Commercial Building, 116 Wray Avenue

Statement of Significance

116 Wray Avenue has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
- constructed c1933, has aesthetic and historic significance as a substantial example of a corner shop/ commercial building
- for the contribution that it makes to an important street intersection; and
- The place contributes significantly to the surrounding streetscape

Physical Description

116 Wray Avenue is a rendered masonry and iron two storey building located on the corner of Wray Avenue and Hampton Road. The building has a truncated corner, zero street setback, traditional vertically proportioned windows and a timber framed shop front.

The rear of the site has been converted into a carpark with ramped access from Hampton Road and there is no remaining evidence of the limestone outcrops and walls identified in the 1986 heritage report.

History

Wray Avenue was originally Hampton Street. The named was changed to avoid confusion with the intersecting Hampton Road. It became Alexander Road, after Laurence Alexander, Mayor 1901-1902, and a representative of Falk & Co. The street name was again changed to avoid confusion with Alexandra Road in East Fremantle, and became Wray Avenue in 1923. It was named for William E Wray, at one time with the Education Dept as Truant Inspector, and a resident of the street. He was on the Fremantle Tramways Board and Mayor of Fremantle, 1914-1918.

A brick and stone two storey shop was built on this site in 1933 for Mr E. R. Sander. The shop was built by Mr Melrose of Bicton for £1500. The two storey shop remains today.

Limestone walls and outcrops were identified on this site in the ‘Heritage Report on: 19th Century limestone walls and steps in Fremantle’ prepared by Silvana Grassadonia, for the City of Fremantle, 1986. The report includes photos of these features (60, 61 & 62). Historic aerial photographs suggest that these features were demolished in the early 2000s.

The place was included on the Fremantle Municipal Heritage Inventory when it was first adopted in 18 September 2000 and the Heritage List on 8 March 2007.

On 23 February 2022 Council resolved to change the management category in the Local Heritage Survey from Limestone Features to Level 3.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate - there have been some modification to upper level windows.

Condition

Fair - assessed from street only

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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