40 AND 42, MEADWAY

40 and 42 Meadway are houses built around 1912, designed by Matthew Dawson. They were conceived as part of a pair with Nos. 36 and 38 Meadway and have similar layouts. The roofs are covered with a mix of pan and plain tiles, with a central section and crosswings. The buildings are constructed from brick in mixed bonds, featuring tile hanging and what appear to be painted concrete blocks.

The central ranges of the pair are highlighted by six segmental arches made of brick, supported by brick piers. The piers flanking the party wall have flat-arched entrances, while the other arches are glazed. The crosswings are defined by narrow brick piers at the corners and feature a deep canted bay with a flat metal roof. Above the bays are three-light casement windows, with lintels resting against breeze block gable heads. The crosswing of No. 42 has a hipped roof and a canted bay that projects from a relieving arch.

There are two levels of dormers on the central section, with recessed sections. The first-floor dormers are positioned just outside the window axes below, while the loft dormers have two lights and are offset. An axial stack is located at the junction of No. 42's crosswing and main roof, with a parallel stack in the other unit. Notable features include a keyhole niche at the gable head of No. 40 and a dormer on the left return of No. 42 above a motor house outshut.

The ornamental insets on the ground floor of the central ranges are of particular interest, along with the original style of the integral house numbering. Also included in the listing is a single brick pier that frames the alley to the return of No. 40, carrying a wooden lintel that seems to have been part of a pergola shared with No. 38. Matthew Dawson's work in the suburb showcases his inventive design approach, as he creatively transforms the finishes and features of the vernacular revival to express his personal vision and ideas about the relationship between architecture and building materials.