COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 219-221 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET

Statement of Significance

Commercial Building, 219-221 Queen Victoria Street is a typical painted and rendered brick, single storey commercial shop dating from the1900s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical commercial building stock located within the commercial areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of commercial buildings in the North Fremantle area. The place is a late, simple example of the Victorian Regency style of architecture.

Physical Description

Commercial Building, 219-221 Queen Victoria Street is a single storey rendered and painted brick and iron commercial building designed as a late example of the Victorian Regency style of architecture, formerly comprising two tenancies. Each of the tenancies retains its recessed shop entrance. A simply detailed building; it is not attached to other commercial buildings. Simple pilasters separate the building form into its individual shops on the facade. There is a banded stucco moulding and a simply detailed parapet with stucco moulding ornaments. A rendered corbelled chimney remains intact for one shop, a elaborately ornamented pediment on the other. In 2016 the place is a single commercial building which contains a bottle shop.

History

Queen Victoria Street developed from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. Initially called Perth Road, the street has had a number of names over the years: Victoria Avenue (c.1907-c. 1937), Stirling Highway (c. 1937 to c. 1976) and Queen Victoria Street (c. 1976 on).

The area bounded by Queen Victoria Street, Stirling Highway (previously Bruce Street) and John Street was the commercial and social centre of North Fremantle, where public buildings such as the town hall, police station and post office were located. Also in this vicinity were the pubs and wine bars, butchers, bakers, grocers, haberdashery and barbers shops that catered for the needs of the local community. Queen Victoria Street continues to be North Fremantle’s main commercial precinct in North Fremantle.

A comparison of available sewerage plans would indicate that the building at 219-221 Queen Victoria Street was constructed c. 1907 for Currie and Murray, grocers. (It was built on the site of an earlier shop that was extant in 1897 and occupied by Currie and Co grocers). The building comprised two shop fronts, each with a central entrance. A bakehouse was also located on the site in 1920s.

Circa 1940, the rear of number 219 (then 19 Stirling Highway) was galvanised iron, while number 221 (then 21 Stirling Highway) was a long brick shop that extended to the rear of the block.

Currie and Munday continued to occupy the shops until at least the 1930s. In 1945, the shops were occupied by Jones Brothers, grocers and ironmongers.

Old Bridge Cellars have occupied the building since the late 1980s.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, partially restored, some loss of fabric).
Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining.Some loss of fabric.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.