Gledden Building

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

02002

Location

731 Hay St Mall Perth

Location Details

Also part of Hay Street Mall Precinct 4281

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1935 to 1938

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage Agreement YES 24 Feb 1999 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument
Heritage Agreement Variation 24 Oct 2000 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument
Heritage List Adopted 19 Feb 1990
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
State Register Registered 01 Dec 1995 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Survey of 20th Ctry Architecture Completed 01 Mar 1988
Classified by the National Trust Classified 04 Oct 1989
Register of the National Estate Nominated 21 Dec 1990
Register of the National Estate Registered 27 Oct 1998
Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey Completed
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999
Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001 Category 1
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1
Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Statement of Significance

The place demonstrates an innovative response to the architectural and urban issues associated with the concept of a modern commercial building in the late 1930s.The place is the only high rise Inter-War Art Deco office building in Perth. The place is a rare and innovative combination of multiple functions within a city building, including basement restaurant, two level shopping arcade, office accommodation and roof top lookout. The building, for many years the highest in the city centre, mirrors the tower form of Perth Town Hall, and together the two landmark buildings visually define the extent of the Hay Street Mall. The place is an exceptional example of the integration of art and architecture, and demonstrates a contemporary concern for the civic value of public art. The art works, based on Western Australian themes and an integral part of the building, have aesthetic and historic significance in their own right. The association with the philanthropy of Robert Gledden, the architectural design of Harold Boas, and the University of Western Australia.

Physical Description

Gledden Building is an eight-storey building creating a distinctive landmark on the corner of Hay and William Streets. The dual frontages are identical separated by a curved wall at the corner. A two-storey tower completes the corner face of the building. The elevations are dominated by a regular rhythm of windows. All windows are timber framed sashes although those to the first floor have an additional highlight above the sash. Each window is separated from the one above by a fluted concrete panel. The facades are divided into bays, each separated by a full height concrete pilaster. The awning is the original 1930s structure which contains art deco motifs and the words "Gledden Arcade". The underside of the awning is lined with a stripe effect of smooth and roughcast panels. The arcade runs in an 'L' shape behind the corner retail unit., connecting Hay Street to William Street. A number of the offices on the upper levels have been reconfigured and finishes upgraded. Not much original detailing remains visible. Some original skirtings remain extant, comprising run plaster mouldings with a deep timber skirting below. The internal windows are metal framed and look out over a glazed roof above the arcade. Parquet flooring runs through the public landings. The original metal panelled emergency escape doors remain extant.

History

The Gledden Building is named in recognition of Robert Gledden a wealthy local investor who donated a significant sum to the University of WA to promote education in the applied sciences. UWA engaged architect Harold Boas to design a building on this prominent site in the city. He submitted a design for a rare example of the Inter War Art Deco design in a high-rise building. The building was constructed in 1937 by contractors A.T. Brine and Co who bid a successful tender of £36845.The UWA Senate organised a competition to include decorative friezes on the theme of Western Australia in the building. Three prize winning designs were included in the finished building. Due to the impact of World War Two it wasn’t until 1954 that another high-rise building was built.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. High level of authenticity. The upper floors and arcade have retained their original Art Deco aesthetic. The shop frontages have been remodelled but are sympathetic to the original retail units. The Chemist unit to the east of the arcade has retained original aspects of the shop frontage.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Harold Boas Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Historical Aerial Photographs Landgate
Wise's Post Office Directories State Library of Western Australia
720.9941 WES Western Towns and Buildings (1979), pp 280 by Pitt Morrison, M and White, J (Ed)
State Register Entry and Assessment documentation for P2002, prepared by the State Heritage Office 1995
Q 711.409 SED A City and Its Setting, (1986) pp 140, 179 by Seddon, George
Q 725.22 GLE Gledden Building by Oldham Boas and Assoc Managing Agent Joseph Charles
City of Perth Rates Books
Perth - CM321798/17 Hay Street Mall Heritage Area Study Hocking Heritage Studio
Laura Gray Conservation Plan for Gledden Building Architectural Dissertation Curtin University of Technology 1994
1.36/731 COP Heritage Places File

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
5587 Gledden Building, Hay and William Streets, Perth : conservation plan. Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 1998
4568 Gledden Building : photographic survey. Report 2000
10265 An investigation into the nature of modernism and modernity during the 1930s in Perth, Western Australia, through the study of specific buildings and related art and design forms. Other 1994
576 The Gledden Building Conservation Plan vol 2 of 2 Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 1994
6483 Proposed modifications : Gledden Building. C D Rom 2003
4981 Final report : Gledden Building : 731 Hay Street, Perth. December 2000 Report 2000
577 The Gledden Building Conservation Plan vol 1 Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 1994

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex

Architectural Styles

Style
Inter-War Art Deco

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall CONCRETE Reinforced Concrete

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

18 Apr 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

25 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.