Hostel Milligan, Perth

Parent Place or Precinct

15846 Central Perth Precinct

Values

The original 1887 residence (Pearl Villa) is representative of Perth’s expansion and intensive building program that occurred during the gold rush period of the 1880s and 1890s. The layout and detail of this building demonstrates the lifestyle of wealthy members of Perth society at this time.

Hostel Milligan, Perth illustrates the development, occupation and evolution of commercial and residential facilities in central Perth from the 1880s to the Inter-War period, and up until 2019.

The original building, Pearl Villa (1887) is a rare extant example of a 19th century residence in Perth that retains its original layout and much of its detailing which reflects the simplicity of the Victorian Regency style.

From the 1890s, Pearl Villa (1887) was used as residential accommodation and from 1930 to 2019, Hostel Milligan, Perth provided low cost, boarding house style accommodation, a practice which is no longer common in Perth.

The additions (1930) demonstrate the development of Perth in the Inter-War period, being located in the vicinity of other Inter-War buildings such as the adjacent P01330 WD & HO Wills Warehouse (1927) and the former ANZ Bank (c1930s) redevelopment located immediately east.

Hostel Milligan, Perth is associated with past prominent members of the Perth and wider business community, including Joseph Clarkson, the Levinson family and John Spence Christie.

Statement of Significance

The original building, Pearl Villa (1887), has rarity value as an extant example of a 19th century residence in Perth that retains its original layout and much of its detailing which reflects the simplicity of the Victorian Regency style. The original building, Pearl Villa (1887), has historic value as it reflects the expansion and development of residential buildings on the Perth city fringes that occurred as a result of rapid population growth following the discovery of gold in Western Australia in the 1880s and 1890s. The original building, Pearl Villa (1887) demonstrates the provision of residential accommodation from the 1890s, and from 1930 to 2019, Hostel Milligan, Perth provided low cost, boarding house style accommodation, a practice which is no longer common in Perth. The additions (1930) are of historic value as they demonstrate the development of Perth in the Inter-War period, being located in the vicinity of other Inter-War buildings such as the adjacent P01330 (RHP) WD & HO Wills Warehouse (1927) and the former ANZ Bank (c1930s) redevelopment located immediately east.

Physical Description

Hostel Milligan, Perth comprises two distinct sections dating from two different eras: the 1887 two storey brick former house to the rear of the site and the enveloping two storeys 1930 commercial and residential section which extends around the Milligan and Murray Street frontages and obscures the majority of the former house from view. Hostel Milligan, Perth is situated on the south west corner of Milligan and Murray Streets, opposite the WD & HO Wills building on the north west corner of the same junction, the former ANZ Bank building on the south-east corner and a further single storey Art Deco inspired building on the north-east corner, located to the west of the main central area of Perth city.

History

Hostel Milligan, Perth, comprises a two storey brick and iron residence constructed in 1887 in the Victorian Regency style (Pearl Villa), extended in 1930 as commercial premises by two storey additions displaying elements of the Inter-War Art Deco style. The place is located in a prominent position at the junction of Murray and Milligan streets in the central Perth business district. The discovery of gold in the Kimberley, Murchison and the Yilgarn regions of Western Australia in the 1880s and 1890s, had a dramatic impact on the development of Perth. An increase in population due to gold rush immigration and the subsequent rise in economic prosperity saw the physical nature of the city change dramatically. The opening of the Fremantle-Guildford Railway and the construction of Central Perth Station on the northern side of Wellington Street in 1881, initiated further development of the city centre, particularly on the northern side of the city close to the railway station. Insurance buildings and commercial offices were constructed along St George’s Terrace, and businesses, shops and warehouses were established in Murray, Hay and Wellington Streets. The prominent citizens of Perth lived predominantly in St Georges Terrace and Adelaide Terrace with West Perth gaining in popularity late in the 19th century. The original building, Pearl Villa (1887) reflects the expansion and development of residential buildings on the Perth city fringes that occurred as a result of this rapid population growth. From the 1890s, Pearl Villa was used as residential accommodation and from 1930 to 2019, Hostel Milligan, Perth provided low cost, boarding house style accommodation, a practice which is no longer common in Perth.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Poor

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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