Office

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic and historic significance as an example of a substantial residence built in the street adjacent to Parliament House in 1910. It is an example of a mansion on the outskirts of Perth representing the development of West Perth as a prestigious residential address at the period. The place is a representative example of the changing character and growth of the city, being a former residence that has undergone a change of use to commercial/professional offices. The place has historical significance for its associations with the Green family, colonial settlers who built up considerable personal wealth in the early years of Perth.

Physical Description

Two storey rendered brick building. The facade is broken up with a bay over both levels.

History

West Perth developed as suburban residential area in the late 1890s. From its inception it had the characteristics of a quality neighbourhood. The West Perth end of Hay Street was predominately prestigious homes, taking advantage of Hay Street’s proximity to the city and King’s Park (then known as Perth Park). The elevated location provided healthy site drainage as well as cooling breezes and views over the city and hills. The area had social status already associated with addresses in nearby Mount Street and access to the city's piped water system. The homes built in West Perth from the early 1900s included prestigious mansions built in prominent locations and smaller working class cottages in the narrower back streets and towards the northern end of the area adjacent to the railway. In the 1920s and 1930s, many property owners in West Perth were taking advantage of the location and demand for housing by renting out rooms. If this was the case, private homes would be listed as lodging house, boarding house, flats or apartments. Sometimes large houses would actually be converted into flats or apartments. The Post Office Directory first lists No. 1121 Hay Street in 1898, as No. 783. Numbering changed in 1908. The occupant listed was Mrs Jane Green, and the house was named ‘Westcliffe’. Mrs Jane Beacham (1818-1910) had arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1829 on the ‘Lotus’ at aged 11. Her father William Beacham was one of Col. Latour’s party. Jane’s mother, Mary, died the year after the family arrived, and two years later her brother Reuben, was killed by Aboriginal people at Greenmount, aged 12. Jane married George Green in 1836 at age 18. George was a bricklayer ten years her senior, who had arrived in the colony in 1830 on the ‘Tranby’. George and Jane Green had eleven children. George Green built on Perth Town Lots G1 and G2 in the 1830s and 1840s. He established a foundry at 246 Wellington Street which he later passed on to his son Levi (who built the Baird’s Building on this site in 1906). George Green built a new steam mill in William Street in 1863, and later moved into shipping. He owned two ships ‘Evergreen; and ‘Les trois Amis’, plus and 4 schooners, and in 1857 and 1865 employed Ticket-of-Leave men in his marine business. George Green died in 1874, leaving behind considerable wealth. His widow Jane Green survived him for another 36 years. She died in her house at 1121 Hay Street in 1910. In 1927 the occupant was Mrs S. Allen, but by 1930, like much of West Perth, the large house was converted into apartments in response to the demand for accommodation close to the city. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1953) shows a brick house with a bay window on the west side and a full length front verandah, with central steps and a path to the street. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1982 shows that the place had lost its verandah roof and balconies. Aerial photos show that the house was reroofed from short sheet corrugated iron to corrugated steel in 2007/08. A real estate advertisement online dated 2021 shows the interior, and while there have been some new penetrations in walls, there are many original features such as the timber windows and doors, moulded arches, timber staircase, high ceilings, skirtings and cornices. At 2022, from the street the building is readable as a grand, two storey house. It has a hipped roof with moulded brackets under the eaves, and a pyramidal roof over the projecting faceted bay at the western end. The ground floor windows are double hung sash windows with rendered moulding and bands. The upper floor windows have no decoration. The building is set up from ground level at the front due to the natural topography of the lot, and the verandah floor has a wrought iron balustrade (not original). The former house is fitted out for offices.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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