St Albans Buildings

Statement of Significance

St Albans Buildings has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: It is one of a group of significant buildings in York Street containing a diverse range of architecture predominantly in the Federation and Inter-War styles which together have formed the main commercial and civic heart of Albany next to Stirling Terrace Precinct and with important views to Princess Royal Harbour. The place is associated with Wesley Maley a prominent State politician and businessman and a well-known agriculturalist with his estate at Moojebing one of the best known along the Great Southern Railway. The building was designed by well-known architect William A Nelson who was also the architect for the adjacent Spot Cash Draper store for D. Thomas. The building was reputedly the first reinforced concrete construction built in Western Australia. For nearly 30 years the building housed the Regent Theatre which at the time it opened was the most modern and palatial picture houses built in Albany and run by well-known local resident and picture show man H E Lambert.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Reinforced concrete construction • Original recessed shopfronts • Parapeted gable employing classical motifs (single storey shop) in Romanesque style – sun motif • Single and two storey retained sections Some obvious modifications include: • Demolition of northern section of original building • Corrugated iron replacement external north wall on side of two storey section (Majuba Bistro) • Replacement parapet on top of two storey section (Majuba Bistro) originally non-pointed apex parapeted gable • External colour scheme • Reconstructed two storey balcony

History

St Alban’s Buildings was built in 1909 for Wesley Maley, MLC. It was designed by architect William A. Nelson who also designed the adjacent Spot Cash Draper store for D. Thomas. The building contractors were Pitman and Totterdell who also won the contract for the Thomas’s store. The building was reported to have been the first reinforced concrete (or ferro concrete) construction erected in Western Australia. It comprised Portland cement and gauged granite, reinforced from foundation to parapets with ¾ inch steel rods and Johnston’s steel wire lattice. Four large double fronted shops were on the ground floor (of which the current Majuba Bistro is the remnant of the most southern) with residences on the first floor each containing six rooms, bathroom, kitchen, laundry and balcony. There were also two single storey shops that flanked the double storey building. Further details were provided in an article in the Albany Advertiser: It will be remembered that the structure will comprise three two-storey shops and an auction mart. The premises are to be built of reinforced concrete and will be the first building of this construction in Western Australia. The materials used for the walls, etc., are rich cement concrete, reinforced by continuous steel rods and steel plates, expanded by special machinery to 3-inch diamond mesh, thus forming a monolithic whole. The walls will not be more than 6in. thick, though much stronger than a 2ft. thickness of ordinary brickwork, and they will save many feet of valuable frontage, with the additional qualities of being impervious to damp or weather and of becoming stronger with age, which means that the walls are practically indestructible. The building will cover 115ft. of frontage to York-street. (Albany Advertiser 23 September 1908) Maley was both a prominent State politician and businessman and a well-known agriculturalist with his estate at Moojebing one of the best known along the Great Southern Railway. After losing his seat for Albany he moved to Perth. On 7th May 1926, Maley was found dead in a lane alongside the West Australian Club in Perth. The cause of death believed to be an accidental fall as his bedroom window was found open and Maley had been increasingly suffering from mental delusions. The Regent Theatre was built in 1925 for Mr H E (Henry Ernest) Lambert, in a portion of the two-storey section of the St Albans Buildings. The official opening was on Thursday 5th February 1925, attended by the Governor William and Lady Campion who had officiated the opening of the Albany Woollen Mills earlier that day. Lambert operated the theatre for more than 20 years. He came to Albany with his parents aged 5 in the 1880s. He had two brothers, one being Percy Lambert who became Mayor of Albany. Lambert married and had 2 sons and 2 daughters and lived his later years at his home at 22 Stirling Tce. Prior to the Regent being built, Lambert, who made his name in the moving picture business, showed pictures in the Town Hall and St John’s Hall. The building contractor was Mr H J Ives for a cost of £6000. Construction commenced in September 1924 and the theatre was officially opened on 5 February 1925 by Mr Arthur Wansbrough, MLA, member for Albany. At the time of its opening, it was described as ‘…a modern and palatial picture house built for the entertainment and comfort of patrons’. (Albany Advertiser 23/7/1965) The Regent provided seating for 1070 patrons including a spacious dress circle that was flanked on either side by private boxes which combined could hold 230 patrons, and the ground floor accommodating 840. The entrance comprised a richly decorated vestibule with black and white tiles and 6ft marble stairway. (Albany Advertiser 4/2/1925). The plaster and jarrah moulding ceiling was modelled on the Prince of Wales Theatre in Perth. Special features included electric radiators for warmth and oscillating fans for ventilation when the weather was warmer. In 1938, extensive renovations and redecorations were carried out to the Regent Theatre, including the installation of new sound equipment, and interior refurbishments (carried out by Mr M O’Keefe). The central stairway to the dress circle was removed, as was the island ticket box and replaced by new. (Albany Advertiser 8/12/1938) While running the Regent, Lambert also leased the Empire Theatre on the corner of York Street and Stirling Tce for his picture shows with the Regent open every night except Wednesday and the Empire running on Wednesday and also Saturday to cope with the busy Saturday night trade. Lambert also offered up both his venues to the local Albany Fire Brigades Band to hold concerts for fundraising, as well as for other events such as lectures or religious services. Although Lambert died in 1936, the Regent Theatre continued until the business was sold in 1954. In the 1970s around half of the St Albans Buildings were demolished which included the northern single storey shop and the Regent Theatre. The southern shop of the two-storey section was retained (now Majuba Bistro) and the southern single storey shop (now Mainstreet shoes and bags).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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