Commercial Premises

Statement of Significance

The place has historical value as a commercial building constructed in Perth c. 1895 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. The shop at No. 93 has associations with Perth confectioner and philanthropist, Peter Albany Bell.

Physical Description

Two storied building with arched windows with lion-head motifs and classical columns with decorative capitals. Modern shop fittings at street level. Stepped awnings not original and detract from the visual unity of the buildings.

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. 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 1893. It was typical in the late 1890s economic boom for buildings to be demolished and rebuilt, and also refurbished with a modern style in the Inter-War years. No. 87 through to No. 93 Barrack Street (three shopfronts at street level) was originally Nos. 123-129. Numbering changed in 1908. The shop at No. 93 (previously No. 127) was occupied by Albany Bell, confectioner, from 1902 to c. 1930. Peter Albany Bell was an important manufacturer and philanthropist in the early years of the twentieth century. He arrived in Western Australia in 1887 and worked at a variety of jobs before opening a small shop in Hay Street, Perth, in 1894 making and selling confectionery and lemon squash. The one shop expanded and developed into an established tea room business, with two more premises on Barrack Street. No. 93 became Café de Monte Carlo which was still there in 1949. Other tenants in this row of shops at 1949 included Adelaide Tailoring Co, (87-89) and George Norvell, pawnbroker (No. 95). At 2022, there are three food outlets on the ground floor. From the street, the building presents as a two storied, stucco and rendered building with arched windows (11) with lion-head motifs and classical columns with decorative capitals. The stepped suspended awnings are not original and detract from the visual unity of the buildings. There are various accretions in the upper floor (air conditioners in window openings for example).

Integrity/Authenticity

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

Condition

Fair - Good

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update