Local Government
Subiaco
Region
Metropolitan
153-157 Rokeby Road Subiaco
Lot 45 DP1178, Lot 341 DP302748
Subiaco
Metropolitan
Constructed from 1905
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Place within a Heritage Area | Adopted | 15 Oct 2013 | Considerable contribution | |
26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area
153 &157 Rokeby Road is a two-storey brick building in the Federation Free Classical Style. It was designed as two matching pairs of shops with first floor residences. The southern pair is slightly elevated to reflect the slope of Rokeby Road. The physical and documentary evidence indicates that each pair was originally designed with a verandah/balcony. Like other such structures within the Heritage Area, these had been removed by c.1960. The upper part of each of the four bays features a deep entablature framed by corbelled piers with rounded heads. The base of each bay within the entablature is framed by a moulded cornice, and the face is detailed with a simple recessed panel. Over this there is a smaller moulded cornice capped by a simple rectangular pediment with scrolled stucco brackets to either side. Below the rendered entablature the walls were originally face-brick with a flush rendered stringcourse (now fully painted). At the centre of each bay there is a tall, narrow opening with a simple segmental head. The northern two bays retain the original full-height, double hung windows, with modern metal balustrades provided as safety barriers. The southern windows have each been redesigned with 3 smaller panes. All shopfronts have been replaced. Suspended boxed awnings extend over the footpath (one to each pair).
The 4 attached shops at 153-159 Rokeby Road were first identified in the Post Office Directories in 1906, which suggests that they were constructed in c.1905. Entries in the Post Office Directories and the following brief newspaper reports indicate that this formed part of a period of rapid development within the commercial centre of Subiaco, which took place in c.1904-1907: Rokeby-road has the aspect of a popular business thoroughfare. Five years ago, the land value in this main street was a little over £1 a foot. Today it is £15 a foot. and Enterprise is showing itself emphatically at Subiaco. During the past fortnight about twenty new shops have been opened, showing capital to the extent of several thousands of pounds. Over time, some of the occupants of the property included: 153 Rokeby Road 1906: A Slyth & Co, furniture manufacturers 1910: Charles Abbott, baker & pastrycook (Commonwealth Bakery) 1915: Oakley & Samuels, grocer 1920: Alfred Herbert Samuels, grocer 1925: Miss Eileen Cavanagh, milliner 1930: Ingram & Snell, dairy produce 1935 & 1940: R & F Cull, radio dealers (Dynamic Radio Service) 1945: R Cull, drapery 1949: R & F Cull, radio dealers 2012 & 2022: Subiaco Lotto and News 155 Rokeby Road 1906: Hepburn & Co, land & estate agents, and McDonald & Gipps, auctioneers 1910: Press Brothers, grocers (occupying 155-157) 1915: Subiaco Furniture Stores (crockery department) 1920: Mrs C F Rule, draper & fancy goods 1925 & 1930: Walter Cottrill, hairdresser & tobacconist 1935: Mrs A J Bewick, newsagent 1940: Douglas Charles Mitchell, newsagent 1945: Mrs Juliet Mitchell, newsagent 1949: Ron C Downing, newsagent 2012: Escape Travel 2022: Sound One 157 Rokeby Road 1906: Not listed in the Post Office Directory 1910: Press Brothers, grocers (occupying 155-157) 1915 & 1920: Charles George Pope, grocer 1925 & 1930: Misses Petrie & McDonough, dressmakers 1935: Mrs E V Perry, florist 1940: Arthur Robinson, hairdresser 1945: John Lawley Ltd, drapers 1949: Miss Jean Pierce, dressmaker 2012 & 2022: Subiaco 7 Day Chemist (occupying 157-159) 159 Rokeby Road 1906: Bert Wildy, fruiterer 1910, 1915 & 1920: Ernest Henry Alonzo Watters, fruiterer 1925 until at least the mid 1950s: William Francis Anderton, butcher 2012 & 2022: Subiaco 7 Day Chemist (occupying 157-159) Despite being developed as a continuous row of four shops, ownership was later split between 153-155 (Lot 46) and 157-159 (Lot 45). In 1941 the 2 shops at 157-159 formed part of the deceased estate of Albert Mews (which also included 103-105 Rokeby Road): C P KERR, Auctioneer, has been favoured with instructions from The West Australian Trustee. Executor and Agency Company, Limited. Executor of the Will of the late Albert Mews, to SELL by PUBLIC AUCTION as above ….. 2. Lot 45 and lot 46 on plan 1178. FRONTAGE 33ft. Depth 115ft. 6in. IMPROVEMENTS include PR. BRICK SHOPS and TWO-STOREY DWELLINGS KNOWN AS 157 and 159 ROKEBY-RD., SUBIACO, each having large shop, 4 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, laundry (c. and t.) sewered, e.l. and gas connected. Let at £4/10/ p.w.
The parapet, openings to the first floor, and the windows to the northern two bays have a medium to high level of authenticity. The painted finish to the original face brickwork, colour scheme, first floor windows to the southern two bays, awnings and shopfronts have a low level of authenticity.
The main facade appears to be generally in fair to good condition commensurate with the age of the building (based on streetscape inspection only).
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area | Stephen Carrick Architects | July 2023 |
Very important to the significance of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area.
This two-storey building has a medium-high level of authenticity to the upper façade, and the repetitive detailing across four bays makes an important contribution to the streetscape.
The scale and detailing of the place also helps to illustrate the development of Rokeby Road as an important suburban commercial centre in the early twentieth century, with particular reference to its rapid development as “a popular business thoroughfare” in c.1904-1906.
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | COMMERCIAL | Other |
| Present Use | COMMERCIAL | Other |
| Style |
|---|
| Federation Free Classical |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | BRICK | Painted Brick |
| Wall | BRICK | Rendered Brick |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.