Railways Institute Building (fmr)

Author

Heritage Council

Place Number

02146

Location

605 Wellington St Perth

Location Details

CoP lists it as only 605 Wellington St

Other Name(s)

Chief Mechanical Eng WAGR Bldg (fmr)

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1897 to 1910

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
Heritage Area Adopted 12 May 2009
State Register Registered 27 Jun 1997 HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1
Municipal Inventory Completed\Draft 13 Mar 2001
Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001
Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999
Classified by the National Trust Classified 04 May 1981

Parent Place or Precinct

02031 King Street Precinct

Statement of Significance

Railways Institute Building (fmr), Perth, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the place has a strong visual presence in its section of Wellington Street, and makes an important contribution to the historic and aesthetic character of the northern end of the King Street heritage precinct; the place is a fine and rare demonstration of the late Victorian Romanesque revival style favoured by Chief Government Architect Hillson Beasley, applied to a central Perth office building; and the place is an example of a late 1890s office building constructed by the Public Works Department to house an expanding Government Department

Physical Description

Two storey government building with two storey loggia arcade to front elevation with classical detailing. Large arched openings to street and first floor levels, central pediment to parapet roof. Face brick with stucco detailing. The building has been extensively altered internally.

History

In 1881, the Railway Benefit Society was formed. In 1887 this became known as the Railway Institute. The building has housed various government departments over its history. Refer to documentation of places for entry into the Heritage Council Register of Heritage Places.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity as it is restored externally; internally adapted to a new use.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Hillson Beasley Architect - -
Duncan, Stephen & Mercer Architect - -

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
3195 Report on the physical condition of the Railways Institute Buildings Wellington St Perth Report 1992
836 Railways institute buildings : archival record Report 1992

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use COMMERCIAL Office or Administration Bldg
Present Use Transport\Communications Rail: Office or Administration Bldg

Architectural Styles

Style
Victorian Romanesque

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Wall BRICK Face Brick

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Government & politics

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

28 Sep 2022

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.