Commercial Premises

Author

City of Subiaco

Place Number

02446

Location

429-437 Hay St Subiaco

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Coyle's Building

Local Government

Subiaco

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Place within a Heritage Area Adopted 15 Oct 2013 Considerable contribution
Municipal Inventory Adopted 04 Feb 2003

Parent Place or Precinct

26003 Rokeby Road & Hay St Conservation Area

Statement of Significance

The place represents the historic development of Hay Street as a commercial street from the 1890s and early 1900s. It is part of a group of attached two storey shops (numbers 429-437) with several substantially original shop fronts and significant face brick facades at first floor level.

Physical Description

429-431 Hay Street was designed as a two-storey building, which included two shops, with associated residential accommodation on the first floor. The prominent streetscape element is the parapet, which features an arched pediment with a detailed clam shell moulding to the face and an acroterion and scrolls to the cap. At the base of the pediment, the words ‘Coyle’s Buildings 1897’ are presented in bas relief. This name plate is framed by parapet posts with vermiculated panels to the front face, a detail repeated to the corbelled posts on either side of the parapet. Physical traces remain of the spring-line for a former balcony roof. Horizontal detailing is provided to the upper façade by a deep moulded cornice and slim-line string course (above the former balcony roof) and by stepped moulding over the windows. The four windows are small double casements (in poor condition). Trace evidence suggests that these were originally taller openings, which would have opened onto the former balcony. The wall is fully rendered with faint evidence of imitation “masonry joints”. The existing shopfronts are framed by three original rusticated pilasters. The eastern shopfront has been fully modernised. The western shop front includes painted brickwork (with evidence of the original tuck-pointed face-brick finish); bull-nosed brick sills; a very narrow window on the western side of the entry and a wider display window on the eastern side. This corresponds with the limited information provided by the 1938 photograph and helps to demonstrate the diversity of the area’s early shops. Note: a 1938 photograph of 433 Hay Street, includes a glimpse of the western edge of Coyle’s Buildings. This shows that the parapet was originally capped by turned stucco balusters (the rail of which aligned with the top of the parapet posts). The balcony had a shallow pitched roof with a bull-nosed edge, cast iron frieze, and panelled cast iron balustrade. The first floor wall appears to be rendered and ruled to imitate ashlar stonework. A rusticated pilaster, tuck-pointed brickwork, and a narrow opening are visible to the ground floor.

History

Newspaper notices indicate that John Coyle was active in the development of houses and shops in Subiaco in the mid-late 1890s. He called for tenders for bricklayers for a pair of two-storey shops in Broome Road (Hay Street) February 1897 and, based on the date on the parapet, it seems likely that this was for 429-431 Hay Street. Over time, some of the occupants have included: 429 Hay Street  1901 & 1904: Cheong Wing, laundry  1905: Ah Hoy, laundry  1910: Charles L Bradley, fruiterer and produce merchant; and George Angwin (listed at 429-431)  1915: William O’Grady, tobacconist  1920: William E Williams, tobacconist  1925: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory  1930: Mrs M Parkinson  1935: John K Shamakas, confectioner  1940: William Tester (residential tenant)  1945: Listed as vacant in the Post Office Directory  1949: Cyril Laurisch (residential tenant)  2022: Haylo, dental clinic 431 Hay Street  1904 & 1906: J T Warson, grocer  1910: Charles L Bradley, fruiterer and produce merchant; and George Angwin (listed at 429-431)  1915: Harry Kemp, dairy products  1920: John McNamara, dairy products  1925: George Webster, bacon curer  1930 & 1935: H R Russell, dentist  1940, 1945 & 1949: Patterson family (residential tenants)  2022: The Guru Barber

Integrity/Authenticity

The parapet and first floor have a medium level of authenticity. The western shopfront has a medium level of authenticity (this appears to include original elements to its form and the positioning/size of the openings). The fabric awning and eastern shopfront have a low level of authenticity.

Condition

The main facade appears to be generally in fair-good condition commensurate with the age of the building (based on streetscape inspection only). The windows are in poor condition.

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Review of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area Stephen Carrick Architects July 2023

Other Keywords

Very important to the significance of the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area.
Coyle’s Buildings is one of the oldest places remaining in the Heritage Area and helps to illustrate a high degree of confidence in the newly emerging suburb at the end of the nineteenth century.
431 Hay Street retains rare evidence of late nineteenth century shopfront detailing.
The prominent façade makes an important contribution to a largely continuous group of early twentieth century (c.1898-1926) commercial premises along the southern side of Hay Street, extending from 391-437, with a complementary row of seven shops and a former picture theatre opposite (424-440 Hay Street). This group clearly illustrates the manner in which buildings that are diverse in scale and detailing combine to create the strong heritage character that underpins the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area. They also create a distinctive entry to the Heritage Area from the east.

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use RESIDENTIAL Conjoined residence
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex
Original Use RESIDENTIAL Conjoined residence
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shopping Complex

Creation Date

01 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

07 Aug 2026

Disclaimer

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.