Padbury's Buildings, Bassendean

Statement of Significance

• The place has aesthetic value as a good and largely intact example of Inter War Free Classical style
• The place has value as a landmark and entry statement in the town centre.
• The place has historic value for its association with the development of the town of Bassendean.
• The place has social value for its provision of services to the community since 1918.

Physical Description

A double storey corner building with distinctive elaborate parapet wall feature. The place is of brick and iron construction, with painted brick to the upper level and rendered walls to the lower section of the façade. The upper level, including the parapet detail, retains a high degree of authenticity whilst the ground level has been compromised by way of alterations to accommodate changing uses. The distinctive parapet is designed using classical motifs resulting in an undulating wall of semi-circular dips and rises. A dentil cornice is positioned above the frieze and the name of the building is on the frieze panel. The sash windows to the main elevation, arranged in a bank of four openings, all of which have a flat drip stone (hood moulding) above the opening connected to the window frame by a prominent keystone.
Three of the four windows are 1-over-2 style openings with the lower pane divided with a vertical glazing bar whilst the remaining window has a horizontal glazing bar divided the lower sash into two panes. The opening to the secondary section of the façade incorporates an arched hood mould with keystone of similar design to the other windows with a 1-over-1 sash. A single storey section has been constructed to the east of the main building and incorporates a parapet wall of similar design to the main façade. An awning extends across the entire façade of the building supported on cantilevers and awning rods. Advertising fascia create a boxed aesthetic to the awning.

History

The Bassendean town centre was established and laid out as an extension of Guildford townsite in the 1840s but it was not until the 1890s that the town developed rapidly with the influx of workers during the gold boom period. The West Guildford Road Board was formed in 1901 which became the Bassendean Road Board in 1922, in recognition of one of the first farms in the district ‘Bassendean’ established by the First Colonial Secretary, Peter Broun. The town developed on either side of what was called the Perth Road and later, Guildford Road, which logically connected Perth to Guildford. This portion of the road name was
changed to ‘Old Perth Road’ in the 1970s when Guildford Road was realigned. This building consisting of two storeys and an adjoining single storey shop was designed by prominent Perth architects, Hobbs, Smith and Forbes for the owner, William Padbury. The completed project was opened in August 1918 with considerable attention in the local press for its demonstration of the growth of the town centre and the quality of its finishes by the builders J. Hawkins and Sons. The joinery was described as follows; The jarrah fittings will take the eye of every visitor, and it will be a source of perennial pride to those who have a sense of local patriotism to know that this admirable work is the product of a local firm in A. Douglas Jones & Co. William Padbury was the nephew of prominent land owner and merchant, Walter Padbury who owned a several stores in the metropolitan area. This building was to provide the standard products and services, drapery, grocery and hardware, for the people of Bassendean. In addition the adjoining single storey store was a butcher shop managed by Mr E.J. Hanley. Since the opening of the premises it has been continually operating as commercial services although for a variety of products and services.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
High

Condition

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.