United Friendly Societies Building (fmr) and Ferguson Buildings

Statement of Significance

The group is a is a fine set of two storey buildings in the Federation Free Classical Style.
Court Wine Bar has historic significance representing the importance of Friendly Societies in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when it served as United Friendly Societies Dispensary and Association.
Court Wine Bar with its prominent United Friendly Societies bas relief building signage, is a visual reminder of the once important friendly society movement.
Court Wine Bar is relatively uncommon for its use of a recessed first floor colonnade.
Court Wine Bar was designed as United Friendly Societies by prominent Western Australian architects Wright Powell and Cameron architects.
The group of three buildings makes a significant visual and historic contribution to the southern end of Beaufort Street, which also includes elements of the Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery.

Physical Description

Two storey commercial Brick building with Painted decorative usual effect. Simple parapet with pilasters and central rectangular pediment with corbelled pilasters. Prominent cornice. Loss of original detail to ground floor level. Awning is not original.

History

Example of a commercial building constructed in Perth during the period of expansion and development that followed the gold rush of the 1890's. In the early years of the Swan River colony the area to the north of Perth (now known as Northbridge) was low lying and swampy was therefore settled more slowly than the better land closer to the river. It was also further from the river port and the main means of transport.
A 1948 sewer plan show all three buildings in place, with a verandah along the east face of no. 84, and outbuildings along the southern boundary that have since been removed, together with a further outbuilding towards the rear of the lot on the northern boundary. No. 86 has a small brick addition to the rear that has since been removed. No. 88 has a small rear verandah and two additions to the rear on the southern boundary, with a path leading to a closet at the rear of the lot.84 Beaufort Street In the early nineteenth century many friendly societies were strongly associated with individual pubs or drinking dens, which in many towns were often the only venues where a substantial body (of men) could meet. The association of society with venue could be so strong that Foresters, Gardeners, Carters and others were still remembered in some public house names at the end of the twentieth century. In fact, one strand of thought held that friendly societies arose directly from 'harmonious clubs' promoted at the end of the eighteenth century by the proprietors of public houses or inns themselves. These clubs, otherwise, simply existing to facilitate drinking, organised welfare by 'passing the hat'. In time members paid a regular subscription in return for welfare protection. From these clubs developed the affiliated orders - Oddfellows, Buffaloes, Foresters, Shepherds, Druids and others. Many of these societies were represented in Western Australia.
However, as ideas about temperance spread in the 19th century, some activists saw that there was an advantage in linking temperance with mutual aid. Subscriptions could be lower when the effects of alcohol were removed from the benefit equation. The International Order of Rechabites was one of the prominent temperance friendly societies in Australia and Western Australia.
On the southern side of no. 84’s front elevation, there is a foundation stone that records “Erected by the Metropolitan United Friendly Societies Dispensary and Association Trustees, T.L. Beauchamp, J.R. Bolt, H. Hall, H.W. Knight, Building Committee H. Bromley, T.H. Quill, R.J. Dickson, H.J. Rex, J. O’Donoghue, J.H. Wright and A.H. Tillotson, President, F.A. Woodman Secretary. 1911. Wright Powell & Cameron Architects. Chapman & First Contractors”.
On 8 August in the same year, the foundation stone for the first section of the new Trades Hall (later the Delaney Gallery) at 74 Beaufort Street was laid by the then Prime Minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party, the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher PC. The Australian Labor Party gradually acquired the intervening properties and then 84-88 Beaufort Street, disposing of its interest in the mid 1980s.In about 1994, the Androvski family acquired the place and in 1999 the owners were given consent to use the first floor of the southern two buildings as offices.
No. 84 was fitted out as the Court Wine Bar in the 1980s.No 86Prior to 2009, no. 86 was used as Coffex and prior to that, a white goods business trading as Turnbulls.No.88 Ferguson Building
No. 88 is first recorded in rate books in 1906 with the owner recorded as Duncan Ferguson, Newsagent. He is also recorded as occupier until the 1913 Wise’s Post Office Directories, when Owen Bros Newsagents are recorded as occupying the place, and Owen Bros continue to be recorded at the address until at lease 1926.In 2009, No. 88 is run as Beaufort News, continuing a long tradition, and the entire first floor functions as offices for K2 Technology, which includes all three buildings.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium integrity.

Moderate authenticity as it has lost original detail at ground floor level but is intact above.

Condition

84 - Good, 86 - Fair, 88 - Fair

Uses

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.