Kakulas Bros Wholesale Goods

Statement of Significance

The place is one of the most significant buildings in the William Street precinct for its largely intact above awning pediment, its sympathetic shop front alterations, and legible internal layout.
The place has aesthetic value for its well-proportioned and simply detailed face brick and rendered masonry parapet, which is largely intact.
The place has historic value as it reflects the economic changes in Western Australia, particularly the optimism following World War I; for its lengthy association with the Kakulas family; and for its continuity of use for over a century which has resulted in a largely intact built form on the street.
The place has social value as it reflects cultural and social change, and diversity in Western Australia, particularly in the twentieth century, as it was home for successive waves of migrant communities who first settled in Northbridge.

Physical Description

Single-storey face brick rendered masonry and iron building with intact parapet featuring end piers, central stepped pediment and moulded brackets. The letters 'H.E.C' appear in relief on the pediment. This building has the most original and intact facade above awning level in the conservation area as it retains its original unpainted face brick and rendered masonry detailing. Large metal-framed windows flank the central metal-framed entry, which is flush with the external wall. The shopfront has been sympathetically designed to complement the building. The building originally comprised three shops with separate entries, however internal walls have been opened to create a single retail space and a central entry, and the rear of the shop has been extended.
Despite the openings in the internal walls, the previous three tenancy configuration of the building can be clearly read. Although subject to ongoing and recent extensions, some of the materials in the front portion may be original or early.

History

The Northbridge area was a series of lakes and sandy swamps prior to colonisation. This area was used for market gardens from the 1830s. c.1845 William Street extended north from Wellington Street to Ellen Street (now Newcastle Street) and was named Hutt Street. Although aligned with William Street to the south, passage was not possible through Gooloogoolup (Lake Kingsford) to Hutt Street at the time. In 1873 the lakes were drained and in the late 1870s work began on the Fremantle to Guildford railway line with the Perth railway station constructed on the drained site of Lake Kingsford.
In the late 1880s Hutt Street was on the periphery of the town with few buildings. The gold rushes of the 1890s had a profound effect on the state's economy and Hutt Street was one of the many streets of Perth that was heavily developed as a result.
In 1897/8 Hutt Street was renamed William Street and by the turn of the century William Street south of Aberdeen Street was a busy commercial district. The construction of the Horseshoe Bridge in 1903 had a major impact on the role of William Street as an arterial road. A mixture of commercial, cultural and 'immoral' activities formed William Street's character. The present diverse social, cultural and commercial mix is a continuation of the character established around the turn of the century.
The post office directory from 1895 indicates original owner of the site was Henry Ebenezer Clay who owned the site from 1895 until 1897. Henry Clay was the head of the Telegraph department and a respected figure the Perth colony. The letters 'H.E.C' are inscribed on the pediment above the shop, and most likely refer to his initials. Further research is required to verify the date of construction. The building consisted of three separate tenancies, which can be clearly read in the facade. PWD drawings show the building as being three separate brick shop fronts at No.183, No.185 and No.187. No. 183 William Street consisted of a brick shop front with a brick residence at rear with a verandah and brick outhouse. No. 185 William Street consisted of three separate buildings, with a brick shop front, a centre brick building with a verandah, and a rear brick building with an attached bathroom and galvanised iron outbuildings. No. 187 William Street appears to have been separated from No.183 and No.185 by a narrow arcade and consisted of three brick buildings. The post office directory from 1915 lists the building as being used as a watchmaker’s shop, a tailor, painters, and Oyster Saloon. In 1925 the buildings were used as a clothier, milliner and as dining rooms owned by W. Muskett.
By the 1920s there was a small, but thriving Greek community living in Northbridge, due to the availability of cheap housing and the location of the Greek Orthodox church there. As the community grew, so did businesses providing them with goods and services, particularly food. A second wave of immigrants after World War Two, and a second church, resulted in a greater concentration of Greeks living in the area.
The Kakulas family have operated the place as a food store since 1929, having purchased the centre shop from Teeny Thomas Ginger Beer. During the 1930s the Kakulas store occupied the centre tenancy, with R. Reid owning a Chemist at No.183 and W. Muskett's dining rooms at No.187.During the post war period No.187 was occupied by a fish shop. 1960s photograph of the place shows Kakulas Bros occupying the centre shop in the building, flanked by an electronics shop and the Kafe Khyber. The building consisted of three centrally located tiled re-entrant shopfronts, which were modified into a single tenancy sometime after 1966 when the Kakulas Bros expanded into the two adjacent shops, continuing to provide the foodstuffs of southern Europe to their customers.
Kakulas Bros. currently occupy 183-187 William Street as sole tenants.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
High level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

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.