Swanbourne Hotel

Statement of Significance

SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE The Swanbourne Hotel has significance as a place of social interaction which has demonstrated changing customs throughout its history. HISTORICAL The hotel is integral within the historical development of Claremont Crescent in Swanbourne. The hotel is one of three hotel buildings which are the only examples of the unique association of the architects Marshall Clifton and Reginal Summerhayes. The architects involved in the design of the place are significant in terms of their individual works and this example of their collaboration. Each of the three hotels is an individual design with responses to its specific context and brief, making each hotel important, particularly the Swanbourne Hotel in this case, in the understanding of the architectural design, context, war time austerity and social expectations of the time. AESTHETIC The streetscape value of the place is significant in terms of the appropriate response in scale and proportion to the adjacent structures. The Swanbourne Hotel demonstrates a landmark presence in the Claremont Crescent streetscape, particularly as it demonstrates influences of the ‘Dudok’ design ethos. The Swanbourne Hotel is one of only three buildings in which Marshall Clifton was associated in designing in the modern design aesthetic. The hotel was the third of three hotels designed by the same architects with a short space of time during 1939 1nd 1940 and the three hotels as a group illustrate the strength of the architects’ design rationale. The Swanbourne Hotel demonstrates a transition in design between the strong curved horizontal emphasis of the Highway Hotel and the Dudok influenced vertical and horizontal elements of the Civic Hotel. RARITY & REPRESENTATIVENESS The place is one of the very few remaining examples of hotels of the Modern design ethos of its period. Of the three hotels designed by Summerhayes and Clifton in 1939/1940, the Swanbourne Hotel has retained its integrity and authenticity and represents the finest example.

Physical Description

When the Swanbourne Hotel was completed in December 1940 the Building and Construction Journal headlined their three page article “Modernity is the Keynote”. An advertisement on the same page states the “the most up-to-date and luxurious hotel in the metropolitan district”. The hotel has been skilfully designed to utilise the sloping site overlooking the railway line and Claremont to the east, and expansive views of the ocean and the environs of Cottesloe and Swanbourne to the west and north. The two main street frontages are addressed with a vertical staircase tower block, on the Franklin St frontage which counter balances the horizontal cantilevered verandahs which flank either side of the tower at differing levels. The Claremont Crescent frontage is highlighted by the flat roofed curved bay of the main bar protruding from the façade which is a balance of vertical and horizontal components. The brick and tile construction has a cement rendered façade originally painted a light colour (probably cream lime the Civic Hotel). The hip tiled roof on the hotel responds to the surrounding residential area. The hip roof is interrupted by the parapeted staircase tpwer block. The hotel original had 13 bedrooms and a proprietors suite, all of which had hot and cold water facilities. Balconies were designed to provide the positive aspects of the climate, cool shade in summer and protection in winter as well as the expansive views. The present accommodation capacity of the hotel has not been determined. In c1990, terraces were constructed on the Claremont Crescent frontage. The terraces are curved in response to the existing curved bar frontage and complement that street frontage with the symmetry of the sweeping staircase and the terraces raised above the road level. The austerity of the war time is expressed in the Swanbourne Hotel more so than the other two hotels by the same designers. The staircase is the most apparent example: the Swanbourne’s balustrade is a flush panel veneer design, while the Civic is a metal balustrade in a geometric design with a jarrah handrail. The Highway Hotel has a sweeping circular staircase quite different from the other two examples. Comparison of the three designs serves to highlight the Swanbourne Hotel as a transition or composite of the other two designs. The Highway Hotel’s sweeping horizontal curved façade is not replicated in the Swanbourne, but the projecting circular flat roof is perhaps derived from the Highway Hotel. Similarly, the Civic Hotel has strong vertical blocking which contrast with the horizontal elements which can also be seen in the Franklin St frontage of the Swanbourne Hotel. The Highway hotel roof has a parapet along both street frontages while the Swanbourne and Civic have only a parapet at the tower block. The three buildings are fine examples of the unique association of the architects Marshall Clifton and Regindal Summerhayes. Each of the hotels is an individual design with responses to its specific context and brief, making each hotel important in the understanding of the architectural design, context, war time austerity and social expectations of the time.

