inHerit Logo

18 & 20 Howard Street

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

02023
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

18 & 20 Howard St Perth

Location Details

81 St Georges Terrace

Other Name(s)

Phoenix Chambers (20 Howard St)
Traders Building (fmr)

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1905

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
Heritage List Adopted 19 Sep 2006
State Register Registered 02 Jul 1999 Register Entry
Assessment Documentation
Heritage Council

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.

Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1

Category 1

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

Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1

Category 1

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

Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001 Category 2

Category 2

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

Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Heritage Council
Classified by the National Trust Classified 04 May 1981

Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate Permanent 25 Mar 1986

Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

The place is of aesthetic significance as an example of a commercial building constructed during the period of economic affluence and increased development that followed the gold boom.

The place is of historic significance because it reflects the expansion and development of commerce and trade in the City of Perth in the early years of the twentieth century.

The place is a representative example of a commercial building constructed in Perth during the period of development and consolidation following the gold boom.

The place is exceptional as an example of the Federation Free and Federation Gothic styles.

The place has strong associations with the owners, the legal firm of Haynes Robinson and Cox. The firm's principal Robert Thomson Robinson, was a public figure in Western Australia.

Physical Description

Commercial building with strongly emphasised base and formal entrance facade incorporates brick columns as extensive stucco decoration including balconies with florid motifs and battlement parapets.

History

Howard Street was originally a tramway, then private road to the river and was taken over by the Perth City Council as a public road in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1905 the building was constructed for solicitors Haynes, Robinson and Cox. The builder S. B. Alexander was also responsible for the Police Court Buildings.
Haynes, Robinson and Cox were established in Albany in 1889. In 1897 they took over a Perth based practice Sholl and Foulkes with C. B. Cox and J C Foulkes. In 1903 this became Haynes, Robinson and Cox in 1903. The firm became Robinson, Cox and Wheatley and continued to work from the offices in the building into the early 1980s. The basement and ground floor tenants changed over time and including as a gold exchange in the 1930s which is when it was called Traders Building. Wyndham Freezing Canning and Meat Export Works owned the building during the late 1950s and into the 1960s and were located in the basement and ground floor. A residence was located on the second floor.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity as the exterior is intact.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Haynes, Robinson & Cox Solicitors Architect - -
Charles Oldham Architect - -
S B Alexander Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
HCWA Assessment Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation 18 & 20 Howard Street Heritage Council WA 1999
Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory (2001) Full Set City of Perth 2001

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
11585 18 & 20 Howard Street Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 2017

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

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

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Gothic
Federation Free Style

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall STONE Donnybrook Sandstone
Wall BRICK Other Brick

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

05 Jul 2024

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.