COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 93-95 HIGH STREET

Statement of Significance

A fine example of a building in the Inter-War Functionalist style that remains substantially intact when viewed from the street.

Physical Description

Two storey rendered masonry building with projecting bay to the centre, unadorned parapet and pediment. The ground floor has two doors with multi paned transom windows sided by two shop glass and timber shop fronts, the awning shapes to frame the centre entrances. The first floor has seven multi paned windows and rendered banding cornices. The building has rendered motifs typical of the Inter-War Functionalist style.

History

High Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975.
In 1900 the Economic Stores had premises here which were bought in 1933/4 by the Bank of Australasia. The current building was constructed by F H Rennie and completed in 1938. The building consisted of banking chambers, strongrooms, and a shop (No. 95). A manager's residence occupied the first floor. In 1952 the state Government bought lot 419 and the banking chamber became a radiological clinic, serving this purpose for the next 32 years. Tenants used the rest of the building. In 1984 the building was let to Alcoholics Anonymous. In 1994 the building was vacated.
In 2002, Rah clothing and High St Blues, retail outlets.
Currently (2013), ‘Remedy’ and ‘LA Clothing’ retail outlets.

Condition

Fair.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.