Commercial

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

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

Commonwealth House is a two-storey brick building in the Federation Free Classical style. It was originally designed with four shops, with associated residences to the first floor. The upper walls would have originally been finished with a combination of face brickwork and contrasting rendered detailing (now fully painted).
An important feature of the original design was a continuous verandah/ balcony, which featured a raked roof with a bull-nosed edge and what appears to have been a cast iron balustrade (as seen in a 1914 photograph). This was removed in the mid-twentieth century and the shops now have individual suspended boxed-awnings, which step down to match the slope of the street. Juliet balconies have been placed in front of the original French doors to the first floor.
Other than the removal of the verandah/balcony and the painting of the original face brickwork, the first floor retains much of its original detailing. The primary feature is the prominent decorative parapet, which includes a large central arch with ‘Commonwealth House’ in bas relief. A decorative bracketed cornice runs the full length of the building, rising in a curve over the central arch. Above this a closed moulded balustrade links end posts and a central rectangular pediment.
The first floor walls include four double hung windows and four French doors, which define the front of each original residential unit. Modern canvas awnings shade each of the openings.
The two shopfronts on to the southern half of the main facade still retain important evidence of their early-mid twentieth century design. Each of these shopfronts include rendered stall walls; a combination of timber and metal framing; a raked, recessed entry; original (but modified) panelled and glazed timber doors; plate glass windows; square highlights; and pressed metal to the internal soffit of the display window.
The other two shopfronts have been fully replaced.

History

The building named Commonwealth House was constructed in c.1913. This means that the development of Lots 19 & 20, DP 1375, formed part of the consolidation of the commercial centre of Subiaco in the years leading up to WWI, as referred to the following report from January 1914:
In reviewing the past year's progress in the Subiaco municipality one fails to detect any outstanding features, but there is no lack of evidence that steady development has taken place. No less than sixteen new shops have made their appearance in Rokeby-road, the principal business portion of the town, and they are all tenanted and reported to be doing well. The whole of the western side of the road is now occupied with business establishments … Mr. Luth added: "We have now four drapery establishments of considerable size, and people are opening up in other lines, showing that the trade is here. The people are beginning to shop more in their own municipality, and to realise that they can do as well here as in the city."
The Assessment of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area 2013 concluded that this group of 4 shops was built for the Commonwealth Boot Company (which was associated with the Sizer family). Online family trees suggest that Eli Warfold Sizer and Harriett Christopher were married in America in c.1853 and that this couple had at least 7 children, the youngest of whom was Nettie May Sizer (c.1873-1952). Eli remarried to Mary Amelia Vigdahl in c.1879 and they had migrated to Australia by 1881. In March 1905, Nettie Sizer was granted a Colonial Wine Licence for a grocery store in West Perth, but had moved to 91 Rokeby Road with her father and step-mother by the time of Eli’s death in September 1906. At that time he was described being “late of the Commonwealth Boot Store, Rokeby Road”. Nettie and her step-mother, Mary, continued to operate the boot shop at #91 until c.1913, after which they moved their business to a new shop and residence at 115 Rokeby Road. This business was sold to Eazywalkin Ltd in October 1916 and in the Electoral Rolls of 1925, Nettie and Mary were identified as residents of Mt Lawley.
Over time, some of the occupants of the property included:
115 Rokeby Road
 1914: Commonwealth Boot Company, Miss Nettie May Sizer
 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935 & 1940: Ezywalkin Ltd, boot & shoe dealers
 1945: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory
 1949: William Prior, upholsterer/ furniture manufacturer
 2012: Sonny’s Cafe
 2022: Brunch Makers, cafe
117 Rokeby Road
 1914 & 1920: Miss Florence Mabel McKee, draper
 1925, 1930, 1935 & 1940: Miss Violet Newton, milliner
 1945: Coufas & Fraser, dressmakers
 1949: Mrs Queenie Merrit, newsagent
 2012: Rokeby News
 2022: Be Loved Alterations and Tailoring
119 Rokeby Road
 1914: Ida Abelman, novelty shop
 1920 & 1925: John Maddocks, seedsman & florist (Western Seeds)
 1930: Mrs Elizabeth White, seedsman & florist
 1935: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory
 1940: Mrs E M Griffiths, ladies hairdresser (Maison Vanite Beauty Parlour)
 1945: Mrs E Carlson, ladies hairdresser (Maison Vanite)
 1949: Miss Amy K Watson, ladies hairdresser (Maison Vanite)
 2012: Rebecca Oates, hair salon (occupying 119-121 Rokeby Road)
 2022: The Hair Society, hair salon (occupying 119-121 Rokeby Road)
121 Rokeby Road
 1914: Mrs B Branley, refreshment rooms
 1920: Greene’s Supply Stores, dairy produce merchants
 1925 & 1930: Thomas Bond Coatham, tailor
 1935, 1940, 1945 & 1949: Edgar Ivan Paddick, tailor
 2012: Rebecca Oates, hair salon (occupying 119-121 Rokeby Road)1375
 2022: The Hair Society, hair salon (occupying 119-121 Rokeby Road)
The property was offered for sale as part of the deceased estate of Mr. E. C. Rosman in April 1953: It seems likely that this was Ethelred Charles Rosman, accountant, of Watkins-road, Nedlands, who died on 2 January 1952 at the age of 73.

Integrity/Authenticity

Overall, the place has retained a high level of authenticity to the parapet and first floor openings, and a medium level of authenticity to the southern two shopfronts.
The painted finish to the brickwork, street awnings, Juliet balconies, canvas awnings and the 2 northern shopfronts have a low level of authenticity.

Condition

The main facade appears to be generally in good condition commensurate with the age of the building (based on streetscape inspection only).

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.