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Statement of Significance

Wentworth Motors (fmr), 410-414 Murray Street has historical significance as a purpose-built warehouse and showroom for the Winterbottom Motor Co in 1933. It has historical significance as a work of architects Oldham, Boas and Ednie Brown. The place has aesthetic significance as an Inter-War Stripped Classical style commercial building. It makes a positive contribution to the Murray Street streetscape. It is as a representative example of a warehouse/showroom that has undergone a change of use.

Physical Description

Commercial building with alterations at ground floor level intact at first floor level. Parapet with simple functionalist detailing.

History

Until the 1880s the town centre was characterised by the establishment of small cottages, shops and small businesses and was rural in character. The expansion of commerce following the discovery of gold in the 1890s put pressure on land in the centre of Perth with the result that many of the residential buildings located in the inner city were replaced with commercial buildings during this time, and the centre of Perth was substantially rebuilt. Murray Street was established along with St. Georges Terrace and Hay Street as one of the main streets of Perth from the time of colonisation in 1829 when the Perth Town Lots were surveyed and planned out. In the early 1900s this area had residences, including a significant Chinese population and their businesses.
In 1912 new buildings at No. 410, the Perth Telephone Exchange, and Daniel White and Co, coach builders (No. 414) replaced these. In 1920 White and Co was sharing the location with Sedgewick Ltd, oil and colour merchants. It eventually became Clarkson Ltd, successors to Sedgewick Ltd with Charles Harper, manager.
On 10 April 1932 a disastrous fire at No. 414 Murray Street completely destroyed the building. The lane between the building and the Telephone Exchange was the only thing to save the exchange from burning, or services being interrupted. The lot was eventually sold at auction in September 1933 by Mrs. J. Sedgewick, to the Winterbottom Motor Company. It was reported that the basement and foundations of the original building remained.
In October 1933 Missen and Mills's tender of £4,374 was accepted for the erection of a new building, comprising two storeys and a basement. The architects were Oldham, Boas and Ednie Brown. In January 1934 the newspaper reported: Wentworth Motors Limited, sole W.A. distributors for Chrysler and Plymouth cars and Fargo trucks, announce that they are moving to their new premises at 414-416 Murray Street, next to Automatic Telephone Exchange, on Tuesday next, 30th instant. The new building comprises two storeys and basement and provides most up-to-date facilities for display distribution and servicing of the lines handled by the company. A spacious new car showroom and office accommodation occupy the front portion of the ground floor, and at the rear of the offices is a used car showroom. A wide right-of-way with a natural fall to the rear of the premises, gives easy access to the basement level, which will be used for storage, spare parts and service. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1939) shows a long narrow building with a basement, separated by a narrow laneway from the Telephone Exchange on the east. At the rear was a factory building. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1950 shows the building at that time, with no awning, and a façade of unpainted brick. The building was sold by auction in 1955 and was advertised in the ‘Sunday Times’ as a Warehouse and Showrooms: “Brick building with corrugated asbestos roof containing: First Floor offices and showrooms; ground floor and basement, containing approximately 15575 sq. ft . ”The building was then occupied by H. Wilberforce & Co., electrical goods; followed by Canberra Television Services. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1966 captions the building as ‘Airways House’ and shows the name in letters on the façade. Still later, the building was the Perth Hobby Centre, and a photo undated, (c. 1990s) shows that the suspended metal awning has been added.
In 2013 the place was fitted out as a Jazz Lounge, later called the Laneway Lounge. In December 2021 after a refurbishment it opened as the Volstead Lounge, a Speakeasy style hidden bar that is accessible through a hidden door. It is a venue operated by Matt Hatton, a local music promoter and director of Mad Hatter Productions, who also operates a secret bar called ‘Convenients’ in another heritage building, a former house at 35 Lake Street.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity. Not intact at ground level.

Condition

Fair - Good

Uses

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.