Junction Supply Store (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The place has cultural heritage significance for the City of Subiaco: • As the oldest example of a corner store in Subiaco where the traditional form and function is still clearly recognisable. (historic value) • As an important landmark building on a prominent corner location. (aesthetic value) • As an integral part of an early twentieth century streetscape (together with the adjacent terrace houses, which were built at 15-27 Hay Street in 1904-1905. (historic and aesthetic value) • As a representative example of a traditional early twentieth century corner store with an attached residence at the rear. (historic and aesthetic value)

Physical Description

Architectural style The original section of the corner shop displays simplified elements of the Federation Free Classical style in the design of its parapet. This type of detailing was commonly used for small shops in the early twentieth century. Plan form at the street frontage • Symmetrical corner façade with a corner entry flanked by a wide display window to each street frontage. • Former residence behind the original shop, extending along the Thomas Street frontage. • Utilitarian brick addition at the western end of the Hay Street frontage (modified remnant of pre-1910 structure). Roof form, materials and details • Combination of raked and hipped roofs clad with corrugated metal sheeting. The roof over the corner shop is largely concealed by the parapets along the street frontages. The former residence is defined by a hipped roof with louvred gablets at either end of the ridgeline. Solar panels have been mounted on the western and southern sides. Wall materials and finishes to the main facades • Painted brick walls (originally tuck-pointed face brick to the main facades of the corner shop, plain face brick to the residence). • Some rendered sections to the Thomas Street façade. Parapet detailing • Raised parapet to the splayed corner, featuring a simple moulded cap and recessed central panel. Note: A historical photograph (dated c.1937) shows that the original design also featured a decorative triangular pediment framed by a projecting moulding (which formed a prominent corner element). • Scrolled stucco brackets on either side of the raised corner parapet. • Flat parapet to either side of the splayed corner. • These are set over a moulded cornice, and both sides are divided into four bays by plain pilasters, which rise above the moulded parapet cap. Note: The historical photograph shows that these pilasters originally supported stucco urns with pointed caps. • Plain, flat parapet over the former lock-up shop (originally known as 5 Hay Street). This has been reconstructed at some stage and no longer includes the decorative detailing that can be glimpsed on the ‘Greetings from Subiaco’, c.1910 postcard. Verandah detailing • Suspended raked awning, extending over the corner entrance and the display windows. Note: The c.1910 postcard shows that a raked verandah roof was originally supported on timber posts. Other detailing to main facade • Glazed entry door with a semi-circular fanlight to the raked corner. • Large timber-framed display windows to each street frontage of the original corner store. The physical evidence suggests that there may have previously been a second display window to the corner shop along the Hay Street frontage (although this is not shown on the 1969 plans). • Metal framed windows to the former lock-up shop at the western end o. Note: plans dated 1969 show that the former lock-up shop • Late twentieth century openings along the Thomas Street frontage of the former residence. Intrusive elements • A large roof mounted advertising board detracts from an appreciation of the scale, form and detailing of the former shop. • A large business sign partly conceals the corner parapet (being set further back than the traditional large signage in this area). Streetscape setting • Zero setback from both street boundaries. • Driveway access to both Thomas Street and Hay Street frames the building as a free-standing corner element. • The building forms part of a traditional early twentieth century streetscape, together with the adjacent row of c.1904 terrace houses (15-27 Hay Street).

