Commercial

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance representing the development of commercial services in Hay Street during its development in the 1930s. It has social significance as a place for the provision of community services and also employment in the commercial/service industry. It has aesthetic significance as an example of a commercial building showing the influence of the Inter-War Functionalist style of architecture.

Physical Description

Single and two storey commercial building with functionalist facade. Five fixed windows to ground floor with two arched entrances. Framed canopy over. Smooth rendered walls. Three sliding windows to upper storey with steel awning over. Tiled hipped roof behind parapet. Streamlined parapet on two levels. Lower level has long rectangular recess in brickwork. The parapet on this level curves downward at one end.

History

Registered as Prosser & Scott since c1930.
Subiaco began to develop as a residential and commercial area in the 1890s, with the first buildings being established along the railway line. In 1895 Rokeby Road was not yet gazetted and Hay Street was called Broome Road. By the turn of the century most of the main roads in central Subiaco were built, including Rokeby, Heytsebury, Hamersley, Bagot, Townshend, Park and Nicholson Roads. Many businesses had been established in Broome Road. Broome Road was named after Governor Broome, and was renamed Hay Street after Vice-Secretary of Colonies, 1829.
There were many land releases in the late 1890s and early 1900s as Subiaco become a popular place to settle, and businesses were attracted to the opportunity of opening in a new but stable suburb. The Rokeby Road and Hay Street commercial area was firmly established by 1915.
Over the years the nature of businesses have changed. Originally there were estate agents, dressmakers, tailors, confectioners, drapers, grocers, restaurateurs and bakers; in fact most shopping could be done without leaving the suburb.
(Sources: Wise's Post Office Directory 1893-1915; Real Estate Maps, Battye Library Collection; Spillman, Ken, Identity Prized: A History of Subiaco, City of Subiaco, UWA Press, 1985, pp. 92-110; Chate, A. H., History of Subiaco, c1952.)

Integrity/Authenticity

The place has high integrity as Prosser & Scott Funeral Directors since c1930.

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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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.