Wests Theatre (fmr)

Values

• The place is an early example of a picture theatre in suburban Perth dating from the period when the industry was still in its infancy in Western Australia.
• The place may have some rarity value as a theatre which remains extant from the pre-WWI period.
• The place is associated with architects Thomas Anthoness and Samuel Rosenthal.
• The place demonstrates the changing demographics of the Subiaco area during the early part of the twentieth-century.
• The place makes a contribution to the Hay St and Rokeby Rd streetscapes.

Physical Description

The place comprises a two-storey commercial building in the Inter-War Free Classical style. The lower storey has a rendered brickwork façade with two large aluminium windows either side of the centrally located aluminium sliding door shop entrance. These are shaded by an upward curved awning supported by metal bracket, neither of which are original. The upper storey is rendered brickwork with two large porthole windows either side of a large rectangular window, which is also not original. An entablature with decorative mouldings runs the length of the façade above which is the parapet which has a central raised panel containing two small arched niches surrounded by ornamental consoles.

History

Subiaco is situated on Noongar land, namely Mooro territory occupied by Yellagonga’s group. Noongar people lived a largely hunger-gatherer lifestyle traversing their land to utilise resources according to the seasons. The various water sources across the Perth area played a significant role in Noongar creation stories of the Waugal, and well as providing a rich food source. The Whadjuk Noongar people’s way of life was disrupted after 1829 with the arrival of British colonists who established the settlements of Perth and Fremantle along the Swan River. At the turn of the century the City of Perth underwent major shifts in population due to the gold boom. As the city became more of a business centre, residential growth occurred in the suburbs surrounding the city, particularly in the first decade of the twentieth century. As early as 1872, discussions were under way on a railway link between Perth and Fremantle with the Fremantle-Guildford line opened in 1881. Suburban growth around Perth rapidly increased in response to the Gold Boom after 1890 with the Subiaco area attractive to families who worked in Perth, and residential investors. Expansion and growth continued throughout the 1900s and the inter-war period. Situated on what is currently Lots 5 & 6 on Diagram 1464, Wests Theatre (fmr), 440 Hay St, Subiaco sits on what was originally a portion of Perth Suburban Lot 197. Title of the land parcel was transferred to Elizabeth Mary Jones in June 1896, widow of the late John Rowland Jones who is noted as being a reporter in Perth. The discharge of the mortgage on the property occurred in June 1903. In 1906 Lots 5 & 6 were transferred to Mary Coade and Edith Rosina Larrad both married women of Perth and Subiaco respectively. In 1916 the certificate of title for both lots was transferred in full to Mary Coade at which time she is noted as residing in Wickepin. The 1910 Post Office Directory lists, on the northern side of Hay St between Catherine St and Rokeby Rd, what appears to be a mix of private residents and shopkeepers at this time. In June 1911 an article in the West Australian newspaper makes reference to the construction of three new theatres for Wests Pictures Ltd, in Perth, Fremantle and Subiaco. On 15 June 1911 Architect T Anthoness invited tenders for the ‘erection of a picture palace in Hay St Subiaco for Wests Pictures Ltd’, so it likely he was responsible for the design. It is understood local firm the Mizen Bros were respoonsible for the construction of the place. The certificate of title records a lease to Wests Pictures Limited of New South Wales in March 1912 for a period of fifteen years. The 1911 newspaper article notes that Wests started operating in Western Australia three years previous, commencing in space at His Majesty’s Theatre, and then leasing Queen’s Hall which was owned by the Wesley Church. The company built Melrose Theatre/Gardens in Murray St, Perth (adjoining the cnr of William St) c.1910, also to a design by Mr Anthoness, which was built by Mr Guthrie. Wests was also proposing the construction of a comparable theatre in Fremantle, designed by Mr McNeece to be known as Princess Theatre (P953 Princess Theatre (fmr) [1912]), with a ‘smaller edition’ in Hay St Subiaco to be known as the Palace Theatre with open-air gardens adjacent. The article acknowledges that particular attention would be paid to ventilation so the theatres could be used in both summer and winter. Amongst the features for inclusion were a deep double roof with solid walls ceasing all round within 6ft of the under-roof with the gap being fitted with