Fauldings Building (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The place contributes to a streetscape of predominantly two-storey rendered brick buildings constructed from 1895 to 1905 as part of the warehouse / merchant district of Perth. The place contributes to the c1900 industrial aesthetic of Wolf Lane. It is a remarkably intact group of buildings, especially the extent of the building developed by F.H Faulding & Co from c 1895 to 1940.It has a strong association with Adelaide pharmaceutical manufacturer F.H.Faulding & Co which established in Adelaide in 1886, opened a branch office in Perth in 1890 and went on to be an international company still in existence today. It has a strong association with some of the well-known products of F.H. Faulding & Co including Solyptol Soap. The place is a representative example of the Federation warehouse style architecture which was popular for commercial buildings during the gold boom period.

Physical Description

Two storey commercial buildings which have been adapted to provide inner city residential accommodation. Typical commercial buildings from the period of the Gold Rush. Rendered brick with extensive use of stucco decoration, parapets with central pediments, pilasters, entablatures, rustication and general classical detailing. Buildings substantially intact at street level.

History

During the 1890's and early 1900s the centre of Perth was substantially rebuilt. The period of expansion in Perth coincided with a period of economic depression in the eastern states, in particular Victoria. As a result, there was substantial migration from Victoria to WA. This migration included businessmen, architects and builders, all of whom had a considerable influence on the development of the city. Murray Street was the location of shops, factories and businesses. The business was established in Adelaide in 1845 by Francis Hardey Faulding as a chemist and pharmacist. He imported medicines from England and produced medicines. By 1861 the company was formed after a partnership with chemist Luther Scammell and were wholesale druggists and manufacturing chemists. Faulding died in 1868.In the 1880s the business name was acquired by Scammell and his brother after losing money in speculations leading to the business facing bankruptcy. Retail shops were established to reduce the debt including one in Perth which opened in 1890. The business was originally established in Barrack Street in 1895 before moving to Murray Street. Their most famous product was Solyptol (name derived from soluble Eucalyptus oil) which was a soap made using Eucalyptus oil. In 1898 the property had been subdivided and bought by Walter Wesley Garner trading under F. H. Faulding and Co. The building was designed by J. J. Talbot Hobbs as a warehouse in c1898. in 1907 alterations were made to the building designed by John Talbot Hobbs and constructed by Hawkins and Sands. The building was constructed with a lift to reach the upper floors and a basement. It also had a drive-through as there wasn’t a rear laneway. By September 1898 the company was trading from the new building. Two single storey buildings were constructed at the rear of the property in the late 1890s which had additional stories built by the early 1900s. These buildings were labelled factory and laboratory on plans indicating that medicines were being made onsite. The property next door 309 Murray Street was the premises of AG & FT Knox, warehousemen and importers, and was constructed before 1908. A. G. and F. T. Knox imported tobacco and similar goods to Fauldings and Co. At this time many houses were being replaced by warehouses in Murray Street. Faulding was listed as the sole occupier of the building from 1930. Floor plans from 1942 show the buildings had openings in the wall between them. The Murray Street buildings became the company’s administration office and showroom after a large laboratory was built in East Perth. In 1959 land was resumed at the rear of the property for the City of Perth to create a laneway. The changes to shopping habits with the introduction of shopping centres in suburban areas led to many retailers in Perth to close. Faulding and Co. moved to Kewdale in 1973. In 1974 the building was refurbished as retail tenancies on the ground floor with office tenancies on the upper floor. Apartments were also developed in the upper floors in 1991. In 1999 the building was converted to a combined residential, retail and commercial premises.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity as the facades intact but substantially altered in adaptation to new use.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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