Local Government
Perth
Region
Metropolitan
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.
Location
729 Hay St Perth
Location Details
Also part of Hay Street Mall Precinct 4281
Construction Date
Constructed from 1938
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Area | Adopted | 19 Feb 1990 | ||
| Heritage List | Adopted | 20 Dec 1985 | ||
| State Register | Registered | 18 Feb 2005 |
Register Entry Assessment Documentation |
Heritage Council |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | More information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Description | ||||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 04 Oct 1989 |
|
Heritage Council | |
| Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey | Completed |
|
Heritage Council | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Nominated | 21 Dec 1990 |
|
Heritage Council | |
| Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 | YES | 31 Dec 1999 |
|
Heritage Council | |
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place |
|
Heritage Council | ||
| Local Heritage Survey | Completed\Draft | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
||
| Local Heritage Survey | Adopted | 28 Mar 2023 | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
|
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 13 Mar 2001 |
|
||
| Municipal Inventory | Completed\Draft | 13 Mar 2001 | Category 1 |
Category 1 |
|
Statement of Significance
The place is a very fine example the Inter-War Art Deco style applied to a commercial building incorporating one of Perth’s finest intact Art Deco style facades.
The place is part of a landmark group of buildings in the Inter-War Functionalist and Art Deco styles comprising Devon House, Gledden Buildings and P&O Building (fmr).
The place was built for and later occupied as a retail store by John R Saunders Ltd, a leading Western Australian chain of menswear stores.
The place was designed by William Leighton one of the State’s foremost advocates of the Art Deco style.
Physical Description
Devon House is a four and five storey commercial building presenting with clearly discernible art deco styling. The building has been finished with a stucco render, creating a smooth finish to the elevations, with steel framed windows and glass block windows. The ground floor shop frontage has been remodelled but every other aspect of the facade retains its original detailing. Immediately above the new awning are a pair of steel framed openings, with a rendered fascia above with "Devon House" attached in art deco styled steel lettering. The remainder of the facade is dominated by rows of steel framed windows and glass block panels.
Contemporary store fit out with no evidence of the 1930s detailing.
History
This building was constructed in 1937 for the owners John R Saunders, a leading WA menswear chain, for £7245 to a design by architect William Leighton, who had joined, firm Baxter Cox. The building was leased and wasn’t used as a Saunders store until the early 1950s. John R Saunders Limited was sold to Roger David Menswear in the early 1980s. A hairdressing salon has been located in the building for over 50 years under different owners.
The Saunders family owned the building until 1999. The original design featured glass bricks from floor to ceiling to enable good natural light. One of the first tenants was tobacconist, B. H. Alston.
Integrity/Authenticity
High level of integrity.
High level of authenticity. The exterior of Devon House presents largely as originally constructed, the main area of change being the ground floor retail unit.
Condition
Fair
Associations
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| John R Saunders | Architect | - | - |
| William T Leighton | Architect | - | - |
References
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise's Post Office Directories | State Library of Western Australia | ||
| Newspaper Article p 18 | The Western Mail | 30 September 1937 | |
| Perth - CM321798/17 | Hay Street Mall Heritage Area Study | Hocking Heritage Studio | 2017 |
| 1.36/729 | COP Heritage Place File | ||
| Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation Devon House | 2005 | ||
| COP Looking Around Perth, 1981 Molyneaux, Ian | 1981 | ||
| COP Rate Books | City of Perth |
Place Type
Individual Building or Group
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | COMMERCIAL | Office or Administration Bldg |
| Other Use | COMMERCIAL | Shop\Retail Store {single} |
| Original Use | COMMERCIAL | Office or Administration Bldg |
Architectural Styles
| Style |
|---|
| Inter-War Art Deco |
Construction Materials
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | BRICK | Rendered Brick |
Historic Themes
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| OCCUPATIONS | Commercial & service industries |
Creation Date
18 Apr 1989Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
25 Jun 2024Disclaimer
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.