Wellington Buildings

Statement of Significance

The place is an integral component of a precinct of buildings from the Federation and Interwar periods, strongly contributing to the historic streetscape that remains on both sides of Wellington Street, and together with other nearby streetscapes from that period collectively forms a significant townscape.
The place is representative and provides evidence of the City of Perthʼs expansion and the intensive building program that occurred during the gold rush period, which dates from the discovery of gold in Western Australia in the 1880s and 1890s up to World War One.
The place is a good example of a competently designed and built substantial commercial building displaying the aesthetic characteristics of the Federation Free Classical Style.
The place is a substantial landmark sited at a conspicuous corner, and typifies Federation streetscapes in which the corner sites commonly feature the more prominent buildings within a block.
Together with the Royal Hotel on the opposite corner, the place serves as one of the main entrances to the city centre.
The place is representative of the reconstruction of the central Perth business district during the late Gold Boom as small shops were demolished and replaced with multi-storey retail and commercial premises accommodating a variety of tenants.
The upper floor of the building is of high authenticity with the fabric of both the interior and exterior of the building remaining largely in its original state.
The place was designed for Harry Higham by architects Charles Oldham and Alfred Cox and is a good example of their work.

Physical Description

Three storied commercial building with battlement parapet and triangular pediment. Street facades embellished with pilasters and a prominent classical cornice. Street level modified with modern shop fittings.

History

The building was constructed in 1910 for Harry Higham. It was designed by Oldham and Cox architects. The central area of Perth was developed in the 1890s as a retail and entertainment area with theatres and hotels developed near the train line.
The building replaced an earlier set of shops which had been constructed by the previous landowner Wesley Maley who purchased a section of the original land grant. The building comprised of eight shops on the ground floor and office space in the upper floors. The ground floor shops were first occupied by outfitters, supply store, ladies underclothing, tobacconist, tea rooms and stationer. Some of the tenancies changed in 1912 as some of the office space was used by railway related activities. The building was known as Higham Buildings in 1915 and was recorded as Wellington Buildings in 1918.
During the twentieth century various unions and associations have been based in the building. In 2004 the building was transferred to the Western Australian Planning Commission as part of the railway tunnel and station under William Street.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity as it has lost original detail at ground floor level but intact above.

Condition

Good

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.