Commercial Building

Statement of Significance

The place has historical and aesthetic significance as a Federation Free Classical style building dating from the first decade of the twentieth century. It is representative of the commercial development of this part of the inner-city area.

Physical Description

Two storey commercial building with geometric facade. Parapet with projecting cornice and a series of three pediments. Elongated timber frame windows with string coursing on the ground floor and stucco moulding between the first and ground floor windows.

History

There was a rapid growth in the population of Western Australia and an increase in development in the city of Perth as a result of the prosperity from the 1890s goldrush. Many of the residential buildings located in the inner city near Queen Street were replaced with commercial buildings during this time. Queen Street was first established as a private road in the early 1890s and was acquired by the City of Perth in the late 1890s which provided more land for development close to the railway. The railway was completed in 1881 and overtook the river as the primary transport method. The west end area including Queen Street, King Street, west end of Murray and Hay Streets and part of Wellington Street became the location of warehouses and commercial buildings due to their proximity to the railway. Between World War One and the beginning of the Great Depression during a time of economic prosperity more commercial buildings were constructed in the inner city. In 1903 the location of 10-12 Queen Street was owned by Henry Truman Kelsall, a medical practitioner in Perth; and Arthur Charles Gillam, a grazier of Cherittah Station near Roebourne. In 1906 the original portion was split into two lots and an entrance way off Queen Street. Lot 1 was purchased by Laurence and Annie Alexander in 1906. Laurance Alexander was a merchant and manager of P. Falk and Co which was an importer of luxury goods from Europe. Two warehouses were built on the site by architects Austin Bastow and John C Smith. The warehouses were leased by Frederick Daniel Sewell who was an importer and manufacturers agent, and William Mills of the Fremantle Cake and Biscuit manufacturers. Mill’s company traded as Mills and Ware. The warehouse was used as a storage and dispatch location for their products which were made in their factory in Fremantle. Sewell and Mills and Ware continued to lease the warehouses at 10 and 12 Queen Street until 1918. Several tenants used the buildings between 1919 and 1923 as warehouses and office space. The building was divided into smaller office spaces for various manufacturers and merchants, for example clothing, chemist, wholesale confectioner, photographic good supplier. In 1932 the ownership changed to Gregory Gill who was a merchant and established an office in the building. His ownership remained until 1950. No. 14 Queen Street was created with the division of 12 Queen Street as shown on a plan dated 1942. During the 1950s and 1960s alterations occurred in the building. Tenants at the time included W.L. Robins and Co, a wholesale soft goods supplier, Kolotex and WA Hospital Supplies. During the 1990s and 2000s ownership and tenants changed to be primarily investment companies. It was used as the office during the Raine Square redevelopment and is now part of that lot (Lot 350, with an address of No. 300 Murray Street). In 2020 a furniture show room ‘Zenith’ moved into the premises. The interior features include original pressed tine ceilings on the first floor, industrial beams and jarrah flooring.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity. High level of authenticity. Largely as originally constructed with detail intact.

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Creation Date

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