Commercial

Author

City of Subiaco

Place Number

24257

Location

131 Rokeby Rd Subiaco

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Tighe's Building

Local Government

Subiaco

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1905

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 04 Feb 2003 Category 5

Statement of Significance

The place represents the historic development of Rokeby Road as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is a visually imposing commercial building in the Federation Free Classical style with some intact shop fronts and decorative pediment.

Physical Description

Double storey commercial building addressing street corner. Shop windows to corner and main street front on lower storey. Framed canopies on two levels. Rough rendered brickwork to walls. Double hung windows to upper level with security bars to lower sash. Fabric canopies over each opening. Ornate parapet comprises cornice moulding and circle pattern between piers. Parapet curves down to flush eaves at side of building. High pediment to corner.

History

Built by the Tighe family, the building housed Michael Tighe, grocer c1905. When he also became a wine merchant from c1912, Tighe's was probably the first grocer to ever hold a liquor licence. Subiaco began to develop as a residential and commercial area in the 1890s, with the first buildings being established along the railway line. In 1895 Rokeby Road was not yet gazetted and Hay Street was called Broome Road. By the turn of the century most of the main roads in central Subiaco were built, including Rokeby, Heytsebury, Hamersley, Bagot, Townshend, Park and Nicholson Roads. Many businesses had been established in Broome Road. Broome Road was named after Governor Broome, and was renamed Hay Street after Vice-Secretary of Colonies, 1829. There were many land releases in the late 1890s and early 1900s as Subiaco become a popular place to settle, and businesses were attracted to the opportunity of opening in a new but stable suburb. The Rokeby Road and Hay Street commercial area was firmly established by 1915. Over the years the nature of businesses have changed. Originally there were estate agents, dressmakers, tailors, confectioners, drapers, grocers, restaurateurs and bakers; in fact most shopping could be done without leaving the suburb. (Sources: Wise's Post Office Directory 1893-1915; Real Estate Maps, Battye Library Collection; Spillman, Ken, Identity Prized: A History of Subiaco, City of Subiaco, UWA Press, 1985, pp. 92-110; Chate, A. H., History of Subiaco, c1952.)

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}
Original Use COMMERCIAL Other

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick

Creation Date

14 Aug 2012

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.