Stirling Terrace Precinct, Albany

Child Places

• 00053 Rotunda
• 00060 Western Australian Bank (fmr)
• 00064 National Bank (fmr)
• 27069 House
• 00077 Empire Buildings
• 00066 Edward Barnett & Co Building (fmr)
• 00051 Albany Court House Complex
• 00061 Ballybane Tearooms (fmr)
• 15549 Commercial Building
• 15548 Everett Buildings
• 15552 Drew Robinson & Co (fmr)
• 27067 House
• 00061 Ballybane Tearooms (fmr)
• 27067 House
• 00052 J McKail & Co.
• 00062 Glasgow House
• 15553 Commercial Building
• 15550 Norman Brothers
• 00079 Taxi Rank & Women's Rest Room
• 00064 National Bank (fmr)
• 03339 London Hotel
• 00067 White Star Hotel
• 00066 Edward Barnett & Co Building (fmr)
• 15550 Norman Brothers
• 00065 Royal George Hotel
• 00077 Empire Buildings
• 00030 Old Albany Post Office
• 15553 Commercial Building
• 00067 White Star Hotel
• 15551 Sandover & Co.
• 15552 Drew Robinson & Co (fmr)
• 27063 House
• 00079 Taxi Rank & Women's Rest Room
• 00059 Argyle House
• 00058 Albany House
• 00063 Edinburgh House
• 03339 London Hotel
• 00059 Argyle House
• 00068 Buildings
• 00060 Western Australian Bank (fmr)
• 00052 J McKail & Co.
• 00062 Glasgow House
• 00065 Royal George Hotel
• 15551 Sandover & Co.

Statement of Significance

Stirling Terrace Precinct, a predominantly late Victorian and Federation period townscape set along a segmented crescent plan overlooking Princess Royal Harbour, Albany and containing a diverse range of building types and styles, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
the historic precinct is a fine and relatively intact example of a late nineteenth century and early twentieth century townscape, dating primarily from 1867 to 1915, demonstrating a range of activities and support infrastructure associated with the foundation and development of a prominent nineteenth century town;
the historic precinct is rare as a prominently located townscape with a town plan dating from the foundation of the settlement with a set of finely designed Victorian and Federation period buildings;
as the original commercial heart of the town, the historic precinct was an important part of the development of the region and the State to varying degrees from the 1830s until World War One when Albany was a prominent town in the Colony and Australia, due to its role as the Colony’s coal depot for the international mail and passenger service, which linked Europe to the eastern colonies. This role was expanded with the addition of regional railways and interstate telegraph links;
viewed from the harbour and from the western approaches to the town, the historic precinct as a whole is a landmark, strengthened by the strong vertical accents of the Royal George Hotel and the former Post Office;
the historic precinct is highly valued by the local community for its aesthetic values and historic associations and, along with the defining topography of the Princess Royal Harbour, Mount Melville and Mount Clarence, is as one of the elements that contributes to the local community’s sense of place and to the identity of Albany;
within the precinct, G.T. Poole’s designs for the Post Office and Court House demonstrate creative excellence and J.T. Hobbs’ design for the Sandover & Co store, which later became Drew Robinson & Co.’s store, at 108-110 Stirling Terrace makes innovative use of large plate glass windows; and
the historic precinct includes buildings designed by prominent architects James Manning, Lt. General Sir J. T. Hobbs, J. Herbert Eales, and George T. Poole, and was historically the location of businesses founded and run by significant Albany and regional identities including Thomas Sherratt, Alexander Moir, John Robinson, Charles Drew, Frank Dymes, Edward Barnett, J.F.T. Hassell, and E.G. Everett.

Physical Description

Stirling Terrace is located on a rise overlooking the Princess Royal Harbour in the City of Albany. It comprises the northern and southern sides of Stirling Terrace, Albany between Spencer and Collie Streets, and including the Albany Court House (1898) situated at the north-western corner of Collie Street. The street has a segmented crescent plan form and intersects with York Street, which is now Albany's principle commercial street. Buildings on the street date predominantly from 1867 to 1915 and feature the stylistic characteristics of the Victorian and Federation periods of architecture. The topography is visually striking and the harmonious architectural composition of diverse building types and styles provides additional visual interest. Most of the built fabric is located on the northern side of Stirling Terrace with the development to the street boundary of the lots. Generally speaking this is a continuous wall of buildings and the majority are substantial, two storey masonry structures. The street also contains mature trees.

The finer pieces in this section include: Albany Court House (1898); the London Hotel (1909); the Union Bank (fmr) (1885); the Empire Building (1912); the original Western Australian Bank (1891) and the attached Drew Robinson & Co. store (1891; 1916); Sandover & Co. store (later Drew Robinson & Co. (1891; 1915); Edward Barnett & Co. building (c. 1888; 1892; 1911); the National Bank (fmr) (1881); Drew Robinson & Co/Dylan's 'On the Terrace' (1880s); White Star Hotel (1910); Royal George Hotel (1910/1911); Glasgow House (1882; 1911); Edinburgh House (1882); Argyle Buildings (late 1880s; 1890s); and, Everett Buildings (1908; 1912). To the south are the public open spaces and vistas that provide views towards Princess Royal Harbour. Featured within this landscpe is the richly decorative and complex Albany Post Office (fmr) (1869; 896), the timber Queen's Park Rotunda (1897) and the Taxi Rank and Women's Rest Room (1909) in the Federation Queen Anne style.

Refer also to: Considine & Griffiths Architects in association with Kris Bizzaca, Stirling Terrace, Albany, Conservation Plan, October 2000.

History

Stirling Terrace is one of the City of Albany’s most significant heritage assets, both as a streetscape and as a collection of Victorian and Federation period buildings overlooking Princess Royal Harbour. Stirling Terrace is located in visually striking topography and its segmented crescent plan form remains basically as it was when first recorded by Surveyor Hillman in 1835. The mature trees and the harmonious architectural composition of diverse building types and styles provide additional visual interest.

Stirling Terrace was developed from the 1830s following the establishment of Albany as part of the Swan River colony, and was an important part of the development of the region and the State to varying degrees from the 1830s until World War One. The 1835 Hillman survey plan set the scene for the emergence of Stirling Terrace as the prime location in the town, with a rich variety of social, commercial, leisure, institutional and service functions. The majority of the built fabric which remains today was completed in the period 1867 to 1915. The buildings were designed by some of the State’s most eminent architects and many were built for prominent citizens and institutions.

Over the years the commercial focus of Albany has moved to York Street, with many institutions, such as banks and the post office relocating there. Free of substantial development pressure at a critical time, Stirling Terrace has managed to retain many of its historic structures and features. Viewed from the harbour, and from the western approach to the town, Stirling Terrace has a landmark quality as a whole.

Refer also to: Considine & Griffiths Architects in association with Kris Bizzaca, Stirling Terrace, Albany, Conservation Plan, October 2000.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High/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.