History

On 13 March 1883, the Western Australian government announced it would survey a section of the Perth Commonage into large suburban lots and that these would be made available for private sale. By 1892 Perth Suburban Lots 212, 213 and 214 had been jointly subdivided as Deposited Plan 1508, creating 92 building lots with frontages to the southern side of Broome Road (Hay Street), Churchill Avenue, the northern side of Barker Road, the eastern side of Coghlan Road and the western side of Thomas Street. The subject site formed Lot 1 of this subdivision. Development in this area does not appear to have gained momentum until the early twentieth century and the readily available evidence suggests that the following referred to the development of Lot 1: TENDERS for Brick SHOP and Dwelling, corner Hay and Thomas streets. CLOSE TO-DAY at noon. FRED. W. UPTON, Architect, South British Chambers; Barrack-street. (The West Australian 7 March 1904 p 2) And Splendid Opening for GROCERY BUSINESS, New Shop, nearing completion, corner Hay and Thomas-sts., West Perth; DWELLING Attached, with every convenience. Moderate Rent. Long Lease. Apply OWNER, 40 Colin-st. (The West Australian 14 May 1904 p 12) The first known occupant was Arthur Smith, who was advertising at the Junction Supply Stores, at the corner of Thomas and Hay Streets, by July 1904. In November of that year, he applied for a Gallon Licence for these premises: I, ARTHUR SMITH, Storekeeper, now residing at corner of Thomas and Hay-streets, Subiaco, in the district of Perth, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the next Licensing Meeting, to be holden for this District, for a Gallon License, in the shop or rooms which I now occupy, or intend to occupy, situated at corner of Thomas and Hay streets, Subiaco, being portion of Lot 1 of Perth Suburban Lot 213, known as 'The Junction Stores,' built of brick and stone, containing shop, storeroom, and five other rooms. The premises are not licensed. Given under my hand this 18th day of November, one thousand nine hundred and four, ARTHUR SMITH. (The Daily News 22 November 1904 p 7) The property was owned by members of the Nunn family from c.1905-1954, but they do not appear to have been involved in the day-to-day operation of the corner store at 1 Hay Street or the small attached shop at 5 Hay Street. The readily available information indicates that 1 Hay Street was a quintessential corner store, which would have aimed to stock a little of everything (i.e. a very small scale version of today’s supermarkets). For much of the first half of the twentieth century (at least) this included a ‘gallon licence’, which allowed the storekeeper to sell liquor for consumption off the premises in quantities not less than one gallon. Through until the mid-twentieth century, proprietors included: • c.1904-1905: Woodbridge and Smith The partnership between Edgar Woodbridge and Arthur Smith, “trading as Woodbridge and Smith, grocers and wine and spirit merchants” at the corner of Hay Street and Thomas Street was dissolved in August 1905. • c.1905-1907: Edgar Woodbridge, grocer Woodbridge does not appear to have lived in the attached residence. Entries in the Post Office Directories suggest that this was occupied by William Shinnick in c.1907 and it seems likely that member(s) of this family were employed in the shop. • c.1907-1918: William George Marriott, grocer The Marriott family occupied the residence for some of this time, but had moved away by 1914. William Marriott was facing bankruptcy proceedings from 1916 and his grocery business and stock were advertised for sale as part of his deceased estate in December 1918 and March 1919. • c.1919-1920: Boland & Bache, grocers (living off site) • c.1920-1923: Herbert Sidney Burton, grocer (occupying the shop and residence) • c.1923-1925: Joseph William Margereson, grocer (occupying the shop and residence) • c.1925-1938: Thomas James Carter, grocer (occupying the shop and residence) • c.1938-1940: William Thomas Turnbull, grocer (occupying the shop and residence) • c.1940 until at least the mid 1950s: Clarence Lloyd Packard (living off-site). Packer purchased the property from the Nunn family in July 1955 and retained ownership until his death in July 1969. 5 Hay Street was first listed in the Post Office Directory in 1909, when the occupant was identified as Harry Eno, plumber. A decorative parapet can be glimpsed in this area in a postcard image dated c.1910 (Subiaco Museum Collection), which confirms that the existing brick addition had been constructed by that time. However, this room may have been used as part of the adjacent grocery store for several years, as separate listings for 5 Hay Street did not recommence until 1920: • c.1920-1922: Mrs L Chambers, confectioner & cool drinks • c.1923: Miss M D Dempster, confectioner • c.1924: Mrs Edith Chance, confectioner • c.1925: Mrs Mary Finlayson, confectioner • c.1926-1932: Mrs A E Walters, confectioner • c.1933-1934: Miss I Downs, confectioner • c.1935-1940: Miss E Blackwell, mixed business • c.1941-1942: Miss G Blackwell, mixed business • 1944: listed as vacant in the PO Directory • c.1945-1946: RAAF Comforts Fund Comfort Funds were run by women to supply free “comforts” to servicemen, including items such as socks, pyjamas, tobacco, soap, reading material etc. • c.1947 until at least 1949: Miss K McDonald, frocks Plans held by the City of Subiaco show that, in 1969, the small shopfront at the western end of the Hay Street frontage had a traditional recessed entrance, which has been since been replaced by a flush, modern shopfront. These plans also show that there was a separate street entrance to the Thomas Street wing and that alterations to the former residence were proposed to provide a new layout for store rooms, offices and staff rooms. Since that time, the shape and detailing of the original windows to the former residence have been altered and the Thomas Street entrance blocked up. The Heritage Assessment of Corner Stores in Subiaco (2015) assessed all of the remaining early to mid-twentieth century corner stores in Subiaco. This report identified only five surviving examples of pre-World War One corner stores in the City of Subiaco (constructed c.1903-1913), all of which have been altered to some degree. Of these, 1 Hay Street was identified as the oldest example of a corner store in Subiaco where the traditional form and function is still clearly recognisable.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Moderate: The building is no longer occupied as a corner store with an attached residence, but continues to be used as commercial premises. Its original use can still be readily understood from the external form and detailing of the place. Authenticity - Moderate: The original external detailing of the building has been modified (including alterations to the parapet, verandah and the western façade of the former attached residence). However, the original form and style can still be readily understood/interpreted.

Condition

Fair: Based on a streetscape inspection the place appears to be in fair condition, commensurate with its age.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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