History

Assessment 1995 Architects: Reginald Summerhayes, Marshall Clifton Builder: J Ranclaud Constructed: 1939/40. Alterations/additions: 1985 Demolished : c2000?? The architects, Reginald Summerhayes and Marshall Clifton were working in association at the time when they were commissioned to undertake the design for the Swanbourne Hotel. The Swanbourne Hotel was put out to tender on 1 March 1940. During the period that the Swanbourne Hotel was designed, Clifton & Summerhayes also designed the Civic Hotel in Inglewood, and the Highway Hotel in Claremont, each hotel being completed within weeks of each other in 1940. Highway Hotel November 15, Civic Hotel December 4, and the Swanbourne Hotel on December 16. For the Swanbourne Hotel a different building contractor, J Ranclaud was employed, whereas for the other two hotels, Plunketts was the building contractor. During the period that these hotels were being constructed, in 1940, a number of other hotels throughout the metropolitan area were being refurbished and “modernised”, and the Carlisle Hotel was also constructed. The hotels were commissioned and completed despite Australia having jsy become involved in World War 2. The ‘modern’ hotels no doubt played an important role in the war time social life of civilians and service personnel. The Swanbourne Hotel with its proximity to the ocean provided many a sojourn for the war servicemen during leave and the venue for special occasions and celebration. The location of the Swanbourne Hotel alongside the Perth to Fremantle railway line was convenient to Irwin Barracks along the railway line at Karrakatta. In more recent times, the Australian Army established the Campbell Barracks facility in Swanbourne. The Swanbourne Hotel was also conveniently located for country folk on their annual pilgrimage to the Royal Agricultural Show at Claremont Showgrounds. In 1985 the new licensee of Swanbourne Hotel, Frank Riley, announced plans to undertake extensive renovations of the Hotel, the first since it had been constructed. The refurbishment included providing private facilities in hotel rooms and opening more rooms to take advantage of the ocean views. A garden restaurant, and nightly entertainment in the main bar were introduced in line with the provision of good family orientated facilities at the hotel. The Sportsman’s bar, with tournament dart facilities and Drive in Bottle Shop facilities were constructed on the property on the west side of the existing hotel. Riley planned to rename the hotel ’Frank Riley’s Swanny Pub’. During the time that the Swanbourne Hotel was undergoing a change of image, the same thing was occurring throughout the immediate area. The Cottesloe Hotel was renovated in line with the 1930’s architecture, the Subiaco and the Albion in Cottesloe were refurbished for an up market clientele and the Claremont became Cagney’s on the Terrace. The regeneration of these hotels marked a change in the clientele, from the ‘old’ regulars and the ‘workers’ to more ‘trendy’ clientele, many of whom were also moving into the valuable upmarket residential areas in the vicinity of the hotels. The social reality in the 1990s is that responsible people in society do not drink and drive, the casual drinker does not make the large hotels a viable proposition. The hotels, generally, and specifically the Swanbourne Hotel, changed their image in an endeavour to attract large crowds of people from beyond their usual net of clients. Widely publicised concerts succeeded in attracting many people in an attempt to cover the huge running costs and overheads of a hotel operation. Some alterations were made to the Swanbourne hotel (c1990) when the lounge was refurbished and terraces were constructed on the Claremont Crescent frontage to promote the outdoor aspects of the location and accommodate the clientele. In early 1995 plans for a three storey, 50 unit aged home were revealed by architect John Silbert. The plans were dependent on the rezoning of the Swanbourne Hotel site and demolition of the hotel. Subsequent objections from individuals in the community and the Art Deco Society of WA expressed alarm at the proposed demise of an important cultural heritage site. The Swanbourne Hotel is included in “the Inventory of Significant 1930’s Buildings” compiled by Ms V Geneve of the Art Deco Society of WA for the National Trust.

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update