inHerit Logo

Perth Trades Hall

Author

Heritage Council

Place Number

08783
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

74 Beaufort St Perth

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Delaney Gallery

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1912

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage List Adopted 30 Jul 2004 City of Perth
State Register Registered 30 Jul 2004 Register Entry
Assessment Documentation

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

City of Perth
Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001 Category 2

Category 2

Considerable significance - Very important to the heritage of the locality.

City of Perth
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

City of Perth
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Statement of Significance

Perth Trades Hall (1912), a building comprising two storeys and a basement in masonry construction with a decorative stucco finish, designed in the Federation Romanesque style, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

the place was built in 1912 as the first permanent headquarters of the Metropolitan District Council of the Australian Labour Federation (MDC) and served as the base for both the industrial and political activities of the Australian labour movement until 1985, and again from 2013 to present;

the place was the first Trades Hall to be built in Perth, and the first one to be built in Australia without Government assistance and is associated with the growth and development of trade unionism and labour movements of Western Australia;

it is part of a group of significant places that includes the Western Australian Museum and former Art Gallery of Western Australia designed in the Federation Romanesque style, the former Swan Barracks and to the south the former Police Courts, now part of the Art Gallery of Western Australia and makes a strong visual contribution to this significant context; and,
the place is a good example of a two storey masonry construction office building designed in the Federation Romanesque style.

The subsequent abutting buildings, including Unity Hall (1923), Curtin House (1973), the Labour Centre (1981) of four storeys constructed in concrete blocks are not part of this assessment. Despite the historic and social importance of Unity Hall, it was considered that insufficient original fabric remained, in a recognisable form, for the place to warrant entry into the State Register of Heritage Places.

Physical Description

Perth Trades Hall is a building comprising two storeys and a basement in masonry construction, with decorative stucco ornamentation and a render finish over brickwork designed in the Federation Romanesque style, constructed in 1912 for the Metropolitan District Council of the Australian Labor Federation (MDC), and supervised by E. P. Henshaw.

History

Perth Trades Hall (1912) was designed as an office building for the state executive of the Australian Labor Party. It comprises 3 levels, 2 storeys above ground level and one lower ground level, and was the first purpose-built headquarters for the then Metropolitan District Council of the Australian Labor Federation (MDC).

Integrity/Authenticity

In 2004, integrity was recorded as:
Since uses related to labour movement have ceased, the place has undergone numerous changes with the removal of one of the key staircases, changes to some spaces, changes to finishes and the entrance area. Underlying the numerous changes there is a good deal of original fabric. The ground and first floor remain the most intact levels of the building. Overall the place retains a moderate degree of integrity.

In 2004, authenticity was recorded as:
Perth Trades Hall was designed as an office building for the state executive of the Australian Labor Party, for the offices of a number of unions, and as the entrance to the temporary and later permanent Unity Hall. These uses have ceased. The basic intent of the office accommodation remains intact, but the entrance functions are no longer apparent. The removal of the southern staircase further diminishes the legibility of the entrance building function. The present uses are compatible with the original intention and the building provides good quality office space. The present use has the capacity to sustain heritage values. The place retains a moderate degree of authenticity.

Condition

In 2004, the condition was reported as: Though there has been much change to the place, it retains many of its aesthetic qualities. The changes have involved a good deal of internal rearrangement is a small number of areas. The place appear to receive regular minimal maintenance. The remaining original fabric is generally in good condition and the overall presentation of the place suggests that it is in fair to good condition.

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
4223 Papers in Labour History No. 22 : the centenary of the ALP and the TLC in Western Australia, 1899-1999. Serial 1999
11843 Trades Hall: Rebirth of an icon Book 2014

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use GOVERNMENTAL Office or Administration Bldg
Other Use COMMERCIAL Other
Present Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Romanesque
Federation Academic Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick
Wall STONE Sandstone, other

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

05 Dec 2000

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

06 Jan 2021

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.