Commercial

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

Statement of Significance

The place represents the historic development of Rokeby Road as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is a visually imposing commercial building in the Federation Free Classical style with some intact shop fronts and decorative pediment.

Physical Description

97 Rokeby Road is a two-storey brick building in the Federation Free Classical style, which was designed with four shops, with associated residences at the first floor and extending to the rear.
The first floor façade is divided into 4 distinct bays by rendered pilasters with loosely interpreted ‘Corinthian’ detailing. Each bay includes a pair of plain double hung windows framed by continuous moulded string courses.
The top of the main façade is highly detailed with a moulded cornice; two pediments with ornate mouldings above the two middle stores; and panels of turned balusters and raised square panels across the parapet.
The painted brick finish to the first floor was originally tuck-pointed brick with contrasting rendered detailing.
The two southern shops have traditional shopfronts with stall walls, timber framed windows with highlights, and recessed entrance doors. A third shop has been modified, while the northern shop has a completely new shopfront.
The southern wall has been opened up in recent times to provide a shopfront to Forrest Walk. There is a continuous suspended awning over the shop fronts on Rokeby Road.

History

In the Post Office Directory of 1904, only 4 premises were identified on the western side of Rokeby Road, between Hay Street and Barker Road. This block experienced rapid development over the next few years, with the number of shops increasing to 9 by 1905; 13 by 1906 and 15 by 1907. This was consistent with a broader trend for the commercial centre of Subiaco at that time, with a report in November 1905 noting that Rokeby Road had developed the aspect of a popular business thoroughfare.
Information in the Post Office Directories and newspaper notices (relating to the Commonwealth Boot and Shoe Store and the Sizer family, who initially occupied #91) suggests that the building on Lots 25 & 26, DP 1489 (91-97 Road) was constructed in 1905.
Additional information in a newspaper advertisement for the sale of the property in 1911 suggests that the architect was Harry Jefferis. At that time the property was owned by the estate of Dr George Ormsby Edward Burkitt, who had practiced medicine in Perth from c.1896, and died in Ireland in September 1909.
Over time, some of the occupants of the property included:
91 Rokeby Road
 1907 & 1910: Miss Nettie May Sizer, boot dealer (Commonwealth Boot and Shoe Store)
Note: the first reference found for the Commonwealth Boot and Shoe Store was an advertisement for staff placed in December 1905.
 1915: John James Bendon, boot and shoe dealer
 1920: David Burton, butcher
 1925: Burton & Sons, butcher
 1930: William Daniel Bishop, butcher
 1935: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory
 1940: Williams Bros., ironmongers (occupying 91-93 Rokeby Road)
 1945: Williams Bros., ironmongers (occupying 91 Rokeby Road only)
 1949: William Henry Ray, electrical appliances and radio dealers
 2012 & 1922: Ecali, jewellery
93 Rokeby Road
 1907: Elisha Charles McAtee, confectioner & fruiterer
 1910: Florence Mabel McKee, draper
 1915: Mrs E Bant, furniture dealer (Bant’s Furniture Shop)
 1920, 1925 & 1930: James Thomas Fry, cycle & motor cycle agents (Fry’s Regal Cycle Works)
 1935: Williams Bros., ironmongers
 1940: Williams Bros., ironmongers (occupying 91-93 Rokeby Road)
 1945: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory
 1949: Williams Bros., ironmongers
 2012: STA travel agency
95 Rokeby Road
 1907: Davies & Fraser, watchmaker & jeweller
 1910: George Francis Fraser, watchmaker & jeweller
 1915, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945 & 1949: Mrs Susan Geenens, confectioner
 2012: Mia Jade, women’s fashion and footwear
 2022: The Painted Teapot, ceramic painting studio
97 Rokeby Road
 1907 & 1910: Alfred James Harvey, baker & pastrycook
 1915: Carl Heinrich Sporer, pastrycook
 1920 & 1925: Redgrave & Ramsey, pastrycooks
 1930, 1935 & 1940: David Ogilvy Ramsay, pastrycook
 1945 & 1949: Albert Leslie Eeles, pastrycook
 2012 & 2022: L’Occitane, skincare

Integrity/Authenticity

Overall, the first floor appears to have retained a medium to high degree of authenticity, as viewed from the street.
The traditional early-mid twentieth century shopfronts to the 2 southern shops appear to have retained a high degree of authenticity.
The painted finish to original face-brickwork, modern shopfronts and awnings have a low level of authenticity.
Shops on the rear portion of the lot (facing Forrest Walk) are of low authenticity within the context of this report.

Condition

The main facades appear to be generally in good condition commensurate with the age of the building (based on streetscape inspection only).

Uses

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.