Commercial Building

Statement of Significance

The place has historical significance as a two-storey commercial building dating from 1898 for Phineas Seeligson. It has aesthetic significance as a Federation Free Classical style building that makes a positive contribution to the visual quality of the streetscape. The place is a representative example of a commercial building constructed in Perth during the period of development and consolidation following the gold boom. The building is associated with the Seeligson family, who were prominent in the Western Australian Jewish Community, and with Phineas Seeligson, a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Physical Description

Two storey commercial building with broken pediments and parapet. Street facade features prominent cornice and extensive use of stucco decoration including label moulds around windows. Awning and shop fittings at street level recent.

History

Until the 1880s the town centre was characterised by the establishment of small cottages, shops and small businesses and was rural in character. The expansion of commerce following the discovery of gold in the 1890s put pressure on land in the centre of Perth with the result that many of the residential buildings located in the inner city were replaced with commercial buildings during this time, and the centre of Perth was substantially rebuilt. Murray Street was established along with St. Georges Terrace and Hay Street as one of the main streets of Perth from the time of colonisation in 1829 when the Perth Town Lots were surveyed and planned out. Phineas Seeligson, pawnbroker was listed in the first post office directory published in 1893 at this Murray Street location. The building was assigned Nos. 49-53 in 1897, and then changed to Nos. 203-205 the following year. Numbering changed to today’s in 1908. Phineas Seeligson had established himself as a pawnbroker on Murray Street in 1886. The Seeligson family were well-known in Perth. The father, Henry, was born on the Polish-German border and later migrated with his family to Sydney, then relocating to Fremantle in the 1870s. He established a jewellery business and was a prominent individual in the Jewish community, involved in the foundation of both the Fremantle and Perth Jewish congregations. His sons Phineas and Louis were also well-known and prominent members of the Jewish population. Heritage Perth research states: “Originally pawnbrokers had been associated with criminal activity and working-class drunkenness, but the industry modernised throughout the 19th century to provide short term loans, often to housewives, in exchange for property deposited as security. The inadequate resources for many working-class families during this period made the pawnbroker an essential element for the housewife to solve domestic crises.” Phineas opened another branch of his pawnbroker business at 143 Barrack Street in 1894, in a building purpose built for him to a design by prominent Western Australian architect Henry Stirling Trigg. No doubt Phineas’ wealth had grown during the 1890s gold boom and he was able to construct a new building in Murray Street as well, to replace his earlier establishment. This building was constructed in 1898, and a photograph of it appears in the papers on 7 January 1899. The builder was C. Mansfield, and the Clerk of Works was Henry Doyle of Subiaco (Subiaco’s first Mayor).In 1909 it was reported that: “One of the oldest established premises in Perth is Mr. P. Seeligson’s pawnbroking and money-lending premises. Mr. Seeligson first opened business in the year 1886, and in the same position in Murray-street, opposite the Australian Hotel, as where he still carries on his business. The present premises were specially designed for a modern pawnbroking business.” Phineas Seeligson was in business until 1919, although Phineas himself was abroad from 1908-1921. The name Seeligson is still closely associated with the Western Australian Jewish Community which benefits from their initiative and generosity. After his death in 1935 Phineas Seeligson, unmarried and very wealthy, bequeathed the greater part of his Estate to the Trusteeship of the Perth Hebrew Congregation for the purpose of helping to meet the spiritual, educational and philanthropic needs of the Jewish Community. According to the obituary, before the first Jewish synagogue was built in 1896/97 (the organisation for which Phineas featured prominently) the Jewish community sometimes met in his Murray Street premises. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1930) shows that like today, there is an alley off the mall on the west side, some open space at the rear of the two buildings, and then large stores at the back of the lot. A photo held at the State Library of WA dated 1984 shows the building occupied by Sportslane (clothes) and Pearse & Swan (shows). At 2022 the building is a shoe store and a coffee supplies store.

Integrity/Authenticity

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

Condition

Fair

Uses

Creation Date

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