louvre shutters which can be opened in summer to encourage air flow and closed in winter. It is also noted that seating would primarily be on the ground floor albeit rising gradually in tiers to the rear. Wests Picture Gardens in Subiaco was officially opened on 22 January 1912 by the Mayor of Subiaco Mr J Chesters. However, the article notes that the theatre itself was not yet completed and that the performances would be held in the adjacent gardens until the building was finished. An article on 27 January 1912 suggests that ‘Subiaco….enjoys the distinction of being the only suburb in the metropolitan area possessing a permanent picture hall’. The theatre building was completed by April 1912 with a newspaper article noting that ‘an entirely new programme will be presented by Wests Subiaco management to-morrow night to celebrate the opening of the theatre adjoining the gardens.’ In June 1912 Empire Day celebrations were held at the theatre with a Mr Brooks being the theatre’s manager at that time. By October 1912 the Theatre was open and under new management. The 1916 Post Office Directory lists ‘Wests Pal Th & Pict Co.’ with Phillip Appleby listed as the theatre’s manager. The same entry appears in the 1918, 1922 and 1923 Post Office Directories. In 1923 the lease to Wests Pictures Limited was surrendered with a new lease to Phillip Norman Appleby, Business Manager of Wests Pictures Subiaco, and Edwin Alfred Whittaker, timber merchant of Subiaco. The lease is noted as being until 31 August 1926. The 1926 and 1928 Post Office Directories no longer list Phillip Appleby as the manager so he had likely moved on by that time and it is understood he took over as manager of the Regal Theatre. In 1925 a video of Hay Street Subiaco shows glimpses of the frontage of the theatre which, at that time, exhibited a Federation Free Classical façade with a ‘rusticated entrance, a projecting oriel window to the upper level….and a dominant verandah with a domed opening to highlight the entrance. The verandah was supported on posts with decorative brackets.’ An image of the theatre in a book commemorating ten years of the motion picture in Australia shows quite a different façade to that which is present today. This is in part due to the remodelling of the theatre’s façade in 1928 to plans prepared by Architect Samuel Rosenthal, a common practice during this period due to the popularity of Art Deco/Modernist architectural styles at that time. In August 1928 a lease to Dunning(?) & Parker Limited is recorded on the certificate of title which runs through until August 1938. The Post Office Directories indicate the theatre continued to operate during this time. The remodelling of the façade appears to have occurred prior to the lease. The 1940-41 Post Office Directory lists 438-456 Hay Street as vacant so it appears the theatre has ceased operating. In 1940 a newspaper article indicates that the owners, Mr & Mrs Coade, had donated the property to the Subiaco Branch of the Police Boys’ Club free of rent. By 1942 No. 438 Hay St houses the Police Boys Club, whilst No.s 440-456 are noted as being vacant. The same listing appears in 1945 and 1949. At around the time the Boys Club occupied the site a development application was submitted which proposed levelling the sloping floor. In 1946 a boxing match was held at the place which indicated the place was to be known as Subiaco Stadium. Mary Coade retained the property until 1949 when it was transferred to Lesley Eva Hewitt, Spinster and Medical Student of South Perth. In 1950 Lesley Hewitt married Noel Kevin Dougan of Ivanhoe in Victoria so the title was updated in 1953 to show her as a ‘married woman’. At that same time the title for the two lots was transferred to Winterbottom Motor Company Limited which established a car showroom at the premises operated under the name of Harper Motors. The newspaper advert for the car showroom’s opening also includes advertisements for a number of contractors who are noted as having worked in the building, including plumbers, floor and glass installers, and electricians, indicating that works to the building were undertaken at that time to allow it to serve its new function. Plans dated 1954 indicate that the rectangular window to the upper façade, and the removal of the plaques to either side and above it may have been done at this time. New glazed shopfronts are also indicated to have been added at this time. The title was subsequently transferred to Harper Finance Pty Ltd in 1962, and then to Dunlop Tyre Service in 1964. A new title appears to have been created in February 1971 with Dunlop Australia Ltd as the owner. In June 1978 the land was transferred to Turelle Pty Ltd, in 1982 to Wonderland of Card & Toys Pty Ltd, in 1988 to Albany Heights Pty Ltd, and then in 1989 to the current owner.

Uses

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