The Perth Mint

Statement of Significance

The place has historic significance as part of the development of Perth and Western Australia and the state's first gold boom, as well as the gold industry for the last hundred years. The place has exceptional rarity value as it is the most intact and longest lasting of the three nineteenth century Royal Mints established in Australia and the only one to continue in its original use. It contains substantial evidence of the physical apparatus of an Imperial British branch of the Royal Mint from the period of self-government and Federation. It has remained in use as a mint from its establishment in 1899 to the present day and is now the oldest branch of the Royal Mint operating in its original premises. The place was designed by George Temple Poole, Chief Architect of the Public Works Department was his last design in that role. The place has many associations with significant people in WA Government and the Royal Mint. The place has aesthetic significance and contributes to the streetscape.

Physical Description

Two storey symmetrical building of large proportions with contrasting materials and textures. Large, strongly modelled arches, classical columns, loggias and verandahs distinguish this building. The Mint complex comprises a mix of building styles with an affix and a residence to the south of the site and industrial buildings in the northern section of the site. The office fronts out to a grassed forecourt contained by a stone and wrought iron fence on the street frontage. Refer to Conservation Plan Palassis 1999 for details.

History

The Perth Mint was opened in 1899 as a branch of the Royal Mint, London, to refine the gold produced from the WA goldrush (1890-1910) and to mint gold coinage. The Perth Mint was the third branch of the Royal Mint to open in Australia in 1899, after Sydney and Melbourne respectively. The gold discoveries in the 1880s and 1890s led to a need for a mint in Perth so miners could get the correct value of the gold. The Premier Sir John Forrest wrote to the Agent General of the Colony so he could find out from the Colonial Office in London if a mint could be established in Perth. Approval was granted in 1894 and it was proclaimed as a branch of the Royal Mint in 1897. The building was designed by George Temple Poole and was one of his last designs for the Public Works Department. It was built by Atkins and Law in 1896-98 for 22,199 pounds. The foundation stone was laid by Sir John Forrest on 23 September 1896. The buildings consisted of residences for senior officers, office to receive gold, melting house and processing equipment, coining department and assay office where the value was determined. The mint operated continuously for over ninety years and in that time almost all of the gold produced in WA passed through its furnaces. In 1989, a new refinery was established at Newburn, until that point operations at the refinery continued basically unchanged since the mint was founded. Coining machinery was principally hand operated and much of the plant and the craftsman's tools were close to original. The original refinery melt house is still intact. The Perth Mint's refinery is accredited by the London Bullion Market Association, the Tokyo Commodities Exchange and the Comex Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The identifying 'P' mint mark is unique to The Perth Mint and has been in use since 1899 in its coinage. The Perth Mint is the oldest ex branch of the Royal Mint operating and one of the oldest Mints operating on its original site.

Integrity/Authenticity

High integrity. Medium level of authenticity as there have been internal changes to the building and it has been restored.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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