Butterworth's Buildings

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance as an Inter-War commercial building designed by J. L. Ochiltree.
The site is of historic and aesthetic significance as an Inter-War Free Classical style and forms an integral component of the Hay Street streetscape.

Physical Description

Two storey symmetrical building with battlement parapet and decorative pediment; facade distinguished by strongly modelled, arched windows with fanlights and pilasters; shop fronts at ground level modified with modern shop fittings although original awning is still intact.

History

Until the 1880s the Perth 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 most residential uses were displaced in favour of commercial development. The area around King Street was characterised by workers' cottages with shops, coal yards, smithies and foundries located in the adjacent areas of Murray and Hay Street. In the mid 1890s some smaller businesses began to establish themselves in existing cottages and a number of larger enterprises erected substantial new offices and warehouses in the area. Perth underwent a vigorous public works and corresponding expansion of commerce and trade, and by c. 1910 the centre of Perth was substantially rebuilt. Hay Street remained a major commercial street throughout the twentieth century and for most of that time was characterised by traffic, including trams.
Perth Town Lot H19 had been in the ownership of Jeremiah Butterworth for many years, and after he died in his 1876 his will stated that it should be used for the benefit of the Perth Wesley Sunday School and the Wesleyan Methodist Society. The lot extended from Hay to Murray Street. Until 1898 this section of Hay Street was all residential. In 1898 the post office directory listed a commercial building at No. 632, Bennie Teare and Co, importers of mining and engineering requisites. In 1908, numbering had changed and the building was Perth Motor House (Winterbottom and Harris, importers of motor cars and marine motors). Businesses related to the motoring industry dominated this part of the city for much of the Inter-War period. The place was occupied by Stewarts and Lloyds, tubes manufacturer from 1915 into the early 1930s.In 1922 Butterworth’s trustees expressed a wish to erect two buildings, one with Hay Street frontage and one with Murray Street frontage (possibly current No. 413) on his lot. At the time the Hay Street frontage contained ‘a two storey stone, brick, wood, and iron building, and in the centre some outbuildings, and a wood and iron structure used as a garage.’ The trustees’ architect and surveyor (Mr. J. L. Ochiltree) advised them it would be necessary to alter and rebuild portion of the premises on the Hay-street front; and estimated the cost of rebuilding at £3,723. (Daily News, 13 Nov 1922, p. 8) The Hay Street façade with ‘Butterworth Buildings’ written in stucco on the label moulding would most likely have been built at this time to incorporate the new building with the already established one.
A ‘Daily News’ article in 1934 stated that a new two storey brick warehouse building will be erected at the rear of 886 Hay Street with funds provided by the estate of Jeremiah Butterworth. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1939) shows that the entrance leads to a timbered driveway behind. The two buildings either side have basements underneath. The 1948 aerial shows the lot comprised of three buildings. The westernmost extended almost the full length of the lot. There was a central entrance and a small building on the east. There was an open area behind which was later used for carparking, and another building located at the rear along the eastern boundary (this is possibly the 1934 building).In 1982 the building was occupied by Galerie Dusseldorf, the Palm Tree Coffee Lounge (see State Library of WA photo 311536PD) and the side of the building has a painted sign ‘Leslie & Co, Oil Engines, Importers of Mining and Engineering Requisites.’ Aerial photos show that in 2012 the open space between the buildings was converted into an outdoor area for a new entertainment venue (misleadingly called ‘The Stables Bar.’) At 2022 the place is mostly occupied by The Stables Bar, upstairs and down and in one of the shopfronts. The central arched former driveway entrance leads to the rear open space and upstairs.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity. Altered at ground floor level but intact above.

Condition

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.