Collie Mail Printing Shop (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Shops, 51-55 Throssell Street, Collie (formerly 25-27), a single storey brick and iron commercial building constructed in about 1925 has cultural heritage significance as a series of shops with a historic association with retail trading and office use in Collie and aesthetic value for its contribution to the Collie streetscape.

Physical Description

51-55 Throssell Street, Collie is a rendered brick and iron single storey shop built in 1925. It has a simple painted rendered parapet divided into three, with vertical panels between. The main entrance is emphasised by a panel with ‘Estab. 1909’ in painted stucco. The verandah is a separate awning over the pavement supported by square timber posts. There are two re-entrant doors to the shop fronts, with original timber double doors, and one modified shop front with glass doors flush with the shop windows.

History

It would appear that Mrs Jane Bradbury was the original owner of this lot on which was constructed a series of wood and iron shops. A newspaper article from March 1908 refers to ‘seven shops owned by Mrs Bradbury on blocks 37 and 38 Throssell Street’. Mrs Bradbury was described as ‘Collie’s pioneer storekeeper’ in 1910. In January 1914, a fire destroyed or damaged a row of ’14 lightly built wooden shops’ on Throssell Street between the Federal Hotel and the Commercial Bank. The businesses and owners affected were Singers Machine Agency; Knight, boot repairer Atkins, watch repairer; WW Silvester, draper; WW Silvester, boot and iron mongery; Collie Miner offices; Gubgubs, confectioner; Sid Jenkins, grocer; Gobbi’s, fruiterer; four vacant shops; Everd’s dining room and Fouracre and Wass. The properties belonged to Mrs Bradbury and Mr Reading. In 1915, plans were submitted to Council by Mrs JE Bradbury on behalf of Miss Bradbury, for a building on part of Lot 37 Throssell Street. The Sunday Times of 1 February 1925 (p8) reports the construction of two new brick shops for Mrs Bradbury in Throssell Street. Fire struck again in January 1926 when the Coliseum theatre (referred to as ‘Mrs Bradbury’s fine new Coliseum Hall in the Southern Times of 26 June 1910) in Wittenoom Street (at the rear of the Bradbury Building) was destroyed. The theatre had been used for ‘both pictures and skating, and was owned by Mrs Bradbury’ (The Daily News 26 January 1926, p6). In March, the Acting Coroner investigating the fire delivered his findings and said that ‘the evidence of Mrs Bradbury, the owner of the hall, was most unsatisfactory and contradictory, and reeking with suspicion. He had formed the conclusion that the fire was not caused by accident but was started by some person or persons intentionally. There was not sufficient evidence to prove who the person or persons were and therefore he returned an open verdict’ (The West Australian 20 March 1926, p14). The Collie Mail office and printing works occupied the premises for some time from the 1920s to the 1980s when the operation relocated to Steere Street. Other businesses have also operated from the place.

Integrity/Authenticity

High / Medium

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update