Fremantle, discovered that Fleming had acquired telegraphic skills before being transported.  As a result, Fleming was put in charge of supervising the installation of the first telegraph post and on 21 June 1869, Fleming sent the colony’s first telegram message from Governor Bruce to the people of Fremantle, launching WA into a new communications epoch. 

The success of the telegraph line was immediate with shipping and news messages able to be sent and received within minutes unlike the slower methods of horseback, boat and even foot.  Fleming was appointed the first Superintendent of the Western Australian Telegraph Company in 1870 and put in charge of all technical aspects of the telegraph line project.  Within six years telegraph stations had been installed throughout the colony.  By 1877, the telegraph line reached Eucla in South Australia connecting Western Australia not only to the rest of Australia but also to Europe.  

While working on the telegraph line, Fleming was finally granted his Certificate of Freedom in 1871.  In 1878, Fleming’s received the honour of being a nominated member of London Society of Telegraphic Engineers.  With the success of his career, it is not surprising that he was in a position to invest in some real estate.   

The development of East Perth as a residential area was relatively slow and didn’t really take off until the 1870s as Perth’s population increased. East Perth had a mix of housing depending on which part of East Perth they were situated.  Substantial houses on large lots were built along the river front, Adelaide Terrace and Hay Street and then the area north of Hay Street, and taking in Goderich and Wellington streets which contained simple cottages on small lots.   

In November 1878, an article in the Victorian Express reported that Fleming’s “pretty cottage” in Goderich Street was in progress. Rate books from the time confirm that this was No. 53.  In 1881, Fleming was again mentioned in a newspaper article regarding his recently completed residences in Goderich Street, indicating that No. 51 had now been built.   Fleming also owned the Shamrock Hotel in William Street with Mr James Manning. 

By 1884, the Flemings appear to have moved out of Goderich Street.  In 1884, a notice appeared in the paper advertising the sale of Fleming’s furniture from residence on Goderich Street.  On 9 February 1885, his wife Emma, who was well-regarded for her many charitable works, died aged 42.  Sadly, only a month after the death of Emma, it was reported in the local paper that Fleming had been confined to bed with a severe illness.  He died at Rev. D. Shearer’s home on 21 June 1885.  He was 48-years-old.   

Despite his convict past, it is evident from the death notices that Fleming had achieved a large amount of goodwill and esteem in the local community particularly for his work with the telegraph.  He was buried at East Perth cemetery and his funeral attended by officials from his department and a large number of friends.  Although originally buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery, his and others’ headstones were relocated the Church of England section after the Presbyterian Cemetery was converted into school playing fields in the 1950s.  

The population and subsequent building boom of 1890s on the back of the Gold Rush period resulted in massive rebuilding program particularly in the inner Perth area but also including parts of East Perth.  As a consequence, few houses from the earlier periods of development survived, especially the old grand houses on large lots.  Again in the 1960s another mineral boom had taken hold of Western Australia and East Perth was subject to pressure of redevelopment with many of the original modest houses in streets like Goderich Street demolished and replaced by commercial buildings, medical facilities, and flats.  By the 1990s only a small precinct of late nineteenth century housing had survived.  Fleming’s houses at 51-53 Goderich Street represent one of those rare surviving examples. 

The Herald 16 March 1878 

West Australian 23 June 23 1885 p. 3 

Daily News 9 August 1884 p. 3 

West Australian 11 April 1886 p. 6  

Morsecodian’s Messenger May 1999 Vol 1 Issue 6  

West Australian 22 June 1999 p. 30 

Viscount Goderich, appointed Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1830