Railways Institute Building (fmr)

Author

Heritage Council

Place Number

02146

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Northern frontage, as viewed from Wellington Street

Location

605 Wellington St Perth

Location Details

CoP lists it as only 605 Wellington St

Other Name(s)

Chief Mechanical Eng WAGR Bldg (fmr)

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897 to 1910

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	20 Dec 1985		City of Perth
Heritage Area	Adopted	12 May 2009		City of Perth
State Register	Registered	27 Jun 1997	Register Entry Assessment Documentation

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Local Heritage Survey	Adopted	28 Mar 2023	Category 1	Category 1 Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.	City of Perth
Municipal Inventory	Completed\Draft	13 Mar 2001			City of Perth
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	13 Mar 2001			City of Perth
Local Heritage Survey	Completed\Draft		Category 1	Category 1 Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.	City of Perth
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01	YES	31 Dec 1999
Classified by the National Trust	Classified	04 May 1981

Parent Place or Precinct

02031 King Street Precinct

Statement of Significance

Railways Institute Building (fmr), Perth, has cultural heritage significance
for the following reasons:
the place has a strong visual presence in its section of Wellington
Street, and makes an important contribution to the historic and
aesthetic character of the northern end of the King Street heritage
precinct;
the place is a fine and rare demonstration of the late Victorian
Romanesque revival style favoured by Chief Government Architect
Hillson Beasley, applied to a central Perth office building; and

the place is an example of a late 1890s office building constructed by
the Public Works Department to house an expanding Government
Department

Physical Description

Two storey government building with two storey loggia arcade to front elevation with classical detailing. Large arched openings to street and first floor levels, central pediment to parapet roof. Face brick with stucco detailing. The building has been extensively altered internally.

History

In 1881, the Railway Benefit Society was formed. In 1887 this became known as the Railway Institute. The building has housed various government departments over its history.
Refer to documentation of places for entry into the Heritage Council Register of Heritage Places.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity.

Medium level of authenticity as it is restored externally; internally adapted to a new use.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
Hillson Beasley	Architect	-	-
Duncan, Stephen & Mercer	Architect	-	-

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
3195	Report on the physical condition of the Railways Institute Buildings Wellington St Perth	Report	1992
836	Railways institute buildings : archival record	Report	1992

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	COMMERCIAL	Office or Administration Bldg
Present Use	Transport\Communications	Rail: Office or Administration Bldg

Architectural Styles

Style
Victorian Romanesque

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	BRICK	Face Brick

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Government & politics

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

28 Sep 2022

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.