Commercial Building

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic significance as an example of a commercial building constructed during the period of economic affluence and increased development that followed the gold boom. It has historic significance as a Federation Warehouse built before 1900 that reflects the expansion and development of commerce and trade in the City of Perth. It makes a positive contribution to the Queen Street streetscape.

Physical Description

20 Queen Street, one of the earliest buildings of the Heritage Area, is a fine example of a commercial building in the Federation Warehouse style of architecture. The building is a two storey brick structure with a rendered street façade and although modifications to the ground floor windows have been made, the building remains close to its original form. The two stories are divided horizontally be a wide spandrel spanning the width of the elevation. The spandrel was originally used to house signage lettering the building. Below, and supporting this spandrel, are empahsised piers, dividing the elevation into three bays. Large glazed windows (not original) are set into two of the bays, while the south bay contains the main entrance. The double swing entrance doors are encased by a thin, metal frame with double bi-fold barred gates and capped with a simplified pediment. The bays are echoed in the first-floor elevation by arches, which are emphasised by stucco moulding and keystones. The windows encased by the arches are timber framed Diocletian windows, and are original to the building. The sunshade fixed to the arched windows are a later addition and intrusive to the aesthetics of the building. The parapet is symmetrical and is pattered with a sequence of square and rectangular outlines. The sunshades fixed to the arched windows are a later addition and intrusive with a sequence of square and rectangular outlines.

History

There was a rapid growth in the population of Western Australia and an increase in development in the city of Perth as a result of the prosperity from the 1890s goldrush. Many of the residential buildings located in the inner city near Queen Street were replaced with commercial buildings during this time. Queen Street was first established as a private road in the early 1890s and was acquired by the City of Perth in the late 1890s which provided more land for development close to the railway. The railway was completed in 1881 and overtook the river as the primary transport method. The west end area including Queen Street, King Street, west end of Murray and Hay Streets and part of Wellington Street became the location of warehouses and commercial buildings due to their proximity to the railway. Between World War One and the beginning of the Great Depression during a time of economic prosperity more commercial buildings were constructed in the inner city. The Post Office Directory shows that the numbering used to be different prior to 1908. Commercial building at No. 20 was built in c.1898. It was a clothing manufacturer, various business names, for the first decade and from 1908 it was occupied by Atkins and Co, oil and general merchants. In 1930 it was ‘Nestle and Anglo Swiss Condensed Milk Co’. In 1949 the place was Perth Hat Mill, millinery manufacturers. A 1986 photo on the inHerit database shows that since then the front façade has been modified with two openings made below the two original high-level horizontal windows, to make larger windows. At 2022 the building is occupied as the EF International Language Campus.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity. High level of authenticity. Upper level intact but altered at ground floor level.

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Creation Date

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