St John's Court

Parent Place or Precinct

08183 John Street Precinct

Values

The place has aesthetic value as a representative example of an inter war flat/apartment building with characteristics of the Inter War Spanish Mission style.

The place has landmark value.

The place has associations with the development of Cottesloe.

The place has associations with the flat/apartment housing boom of the inter war period.

Physical Description

The place is a two-storey brick building which has been rendered and painted.

Originally comprising four flats (works in 1988 saw the two flats upstairs converted into one), this intent can be clearly seen through the two balconies at ground and first floor levels, which are located on either side of a central pillar.

The roof is tile and features to prominent chimneys on the east and west side.

History

‘During the 1930s, blocks of middle-class flats were beginning to be constructed both in the city and the suburbs, following a wide-spread trend for such housing accommodation throughout Western countries during the inter-war period. Previously, flats had been either low-cost, low-quality boarding houses and tenements, or luxury serviced apartments. 1930s flats catered for a new generation of householders, usually single professionals and young married or working couples, or those newly single, such as widows or divorcees, as they allowed for a greater degree of independence than other accommodation, like the family home or boarding houses.

Small blocks of self-contained flats were erected in the city and in various suburbs experiencing a period of growth during the 1930s, such as Cottesloe, Floreat, Ingelwood, Mt Lawley, Nedlands, North Perth, Subiaco, West Perth and Claremont. Although the trend for apartment accommodation began during the 1930s, the numbers of flats built during this time was significantly fewer then the numbers to follow in the post war years, during the 1940s and 1950s.

In Cottesloe during the 1930s, several blocks of flats were constructed. Pine Court and St John’s Court (c1934) at 51 John Street are of a similar design, and with The Mendips in Forrest Street, resemble substantial homes rather that (sic) apartment blocks, reflecting a popular American style of multifamily housing. Other Cottesloe flats of the period include Bel-Air flats in Grant Street and Riveria on the corner of Hammersley and Eric Street, both of which reflect the art deco influences of the 1930s.’

The NTWA documentation indicates that the place was built in 1934 by contractor Reg Brown.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity- High
Authenticity- Moderate

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.