D.B. Jones Tanal Craft

Statement of Significance

Shops, 93-95 Throssell Street, Collie a series of attached, single-storey brick and iron shops constructed in about 1910 has cultural heritage significance as part of the early commercial and retail centre of Collie and, although much of its original detailing is lost, aesthetic value for the contribution it makes to the streetscape of Collie.

Physical Description

Shop 93, 94 & 95 Throssell Street are a row of three attached single storey brick and iron commercial buildings dated from 1910. Historical photographs show that the shops have lost their original decorative parapets, bull nose verandah roofs and timber posts. The parapets are now horizontal profile, with suspended steel awnings over the pavement, supported by simple round steel poles. The re-entrant shop fronts remain as the main remaining feature of the original form, although glazing and doors are not original.

History

On 21 May 1909 a fire started in the shop of WE Smith, a tailor and spread rapidly through the eight wooden shops between the Colliefields Hotel and the Crown Hotel. The Southern Times of 25 May 1909 reported that the businesses destroyed as GW Hartley, grocer; WE Smith, tailor; CAF Bond, chemist; R Waters, baker and confectioner; N Glaris, fish saloon; E Reynardson, furniture warehouse, E Watt, newsagent and the Ezywalkin Boot Co, boot merchants. Property loss was estimated at £2,000 with total losses, including stock and equipment at £4-5,000. The vacant blocks on either side of the row of shops protected the Colliefields and Crown Hotels. Most tenants were living on site.
Signage above and below the verandahs of the single storey shops advertise Robinson’s, Ezywalkin and the Sunday Times. Advertising for a tobacconist is also evident under the verandah of the double storey building next to the Colliefields Hotel.

The Post Office Directories for Collie do not provide street numbers until 1934. At that time, and until 1949 when the Post Office records cease, P McGeachie, fancy goods and newsagent is listed at 54 Throssell Street, the western most of these shops.
From 1934 to 1949, JD Robinson, hairdresser and tobacconist is listed at 51 Throssell Street. It would seem likely that at some time between the photograph being taken around 1910 and 1934 when the Post Office Directory records list street numbers, Robinson relocated to 51 Throssell Street and the Manchester House Ltd, in 1935 known as Cronshaws Manchester House, occupied 52 Throssell Street.
The three shops currently located on the site are numbered 93, 94 and 95 Throssell Street.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/ Medium

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.