inHerit Logo

London Court

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

01998
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

647-653 Hay St Mall Perth

Location Details

Also part of Hay St Mall Precinct 4281

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1937

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
State Register Registered 08 Oct 1996 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
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Classified by the National Trust Classified 07 Aug 1978

Heritage Council
Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey Completed

Heritage Council
Survey of 20th Ctry Architecture Completed 01 Mar 1988

Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate Permanent 28 Sep 1982

Heritage Council
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

The place is of aesthetic significance because it is a recognised landmark in the City of Perth.

The place is of aesthetic significance as an example of a commercial building constructed during the inter war period.

The place is of aesthetic significance because it contributes to the visual quality of its location.

The significance of the place is increased because it remains substantially intact.

The place is of historic significance because it represents the expansion of commerce and trade in Perth in the post World War 1 period and the consequence establishment of a prestigious business district in the St Georges Terrace area.

The place is of social significance because it represents a special place for members of the community associated with the development and consolidation following the gold boom.

The significance of the place is increased because it remains substantially intact.

The place has significance as a rare example of Inter War Old English architecture in Perth.

Physical Description

External - London Court consists of basement, ground and three floors at each end with the main arcade section being two storeys and open air to the centre, designed to create the effect of a narrow street.

The Hay Street facade presents in a mock Tudor style with rendering and timbered elements to the upper sections, diamond leaded lights and weatherboard detailing. The ground level shop units are of polychromatic brickwork. The dominant feature is the rendered arch and clock ensemble in an off-centre position in the facade. The arch leads into the arcade. The roof line to Hay Street consists of three gables, all with different treatments.

Some of the original 55 shops have been combined to make larger retail units but still retain much of their original single unit presentation to the arcade frontage. The windows to the retail units are copper framed. The shops along the arcade are of polychromatic brick construction with fabric awnings and heraldry embellishments. The upper floors are roughcast render with timbered detailing to some sections. Windows are timber framed with square or diamond leaded-style windows.

Internal - Original 1930s lifts remain extant with timber lined door, leaded glazing to the small window in the lift door and timber lining within the lift car with skylight and copper detailing. Ornate wrought iron floor indicator above the lift door.

Office spaces and shops have all been upgraded but much original fabric remains retaining the essential 1930s character. Some of the office spaces have bay windows with deep window seats.
Terrazzo lined floors to the staircase and landings.

Ornate ship detailing to detailing to the cornice around ceiling to the ground level of the Hay Street entry statement.

History

London Court was erected on land purchased, in February 1936, on the site of a collection of back alleys known as 'Gun Alley'. The land was purchased by local businessman and entrepreneur, Claude A. de Bernales for the Australian Machinery
and Investment Co. Ltd, for a sum of £75,000.
He engaged Melbourne architect, Bernard Evans to design the arcade with local architects, Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown. The project was constructed by General Constructions Pty Ltd throughout 1937 and was opened on 29 July 1937 by Lieutenant Governor Sir James Mitchell.
The arcade design was an homage to a Tudor style but the flats and retail tenancies featured modern conveniences for the period. The original arcade comprised fifty three shops, fifty five offices and twenty-four residential flats
In c1952, London Court was sold by de Bernales.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. The original function of the place was retail, office and accommodation which has been retained, albeit the residential component has diminished being adapted for additional office space.

High level of authenticity. The majority of the original fabric remains extant and where fabric has been replaced or repaired, this has been done in a sympathetic manner.

Condition

Fair

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Oldham Boas, Ednie Brown Architect 1937 1937
Bernard Evans Architect 1937 1937

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
State Register Entry and Assessment documentation for P1998 State Heritage Office 1996
The West Australian p 6. 16 January 1937
Q 711.409 SED A City and Its Setting, (1986) pp 178, 182. Seddon, George 1986
Q 720.99411 EMA Portrait of Perth, (1977) by Emanuel, Cedric and Ward, Kirwan 1977
Perth - CM321798/17 Hocking Heritage Studio (2017) Hay Street Mall Heritage Area Study
Q 720.99411 HOC Perth - The Building Challenge, (1987) by Hocking, Ian 1987
R 720.9941 HER Heritage of Western Australia, (1989) pp 43 Australian Heritage Commission 1989
1.36/647 COP Heritage Place File City of Perth

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
9451 London Court, Perth - Conservation works Conservation works report 2010
8866 London Court, Perth. Conservation plan. Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 2006

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Other Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Original Use RESIDENTIAL Flats\Apartment Block

Architectural Styles

Style
Inter-War Old English

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Other METAL Steel
Other TILE Terracotta Tile
Roof TILE Terracotta Tile
Wall BRICK Face Brick
Other METAL Wrought Iron
Other CONCRETE Other Concrete
Wall RENDER Roughcast

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities
OCCUPATIONS Commercial & service industries

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

14 Jun 2024

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.