Corner Store (fmr) - 65 Bagot Road

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance:
• As the site and remnant structure of a former corner store built in Subiaco in the period around the First World War.
• It is associated with the development of Subiaco in the Inter-War period.

Physical Description

• Extensively restored and extended inter-war property.
• Sections of the original property have been retained, corner store section has been removed.
• Brick construction to façade with tuck point and roughcast render finishes.
• Hipped and gabled roof with timber detailing to gables.
• Timber casement windows to façade.
• Extensive addition along Kings Street frontage.

History

While the Subiaco area was subdivided into Perth Suburban Lots in 1883 the population of the district had only risen to around 100 by 1895. In the mid 1890s the significant population growth that flowed from gold discoveries in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie placed increasing stress on the existing housing market in Perth. It was the opportunities that this provided for the owners of the large tracts of relatively undeveloped residential land in Subiaco that finally commenced the transformation of Subiaco from bush to suburb. In the early twentieth century the area that is now known as the ‘Subiaco Triangle Precinct’ attracted the construction of a range of dwellings, including timber cottages, semi-detached houses, two to three bedroom free-standing brick dwellings and substantial villas. Interspersed through the Triangle Precinct were small corner stores within walking distance of the residences.
An entry for 65 Bagot Road first appeared in the Post Office Directories in 1919, when a store was listed under the name of Herbert Ferguson a Health Inspector for the City of Perth. No detail of the architect or builder of this place has been found in this research.
Herbert Ferguson was one of the casualties of the 'Spanish Flu' pandemic and died of pneumonic influenza in August 1919, aged 47. The store was operated for a time by his widow, Florence who may have been the store proprietor originally while Herbert worked as an Inspector.
A review of the Post Office Directories at five yearly intervals provides the following information about its subsequent occupation and use through to the mid-twentieth century:
1920: Store, Mrs Florence Ferguson
1925: Store, Edgar F Bryant
1930 & 1945: Store, Mrs Edith Phillips
1940, 1945 & 1949: Mixed business, Cecil Dessauer
Based on the above, it is likely that 65 Bagot Road was a quintessential corner store, which would have aimed to stock a little of everything (i.e. a very small scale version of today’s supermarkets).
An aerial photograph dated 1948 shows a splayed corner verandah over the footpath. This extended across the front of the former shop and for a similar distance along the Kings Road frontage. The form of this verandah suggests that the place may have originally had a corner entry with large shop front windows to both street frontages. However, evidence of any alterations have been concealed by the current rendered finish.
The verandah was removed at some stage between 1953 and 1965 and, based on the physical evidence, it is likely that the former shop was adapted as part of the attached residence at that time.
In 2019, the place underwent alterations and additions that have extended the original footprint with a two storey addition to the rear of the original premises and removed the former corner store portion.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Moderate - The place continues to be occupied as a private residence but with no possibility of returning the place to use as a shop.
Authenticity - Low - Moderate: Recent renovations have removed evidence of the former store form and detail.

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.