Wests Shops

Statement of Significance

The place represents commercial enterprise in the town of Kondinin, and a prosperity during the 1920s. The place is an important element in the mainstreet streetscape and townscape character of Kondinin.

Physical Description

A row of six single storey shops with a single street front verandah. Brick construction with a separate gable or hipped corrugated iron roof over each shop section. The parapet facade for each shop forms a continuum with a semi circular pediment. The two end shops have a stepped parapet with the pediment.

History

James William West came from Keynton (Victoria) in 1903, at the age of 14 to join three brothers already in the west. Before World War One, West was a Dumbleyung pioneer, establishing shops in 1912 and 13. After the war, he farmed in partnership with Andrew Oliver, his mate from the 10th Light Horse regiment, on Tom Collett's former farm, and in 1924 he purchased J Atkin's farm. In 1919, James West established a shop, behind the now existing shops, which faced the side lane. The shop was a corrugated iron construction where he operated a Dodge, Sunshine, Massey Harris, Dalgety, Shell and Queensland Insurance agencies, in addition to being a sworn valuer. He operated the first motor vehicle agency in Kondinin, and had a considerable property portfolio. A shed on the northern boundary of the lot measured about 90 x 45 feet, (or larger!) and was 20 feet high, with the north and west sides fully clad, and the other sides only clad half way up the walls with corrugated iron. The structure of the place was salmon gum poles, and the entrance was on the east side. The first three shops to be constructed in 1925 were on the west side. The shops were originally established as the Kondinin Garage (lurtherest west, and the largest), a hardware store combined with West's office, and a butcher shop. The head mechanic at the garage was Jack Tamlin, and it was run by West in conjunction with his hardware shop(ironmongers) and agencies, with his office at the back. The butcher shop was managed for West by Roy Atkinson, and later in the 1930s, Jack Gorringe, and then Albert and Jack Wignall. Behind the garage (attached), was a blacksmith shop. Jack Lees blacksmith? In 1925, JW West became the inaugural Chairman of the Kondinin Roads Board. Property and development in Kondinin was such that in 1928, West added another three shops to the then existing three shops, with a balancing larger shop on the east end. From west to east, the new shops were a car showroom, which became a machinery parts shop from the 30s to the 1950s, the Bank of New South Wales, which reopened after World War Two as the National Bank, and Roy Cook's grocery store at the east end. The showrooms has a sliding door for the cars to enter, and had a comprehensive range of McKay Sunshine machinery parts. The grocery store was also a drapery store (Stockwell (Whytes??) Drapers), before being a grocery store in the late 1930s, managed by Frank Baker "Bake", for West The functions in each of the shops has changed over the years.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact/redeemable Authenticity: high degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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