Trouchettes Building

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

02134

Location

145 Barrack St Perth

Location Details

Also part of P15846 Central Perth Precinct

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897, Constructed from 1908 to 1912

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 31 Mar 2009
Heritage Area Adopted 05 Aug 2009

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - To be assessed Current 27 Feb 2004

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 3
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 3
Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001 Category 3
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Statement of Significance

The place has historical value as a commercial building constructed in Perth c. 1897 during the period of expansion and development that followed the gold rush of the 1890s. It has aesthetic significance for its contribution to the Barrack Street streetscape.

Physical Description

Two storey commercial corner building with battlement parapet and prominent, moulded cornice. Romanesque style relief columns on the corner and between the paired windows. Loss of original detail at ground floor. Loss of verandahs. Awning not original.

History

Barrack Street was so named because it is located adjacent to the parade ground and barracks set aside for the original planning of Perth for offices and soldiers. This area extended from St. Georges Terrace to Hay Street and from Barrack Street to Pier Street. The barrack ground formed the buffer in the original plan for Perth between the western commercial area and the eastern administrative part of town. The area became the site for various government buildings including the Town Hall in 1867. Barrack Street was subdivided in the 1890s. A number of lots with narrow frontages were created but a number of investors bought adjacent lots to develop larger buildings. The location at 145-151 Barrack Street was originally No. 179-185. Numbering changed in 1908. Numerous businesses have occupied the multiple outlets within the building over the course of its history. It is difficult to determine the date of construction without deeper research, as there have been shops in this location since before 1895. The corner premises was a chemist since c. 1897. It was originally Swan Pharmacy and Drug Co. From 1915 to at least 1949 the business was Alexander Trouchet, chemist. From the street the building presents as a two-storey commercial corner building with a battlement parapet and prominent, moulded cornice. There are Romanesque style relief columns on the corner and between the paired windows. The verandah and original detail at ground floor has been lost. Some of the upper windows are not original, and an air con unit is intrusive. The building has been vacant since c. 2015. In 2022 the ground floor shop fronts are being refurbished.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium integrity. Medium authenticity. Has lost original detail at ground floor level but intact above.

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Visual Assessment
Post Office Directories State Library of Western Australia
G. Seddon & D. Ravine, 'A City and its Setting,' Fremantle 1986
Cons 4156/19 Metropolitan Water Supply Survey Plans State Records Office of WA
Jane McKenzie Architectural Dissertation Curtin University November 1993

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Wall BRICK Painted Brick

Creation Date

28 Apr 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

07 Jun 2024

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.