Sony Building

Statement of Significance

The place has historical significance as a purpose-built warehouse and showroom for Knight Motors in 1927.
It has aesthetic significance as an Inter-War Stripped Classical style commercial building.
It makes a positive contribution to the Murray Street streetscape.
It is as a representative example of a warehouse/showroom that has undergone a change of use.

Physical Description

Single storey shop with original parapet. Shop front altered.

History

Until the 1880s the 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 many of the residential buildings located in the inner city were replaced with commercial buildings during this time, and the centre of Perth was substantially rebuilt. Murray Street was established along with St. Georges Terrace and Hay Street as one of the main streets of Perth from the time of colonisation in 1829 when the Perth Town Lots were surveyed and planned out. From the 1890s there were houses on this location, which survived the surrounding development up to 1927. At that time, Con Kontoolas live in a house at No. 438 Murray Street, and No. 440 was vacant (whether a vacant house or a vacant lot could be determined through deeper research).
In July 1927, a new motor company was announced that had purchased the lot adjacent to Adams Motors (442-446). Knight Motors proposed to build a motor show room and sales building, comprising one storey and a basement, but ‘strong enough to hold a second storey.’ The newspaper reported that an old house had already been demolished, but the bricks were being reused for the new structure. Knight Motors was established to promote ‘America’s most luxurious car’, the ‘Stearne Knight straight eight’ which was displayed in the showroom window of the expansive new building in March 1928. A photograph and description of the new building appears in the ‘Sunday Times’, 8 April 1928 and ‘The West Australian’, 3 May 1928. The building had ‘Knight Motors’ in lettering across the central pediment, and on the front of the suspended awning.
In 1931 the building was Fiat Cars, in 1939 Auto Union Sales Ltd, motor importers, and in 1949, when post office directories ceased publication, the building was occupied by M.S. McDonald, motor car dealer.
At 2022 the building has been converted to a brewery/restaurant.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity.
Authenticity - shop front not original.

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.