Commercial premises, 153 & 157 Rokeby Road

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

Physical Description

153 &157 Rokeby Road is a two-storey brick building in the Federation Free Classical Style. It was designed as two matching pairs of shops with first floor residences. The southern pair is slightly elevated to reflect the slope of Rokeby Road.
The physical and documentary evidence indicates that each pair was originally designed with a verandah/balcony. Like other such structures within the Heritage Area, these had been removed by c.1960.
The upper part of each of the four bays features a deep entablature framed by corbelled piers with rounded heads. The base of each bay within the entablature is framed by a moulded cornice, and the face is detailed with a simple recessed panel. Over this there is a smaller moulded cornice capped by a simple rectangular pediment with scrolled stucco brackets to either side.
Below the rendered entablature the walls were originally face-brick with a flush rendered stringcourse (now fully painted). At the centre of each bay there is a tall, narrow opening with a simple segmental head. The northern two bays retain the original full-height, double hung windows, with modern metal balustrades provided as safety barriers. The southern windows have each been redesigned with 3 smaller panes.
All shopfronts have been replaced. Suspended boxed awnings extend over the footpath (one to each pair).

History

The 4 attached shops at 153-159 Rokeby Road were first identified in the Post Office Directories in 1906, which suggests that they were constructed in c.1905. Entries in the Post Office Directories and the following brief newspaper reports indicate that this formed part of a period of rapid development within the commercial centre of Subiaco, which took place in c.1904-1907:
Rokeby-road has the aspect of a popular business thoroughfare. Five years ago, the land value in this main street was a little over £1 a foot. Today it is £15 a foot.
and
Enterprise is showing itself emphatically at Subiaco. During the past fortnight about twenty new shops have been opened, showing capital to the extent of several thousands of pounds.
Over time, some of the occupants of the property included:
153 Rokeby Road
 1906: A Slyth & Co, furniture manufacturers
 1910: Charles Abbott, baker & pastrycook (Commonwealth Bakery)
 1915: Oakley & Samuels, grocer
 1920: Alfred Herbert Samuels, grocer
 1925: Miss Eileen Cavanagh, milliner
 1930: Ingram & Snell, dairy produce
 1935 & 1940: R & F Cull, radio dealers (Dynamic Radio Service)
 1945: R Cull, drapery
 1949: R & F Cull, radio dealers
 2012 & 2022: Subiaco Lotto and News
155 Rokeby Road
 1906: Hepburn & Co, land & estate agents, and McDonald & Gipps, auctioneers
 1910: Press Brothers, grocers (occupying 155-157)
 1915: Subiaco Furniture Stores (crockery department)
 1920: Mrs C F Rule, draper & fancy goods
 1925 & 1930: Walter Cottrill, hairdresser & tobacconist
 1935: Mrs A J Bewick, newsagent
 1940: Douglas Charles Mitchell, newsagent
 1945: Mrs Juliet Mitchell, newsagent
 1949: Ron C Downing, newsagent
 2012: Escape Travel
 2022: Sound One
157 Rokeby Road
 1906: Not listed in the Post Office Directory
 1910: Press Brothers, grocers (occupying 155-157)
 1915 & 1920: Charles George Pope, grocer
 1925 & 1930: Misses Petrie & McDonough, dressmakers
 1935: Mrs E V Perry, florist
 1940: Arthur Robinson, hairdresser
 1945: John Lawley Ltd, drapers
 1949: Miss Jean Pierce, dressmaker
 2012 & 2022: Subiaco 7 Day Chemist (occupying 157-159)
159 Rokeby Road
 1906: Bert Wildy, fruiterer
 1910, 1915 & 1920: Ernest Henry Alonzo Watters, fruiterer
 1925 until at least the mid 1950s: William Francis Anderton, butcher
 2012 & 2022: Subiaco 7 Day Chemist (occupying 157-159)
Despite being developed as a continuous row of four shops, ownership was later split between 153-155 (Lot 46) and 157-159 (Lot 45). In 1941 the 2 shops at 157-159 formed part of the deceased estate of Albert Mews (which also included 103-105 Rokeby Road):
C P KERR, Auctioneer, has been favoured with instructions from The West Australian Trustee. Executor and Agency Company, Limited. Executor of the Will of the late Albert Mews, to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION as above …..
2. Lot 45 and lot 46 on plan 1178.
FRONTAGE 33ft. Depth 115ft. 6in. IMPROVEMENTS include PR. BRICK SHOPS and TWO-STOREY DWELLINGS KNOWN AS 157 and 159 ROKEBY-RD., SUBIACO, each having large shop, 4 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, laundry (c. and t.) sewered, e.l. and gas connected. Let at £4/10/ p.w.

Integrity/Authenticity

The parapet, openings to the first floor, and the windows to the northern two bays have a medium to high level of authenticity.
The painted finish to the original face brickwork, colour scheme, first floor windows to the southern two bays, awnings and shopfronts have a low level of authenticity.

Condition

The main facade appears to be generally in fair to 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.