Parkside Flats

Values

The place is a good example of an Inter-War Mediterranean style residence, which would have been fashionable the time of construction.

The place is representative of the type of flats and apartments that were built in Perth, and its immediate suburbs from the 1930s in order to accommodate the growing population.

Physical Description

The two-storey residential property contains four flats, with a symmetrical façade and pedimented entry tower, situated to the direct north of Hyde Park. The central tower reads ‘Parkside’ at the top above an elongated stained-glass window. The walls are rendered white with a enclosed round arched loggia on the ground floor, and a square roofed terrace on the first floor.

History

After the Swan River Colony was established in 1829, settlement by the colonists began in and around the Perth area. The area to the north of the Perth was part wetlands stretching 50 or 60 miles northwards, and was not considered an ideal site for settlement. However, despite the swampy conditions, by the early 1830s land to the north of Perth was beginning to be being settled, and land had been granted to individuals such as John H. Monger, William Leeder, Thomas Mews. Drainage of the lakes close to the city begun in the 1840s freeing up additional land for settlement. With the arrival of convicts from the 1850s, infrastructure and public works increased and improved. Some basic roads were constructed with convict labour, but the area now known at the Town of Vincent was mainly occupied by dairy farmers, markets and gardens and the roadways were left as gravel. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, the Town of Vincent area was subdivided and slowly populated with residences, workers cottages, hotels, and churches. By the turn of the century, the area to the north of Perth began developing rapidly, particularly in Leederville and North Perth. Leederville became a municipality in 1896 and in 1899 the suburb of North Pert was declared. Post Offices and Police Stations were established in central areas, as well as town halls and religious meeting places, to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding population. By the 1930s the construction of residential complexes began, as boarding houses were being converted into self contained flats. Many applications for the construction of flats were submitted, but refused as the land was too small for development. This led to specific areas being zones for flats. The block of ‘Parkside’ flats was constructed in 1930, because of the growing fashion ability of the flat lifestyle, and the densification of the area’s population. It is unknown, at this time, who originally owned the building or who it was designed by.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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