Bourne & Inglis Store (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The building is the only surviving commercial premises at the southern end of town and is a rare example of an early twentieth century iron framed structure. the place is closely associated with the development of the pearling industry in Broome. Bourne and Inglis' store represents the development of Broome as a segregated town, with the wealthier pearlers and Europeans at one end and Chinatown at the other, linked by the tramway. The building is probably the second oldest steel framed building in Broome, the oldest being the Broome Court House which was constructed as the Cable Station in 1889. The building is valued by the local community for its associations with the pearling industry in Broome and its association as a general store. This value is evidenced by its inclusion in Broome's Planning Strategy. The building is a rare example of a metal framed building constructed in Broome c. 1900, and is the only surviving commercial premises at the southern end of Hamersley Street.

Physical Description

The building is located on the corner of Hamersley and Louis Streets, south of the main town centre. Hamersley is the main street which runs along the foreshore giving the building views of the mangroves and Roebuck Bay. The site is flat and features a few eucalypt trees and unpaved paths. The single storey structure is currently unoccupied. Only the exterior was examined, with the interior area viewed from the street. Hamersley and Louis Streets intersect at an acute angle on the north-east side of the building and this has been reflected in the shape of the building. The front (east) elevation is aligned with Hamersley Street, while the side walls have been aligned to run parallel with Louis Street. The building has been constructed using steel columns and trusses, and the exterior has been partially clad with corrugated galvanised iron and steel reinforcing mesh. The hipped roof is covered with corrugated iron. The floor is a concrete slab which lies one step above ground level. The interior features two rows of columns which delineates a wide central area which supports the roof trusses with narrower side sections. There are no internal partitions. The roof has been extended over the front façade to form a verandah. The verandah is supported by tubular steel posts.

History

The town of Broome was gazetted in 1883 in response to the expansion of the pastoral and pearling industry in the western Kimberley region. By 1898, the town had a government residency, customs shed, bond store, hospital, police station, a cable connection to Java and a deep-water jetty which was linked to the central area of town by a tramway. The pearling industry was rapidly established in the area initially using local Aborigines as a labour force which was later substituted with Malays, Filipinos, Koepangers and finally, Japanese. Broome developed as a segregated town with wealthy European pearlers living at one end of town while Chinatown developed at the northern end, and was home to the Asian pearlers. The land along Hamersley Street grew in importance after the construction of a stock jetty at Mangrove Point. This jetty was served by a tramway which ran along Hamersley Street and Dampier Terrace to Streeters jetty in Chinatown. The presence of the deep-water jetty at the northern end of the town gave rise to commercial development in this area of Broome. Bourne and Inglis' store is all that remains of this commercial area. The land on which the store sat was originally purchased by pearler Frank Biddles. Henry Bourne and Percy Inglis were store keepers and had the store constructed for them in 1903, leasing the site from Biddles. The building continued operating as a store until c. 1963, after which is was used to store pearling equipment. The building has lain vacant wince 1999. The store was leased or owned by various people over the years until it was purchased by Pearls Pty Ltd in 1969. This company was formed to develop the cultured pearl industry in Broome during the 1950s. The company trades as Paspaley Pearls.

Integrity/Authenticity

The building has retained moderate integrity and authenticity.

Condition

The building has not been maintained now for several years and is currently in fair condition, though the cladding is in poor condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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