Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

Child Places

• 24253 Commercial
• 17709 Rogerson Building
• 26609 Row of Shops, 424-436 Hay St, Subiaco

Statement of Significance

The Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area has cultural heritage significance for the City of Subiaco for the following reasons: • It makes an important contribution to the community’s sense of place and local identity. • Taken as a collective visual experience, the street grid, cadastre and many of the built elements of the area make up a significant townscape, representative of the early development and progressive consolidation of Subiaco. The varied scale, detail and historical use of the places dating from the late nineteenth century through to the inter-war years (c.1898-1938) helps to present a balanced and authentic representation of its traditional character and the society that it served. • It is a substantial example of an early suburban centre within the Perth metropolitan area, the establishment of which was supported by the gold boom years, and the ongoing development of which was supported by the provision of well-serviced rail and tramway systems. • It retains sufficient physical evidence to be effectively interpreted as a representative example of a traditional suburban ‘main street’ precinct. This includes a diverse collection of commercial premises (ranging from prominent two-storey buildings to modest single storey shops) alongside other buildings which were developed as the post office, banks and entertainment/recreation venues (the latter including the Subiaco Hotel, Regal Theatre, Wests Theatre (fmr), Kings Hall (fmr), the former ballroom on the first floor of Rogerson Buildings, and at least three former billiard saloons). • Its landmark buildings have a particular significance in terms Subiaco’s identity. These include the Subiaco Hotel, Regal Theatre and Subi Plaza (all facing the corner of Hay Street and Rokeby Road), Rogerson Buildings (corner Roberts Road), Tighes Building (corner Barker Road) and Doyle Court (corner Bagot Road). Most of the development that was constructed after World War II is of little significance or, in some instances, intrusive. Some later additions to early buildings are of little significance, as are modifications to original facades.

Integrity/Authenticity

• All of the properties have undergone some degree of adaptation/alteration to accommodate changing use and to meet modern standards. The major changes impacting on the streetscape have been the removal of all of the original verandah/balconies (typically in the period around 1960) and the progressive full or partial replacement of shopfronts to modernise the presentation of the premises and their products. Other changes to the buildings that have impacted on the streetscape over time have included modifications to parapets (often undertaken to address structural deterioration) and the rendering/painting of face brickwork (typically undertaken to ‘modernise’ the shopfront) The shops, as viewed from the street, vary in authenticity and range from low to high. Overall, the contributory places have retained a medium level of authenticity. Note: sufficient documentary and physical evidence survives to support the reconstruction or effective interpretation of many of the altered/missing streetscape elements, if desired.

Condition

Based on a streetscape survey the majority of the contributory buildings appear to be well maintained and in fair-good condition commensurate with their age.

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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