Commercial Bank of Australia (fmr)

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

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.

Physical Description

94 Rokeby Road is a two-storey institutional building addressing the street corner of Rokeby Road and Churchill Avenue. Designed as a bank with an attached residence, this previously included a two-storey section at the corner (one bay wide to both Rokeby Road and Churchill Avenue) and a complementary single storey section forming a northern bay along Rokeby Road. Streetscape photographs dated1955 and 1983 show that the latter had a continuous plinth (not interrupted by any openings), three windows, pronounced horizontal banding to the rendered walls, and very simple parapet detailing. The 1983 photograph also indicates that the first floor detailing to the corner section was largely as it remains today. Key traditional elements for the early twentieth century structures include the deep plinth, pronounced horizontal banding to the rendered walls, wide rusticated pilasters, moulded architraves to the first floor windows, dentilled cornice and flat capped parapet. Major late twentieth century alterations include the additions to the northern and eastern ends in a matching/complimentary style, cutting the windows down into the plinths and adapting one of the Rokeby Road windows as a door.

History

A part plan of Rokeby Road dated 1904 shows what appears to be a single residence located on a large corner lot at the intersection of Rokeby Road and Perth Street (later known as Churchill Avenue). This appears to have been demolished in c.1909 in preparation for the construction of the new Commercial Bank at 94 Rokeby Road. The Commercial Bank of Australia had opened its first local branch on Hay Street in 1904. Tenders were called for new purpose-built premises in mid 1909: TENDERS Will be received until noon on July 31 for BUILDING BANKING PREMISES At the Corner of Rokeby-road and Perth-street, Subiaco for the COMMERCIAL BANK OF AUSTRALIA, LTD. ….. CAVANAGH, CAVANAGH, and PARRY, Architects This was part of a significant building campaign by the bank at that time: The Commercial Bank of Australia has been very enterprising …. In the last few months this institution has erected or has in hand a number of branch banks including new premises in Northam, Subiaco, Pingelly, Donnybrook, Bridgetown, and Wickepin. Most of these are large, substantial banking premises, with residences attached …… These various buildings have been designed by and carried out under the supervision of Messrs. Cavanagh, Cavanagh, and Parry, architects. The place continued to be used as banking chambers until at least 1983 (when it was occupied as a Westpac branch). An analysis of historical aerial photographs confirms that the northern bay facing Rokeby Road was originally single storey and was reconstructed to match the original two-storey corner section in the mid-late 1980s. At the same time the building was also extended to the east. These works adapted 94 Rokeby Road to include a number of office suites plus reconfigured ground floor retail premises. In recent times, occupants of the corner store have included:  2012: The Glitter Company  2022: One night Stand Boutique, women’s wear

Integrity/Authenticity

The original portion of the building has a medium level of authenticity. Despite the major additions dating from the late 1980s, the original form and extent of the bank can still be readily interpreted and significant original detailing has survived. Additions and alterations dating from the 1980s have a low level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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