Arcade 189

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as a modest but well designed and detailed example of Post-War International style small shopping arcade which contributes positively to the aesthetic qualities of the William Street streetscape. The place has social value as it contributes to the community's sense of place as in integral part of the Northbridge district. The place has historic value as it represents a continuity of commercial and a multiplicity of uses which shaped the character and present diversity of the area.

Physical Description

Double-storey face brick and iron building comprising central, single level arcade with shops opening to street and arcade, with a network of spaces above, currently comprising a hairdressing school and accountant's practice. Arcade extends through building to the rear carpark. Building has a face brick parapet, with the front elevation clad in timber panels below awning height. Metal-framed eight pane windows extend across first floor facade, sheltered by two timber-clad concrete awnings. Street facing shops have large, single paned windows. A cantilevered canopy with pressed metal soffit extends the length of the building, with a small projecting portion over the central arcade entry. Arcade has late twentieth central timber cladding, and extensively glazed. The shops and tenancies that were inspected comprise contemporary ceiling, wall and floor finishes. Some internal timber framed windows, doors and floors may be original or early, but ongoing refurbishment has resulted in largely contemporary styling and finishes that may conceal original fabric. The 1950s extensions and late twentieth century recladding may well have removed, if not covered, material from the original building.

History

The post office directory from 1915 shows six separate tenancies at No.189-199 William Street, and plans for a redevelopment in the 1950s and a newspaper article indicate that they were single-storey street frontages. The uses included a tobacconist, draper, bootmaker, tea rooms and baker and stationer. No.189 William Street was run as a Stationer and Newsagency from 1915 to 1955 by H.T Dermer. The migrant history of Northbridge is reflected in the use and ownership of several buildings in this section of William Street. No.193 William Street was run as a fruit shop and owned by Greek migrant Mr Anastasas from 1935 until at least 1955. No.197 William Street also has a strong migrant connection. In 1925 the shop was owned by Mrs A Loy and used as tea rooms. In 1935 the shop was known as Café Canton and owned by F Wong. In 1945 it was used as a restaurant and owned by Wong Sue, and by 1955 it was used as a herbalist by Wong Sue. Early PWD drawings show six tenancies with associated rear storage areas and two rear residences. In 1954 a second storey was added to the existing single storey building by the architects Krantz and Sheldon, and an existing grocery shop demolished to make way for the central arcade. Drawings show that at the time two of the shops had small, attached residences at the rear; and a substantial workshop, which appears to have had masonry walls, was located in the area behind the arcade, in a space which is now a carpark. A 1966 image shows two centrally configured re-entrant tiled shopfronts in the southern portion of the arcade and three in the northern portion. No.199 William Street also opens onto Little Williams Lane, which runs between the Busy Bee arcade and No.189. It appears from early drawings that No.199 may have opened onto the lane before the arcade additions and alterations during the 1950s. Recently the rear of No.199 has been converted into a small bar, which reflects the current small bar trend in Perth.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. Moderate level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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