Old Swan Brewery Precinct

Child Places

• 02185 Governor Kennedy Fountain & Plane Trees W of Fountain
• 04310 Stable Block (fmr) - Swan Brewery Complex
• 02185 Governor Kennedy Fountain & Plane Trees W of Fountain

Statement of Significance

The Old Swan Brewery and Mount Eliza site has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
• The Mount Eliza escarpment and the area surrounding Mounts Bay Road has high Aboriginal significance. It has both cultural and spiritual significance for the local Nyoongar people as it is believed to be a resting place for the Waugal, a serpent creature who created the rivers and landforms during the Dreaming and was also important culturally as a place historically abundant in resources. This place was also at one time a Native Institution and was declared an Aboriginal Reserve after colonisation.
• Historically the site is associated with the development of the Swan River Colony and has been in continuous use since 1831 for boat building, a convict depot, a home for elderly men, small industry and most notably beer brewing.
• Located between the Swan River and Kings Park, the former Swan Brewery buildings and surrounding features including trees and vegetation have high aesthetic value and are a well known landmark in Perth.

Physical Description

This assessment includes the area from the west of the former Swan Brewery buildings to Kennedy’s Fountain bound by the Swan River and Mount Eliza escarpment.

The former Swan Brewery group consists of several buildings of old and recent construction. They include the brew house, cellars and storage (c 1900-20); the lager and bitter beer cellars (c 1923 and 1933); the carpark and walkway (c.2000); and the apartment complex (c.2000). Some of the older buildings have been heavily reconstructed due to their deteriorated condition before redevelopment occurred. The buildings feature red face brick in Flemish bond with arch detailing and rendered bands. The entire roof structure consists of terracotta tiles and the immediate surrounds of the buildings include landscaped gardens and lawned areas.

To the west of the former Swan Brewery, next to the car park is a small Government built pumping station. Though constructed in 1930, it features elements that could be defined as the Federation (c. 1890 – 1915) Arts and Crafts style.1

Moving east towards the city centre there is an open space between the Mount Eliza escarpment and Mounts Bay Road, with numerous species of vegetation including introduced species such as palm, plane and fig trees. This area is partly used as a temporary car park. The Kennedy Fountain is at the eastern end of this area and consists of a stone structure with a plaque which reads ‘PERTH’S FIRST PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY - ERECTED BY GOVR A. E. KENNEDY - 1861’. There is path leading up to Kings Park behind the fountain and another to the north which leads to the city.

History

Assessment 2007
Construction: Brewery Buildings c. 1890; Kennedy Fountain 1861
Architect/Designer: John Talbot Hobbs & others
The area being assessed is significant to the Nyoongar people as it is associated with the Waugal, described as ‘an all powerful creator who created and maintained the natural and cultural law and order. Journeys of the Waugal in ancient times formed modern landmarks such as rivers, valleys, hills and lakes. The Waugal was believed to inhabit special areas, which were, and still are, sacred to Aboriginal people’2. It was also a place abundant in resources including fresh water springs and food – kangaroo, possum, fish and various plants.

When the Swan River Colony was established in 1829, the area near the present day Swan Brewery was initially utilised from 1831 for boat building. In 1833 a ‘Native Institution’ was established here when it was declared an Aboriginal reserve. After several years, the Institution was closed as laws restricting the movement of Aboriginal people through this area and in the city, as well as sickness, greatly reduced the number of people visiting the place.

The site of the Former Swan Brewery as well as the nearby park have been used for different functions including ship building (1831 – 1833), the ‘Mount Eliza Native Institution’ (1833 – 1838), flour mill and steam mills which provided sawn timber (1838 – 1845), storage (1846 – 1850), a convict depot, which firstly housed the military pensioners before new buildings were constructed in the park area near Kennedy’s Fountain (c1850s). These buildings were refitted to become the ‘Old Men’s Depot’ (also known as the ‘Invalid Depot’, ‘Asylum’ etc), and later known as the ‘Mount Eliza Poorhouse’ from 1869 to 1900. Buildings for the Poorhouse were added and upgraded over the years but by the early 1900s, the facility was overcrowded and inadequate. In 1906, the Depot was closed and the residents were transferred to a new centre that was built in Claremont. The land was incorporated into Kings Park and extensive plantings were made as the buildings were removed. The Brown Brothers leased the buildings on the Former Brewery site for a tannery (c.1860s – 70s) until the Swan Brewery was established by Ferguson and Mumme in 1879. The buildings were first utilised as an iceworks when, during the later part of the year, brewing was commenced by the brewer George Passmore3.

The Swan Brewery became the largest brewery in WA and the site has over the years been rebuilt and added to as business grew and technologies changed. When the Brewery eventually closed completely and moved operations to another site in 1978, the future use and form of the site was the subject of much controversy.

Spiritual and cultural significance to Aboriginal people was one of the main causes of contention and they wanted the dilapidated buildings to be removed and the area turned into parkland. Many groups within the community both supported and rejected the conservation of the buildings. An Aboriginal protest camp was established on the site which had the support of unions and church groups. There was extensive coverage in the media, legal disputes were carried out in the High Court between the protestors and State Government and police were called in to remove protestors.

The State Government purchased the Brewery site in 1985 and the buildings were placed on the State Heritage Register in 1992.

After several failed development attempts, Multiplex were contracted to develop the government owned buildings. However it was another 10 years before redevelopment of the Former Swan Brewery was completed.

The Former Swan Brewery complex now houses apartments, offices and restaurants, while the open space below the Kings Park escarpment is vacant and rarely utilised.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.