Commercial Building

Statement of Significance

The commercial building at 323 William Street is a notable example of the Interwar Art Deco style. It is one of a small number of Art Deco corner landmarks in Perth. It is historically significant for associations with the Midland Bus Company and use as a bus depot.

Physical Description

The two storey Art Deco building is central about a truncated street corner. The corner features a cylindrical tower with a clock and flag pole. The walls of the building are rendered with horizontal lines. The suspended awning incorporates horizontal detailing and is stepped up on the corner. The metal framed windows have horizontal lights corresponding with the stripes on the building wall.

History

The bed of Lake Thomson was used for farming and market gardening until the 1880s, at which time parcels of the land were sold off. William Street, which initially only ended at Newcastle Street, was extended northward across the reclaimed lake bed. The site on the northwest corner of Newcastle and William streets was occupied with residences on the immediate corner, while Chinese market gardens continued to operate behind, bounded at the rear by Forbes Lane.
Circa 1935, the corner residences were demolished and replaced with a two-storey commercial building, with shops on the ground floor. The large area surrounding the building remained undeveloped. By 1951, the building and the site were occupied by the Midland Bus Company as a depot. The Midland Bus Company was a private company providing public transport, and was created in 1946 to provide passenger transport when the Midland Railway Company cut back on its passenger rail services. Various corrugated iron structures were established on the open section of the site for housing the buses, and a brick motor works building with an open shed at the rear was constructed on the William Street frontage, on the corner of Forbes Lane. The building is currently occupied with retail premises and offices.

Integrity/Authenticity

Mostly intact
The ground level shopfronts have undergone considerable changes over time.

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.