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Commercial

Author

City of Subiaco

Place Number

24254
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

115-121 Rokeby Rd Subiaco

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Commonwealth House

Local Government

Subiaco

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1910

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
(no listings)

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
Municipal Inventory Adopted 04 Feb 2003 Category 5

Category 5

Level 1 Commercial

Statement of Significance

The place represents the historic development of Rokeby Road as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is a visually imposing commercial building in the Federation Free Classical style with some intact shop fronts and decorative pediment.

Physical Description

Double storey commercial building comprising four businesses some with re-entrant doors. Individual framed canopies over shop fronts on four levels. Rendered brickwork to front wall, painted brickwork to columns and face brickwork to side walls. Four double hung windows and four double doors to upper storey. Curved canopies to each opening. Central arch to parapet with corbelling supporting cornice moulding. Corbelling to top of piers. Closed balustrading to top of parapet.

History

Originally wood and coal dealer c1910, also dressmaker, florist c1917.
Subiaco began to develop as a residential and commercial area in the 1890s, with the first buildings being established along the railway line. In 1895 Rokeby Road was not yet gazetted and Hay Street was called Broome Road. By the turn of the century most of the main roads in central Subiaco were built, including Rokeby, Heytsebury, Hamersley, Bagot, Townshend, Park and Nicholson Roads. Many businesses had been established in Broome Road. Broome Road was named after Governor Broome, and was renamed Hay Street after Vice-Secretary of Colonies, 1829.
There were many land releases in the late 1890s and early 1900s as Subiaco become a popular place to settle, and businesses were attracted to the opportunity of opening in a new but stable suburb. The Rokeby Road and Hay Street commercial area was firmly established by 1915.
Over the years the nature of businesses have changed. Originally there were estate agents, dressmakers, tailors, confectioners, drapers, grocers, restaurateurs and bakers; in fact most shopping could be done without leaving the suburb.
(Sources: Wise's Post Office Directory 1893-1915; Real Estate Maps, Battye Library Collection; Spillman, Ken, Identity Prized: A History of Subiaco, City of Subiaco, UWA Press, 1985, pp. 92-110; Chate, A. H., History of Subiaco, c1952.)

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}
Original Use COMMERCIAL Other

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Painted Brick
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick
Wall BRICK Face Brick

Creation Date

14 Aug 2012

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.