Kooyong Flats

Statement of Significance

Kooyong Flats, 52-58 Kinninmont Ave, have some aesthetic significance as a good example of an Inter-War Functionalist styled apartment complex.
Kooyong Flats, 52-58 Kinninmont Ave, are representative of the trend to build apartment blocks in Nedlands in the late Inter-War and Post-War periods.

Physical Description

Kooyong Flats is a two-storey brick and iron apartment complex located on the north-east corner of Kinninmont Avenue and Stirling Highway, behind a brick and timber picket fence.
The complex has a hipped iron roof, with face brick walls to window head height on the ground floor, and rendered and painted walls above on the street facing elevations.
Individual cement staircases with brick balustrades lead to the first floor flats’ entry semi enclosed entry porches (the front first floor flat entry porch has been enclosed to form a room). Windows are typically timber-framed, with a central fixed pane flanked by operable panes.

History

The first purpose built flats (Kumara, Smyth Road, and Stirling Court, Stirling Highway) were first listed in the post office directories in 1935. Over the next 6 years another 27 blocks of flats were constructed, and a small number after WWII.
Following the easing of the Depression c.1933 a strong trend for flats as an alternative to single houses emerged. During the Depression flats had received bad press due to the large number of large houses converted to flats, often without council approval. From the 1930s in Nedlands, and elsewhere, new flats had to conform to the ambience and qualities of the suburb in which they were built. A large number of flats were designed by leading architects.
Kooyong Flats were constructed in 1941. It is possible the name Kooyong was chosen from the Melbourne suburb of Kooyong, referred to as ‘the spiritual home of Australian tennis’. There were a large number of private and public tennis courts in Nedlands and adjacent suburbs

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.