Edinburgh House

Statement of Significance

Stirling Terrace Precinct:
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

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Two storey structure
• Set in a group of similar scale buildings
• Victorian Free Classical design features such as roof concealed by parapet, elegant plainness, smooth render
• Projected stucco mouldings around arched windows set in straight lines with carefully balanced proportions
• String course defining rectangular masses

Some obvious modifications include:
• External paint scheme
• Canvas awning over front door

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

History

Edinburgh House
The adjoining two buildings of Glasgow House and Edinburgh House were built for Alexander Moir in 1882. Prior to these buildings, there was a row of single storey cottages accommodating a bootmaker, baker and tailor among other tradesmen which Moir had demolished to construct his new buildings.
Moir was born in 1826 in Markinch, Fifeshire, Scotland (hence the Scottish names used for his buildings). He came to Albany in 1852 and by 1861 he had started trading from his first house in Stirling Tce (now the site of the George Hotel) until he constructed Edinburgh House and Glasgow House. In 1854, Moir married Catherine, the Rev. John Wollaston’s housekeeper (Wollaston House in Duke Street) and they had 13 children. In c1865, they built their family home named ‘Aberdeen House’ in Stirling Terrace which later became the Royal George Hotel.
In 1886/87 Moir had built a new family residence around the corner on Aberdeen Street, which he later donated to the Albany Club. As well as his merchant business, Moir was Chairman of Plantagenet Road Board. Moir died in 1893, and his son John Moir continued on running the Moir business. John’s headquarters were situated in Glasgow House while a chemist, Percy H Wardel Johnson, and consulting room for Dr Johnson were located in Edinburgh House from 1883.
By 1900, photographic evidence shows that some minor modifications to the façade had been carried out to Glasgow House next door including a new parapet that was added now covering the hipped roof. The name Glasgow House was included in the entablature. It is likely the same was done to Edinburgh House.
In 1936, Johnson’s Chemist was still located here but they also opened another store in York Street.
In a 1912 photograph of Stirling Terrace, Edinburgh House has a single storey awning over the path on the west covering the side door. This was later removed. There was evidence of this still showing on the façade in 2000. From c2006-2015, the shop of Solomons Merchants was occupying the building.

Stirling Terrace Precinct
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.