MANNING BUILDINGS, 121-137 HIGH STREET MALL

Statement of Significance

The place is of historic significance as part of a group of buildings known collectively as the Manning Buildings, built in the first decade of the twentieth century by the Manning family and believed to have been designed by the prominent architectural firm of Cavanagh and Cavanagh. The place is a fine example of a Federation Free Classical style building, with elaborate stucco decoration above the ground floor level, that makes a significant contribution to the streetscape. Awning and shop fronts are not significant.

Physical Description

121-137 High Street is part of the collective group of buildings known as the Manning Buildings. 121-137 High Street is a two storey stuccoed brick and stone commercial building constructed in 1902 and designed in the Federation Free Classical style of Architecture. This style of architecture was often used to express the confidence experienced in growing towns in Western Australia following the discovery of gold in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie at a time when the eastern states were experiencing a depression. Many architects moved to the west including Cavanagh and Cavanagh, the architects of this building. The building is a two storey rendered and parapeted terraced building with a zero setback from the pavement. The building is adjoined to the Manning Arcade. The first floor façade features a highly decorative pediment above the projecting bay and tall engaged pilasters with Corinthian capitols and base. The sash windows have prominent rendered sills flanked by pairs of engaged pilasters. Engaged pilasters divide the building into bays. A corrugated iron roof sits concealed behind a rendered parapet. The ground floor is divided into individual shops. The majority of shops have recessed entrances. The awning above the ground floor shops is not original. The building contains many elements typical to this style including: •Pilasters •The ground floor is treated as a base to the more detailed upper floor. •The roof is corrugated iron hidden behind a balustraded parapet. The ground floor contains individual shops with recessed shop fronts and awnings. The Manning Buildings comprise: 109-113 High Street, 115-119 High Street, 121-137 High Street, 1-5 William Street, 40-62 Market Street and 36-50 South Terrace. A Heritage Assessment was prepared in June 2009 by Carrick + Wills Architects for a DA submission to Council (DA187/09) for proposed introduction of signage elements to the building for the current occupier of no. 135, Shock and Oar.

History

High Street was named by Surveyor General Roe - as was customary in English towns, the main street of the town was named High Street. Eastward from William Street the roadway was completed by convict labour after the Town Hall was built in 1887. High Street around the Town Hall closed to traffic in 1966. The High Street Mall was trialled in November 1973 and made a permanent pedestrian mall in 1975. The Manning family emigrated to Australia in the 1830s and became the biggest landowners in Fremantle. They also owned extensive properties in Perth. The suburb of Manning was named after them. The Manning Buildings comprise: 109-113 High Street, 115-119 High Street, 121-137 High Street, 1-5 William Street, 40-62 Market Street and 36-50 South Terrace. The Manning buildings were built from 1902 to 1906 for a cost of £2,243, as an investment, by the trustees for the Manning Bros. Estate. The National Trust assessment cites Cavanagh & Cavanagh as the main architects for the buildings with various builders for the different stages. 121-137 High Street is located on Lots 383- 385. In 1880 all three were owned by Lucius Alex Manning, a merchant. Of the three lots, Lots 383 and 385 were vacant while Lot 384 had a house and shop on it which was occupied by Fanny O’Connor, a dressmaker. By 1885 the lots were no longer vacant and consisted of commercial buildings occupied by a school master, locksmith, shopkeeper and two fruiterers. By 1890 tenants included a tailor, shopkeeper, baker, locksmith, wine merchant, contractor and two storekeepers. In 1895 the amount of tenants had increased and included a tobacconist, green grocer, confectioner, locksmith, a baker and confectioner, shop keeper, a homeopathic, tailor, draper, Otto Kemp, a jeweler and Dr Henry John Lotz, a surgeon. The Majestic Theatre, located at 115 -135 High Street formed part of the buildings. The Majestic Theatre was opened by the Mayor, W. E. Wray on 22 December 1916. In 1938 it was closed and Coles took over the tenancy. This was the first Coles outside of the Perth CBD. By 1905/06 the buildings were owned by Florence Augusta Hall and Alfred Julian Manning and the tenants were Emeline Kopps, jeweler, Gloster & Co, chemists, Lesser Berrick, clothier, John V Banfield, baker, Tramway Butchering Company, Charles Bendall, stationer and a fruiterer and grocers. The tenants in 1910/11 were George Kopp, a watchmaker, Gloster & Co. chemists, Joseph Laker, stationer, Ernest Bertram Banfield a pastry cook, Arthur Belby Evans, McDonald & Co. grocers and the Baker Bros had two shops; one a butchers and the other a fruit shop. Ten years later the owners were the same and the tenants included Charles Doig and Charles Horn who operated Doig and Horn watchmakers, George William Shepard, stationer, Baker Bros butchers, Premier Teahouse and Bakehouse, a tailor, Alexander Rappeport, a fruiterer and Morris Beckler who had a bootstore. By 1925/26 Alfred Julian Manning had died. The building continued to be owned by Florence Augusta Hall but had changed to the Estate of Alfred Manning. Ownership had changed again by 1935/36 to Lucius Charles Manning and Florence still remained as the owner. Both continued to own 121 -137 High Street in 1951/52. In 1930/31 Doig & Horn, George Shepherd, Baker Bros Butchers and Alexander Rappeport were all still operating businesses in the building. Rappeport, as well as the fruit shop was a boot importer. Other tenants were Frederick Yench a clothier, Abraham Orloff a photographer who had a studio upstairs, Phyllis Grace Warry, who Wise’s Post Office Directories states was a confectioner and cool drinks, and P Koutsoukis had tea rooms. According to Wise’s in 1949 the tenants were Carris Bros Jewellers at 119 -121, Mrs Emma Amelia Shepherd, stationer at 123, Peter Samiros a café owner at 125, J & L Baker, butchers at 127, Fred Yench, clothier at 129, F Samiros, confectioner at 131, upstairs at number 133 were two tenants, Abraham Orloff, photographer in a studio and Giuseppi Raneri a tailor in a workroom. 135-137 was occupied by Ezywalkin Co shoe retailer who had been operating in the building from as early as 1935/36. The street numbers changed in the mid1930s. There was public objection when, as part of a refurbishment in 1986, three of the shops were demolished to allow access to the shopping mall. There is a photographic record by Bruce Robinson & Assoc. done in 1989 for the Manning Arcade Project. A Heritage Assessment was prepared in June 2009 by Carrick + Wills Architects for a DA submission to Council (DA187/09) for proposed introduction of signage elements to the building for the current occupier of no. 135, Shock and Oar. Currently (2013), the buildings house various retail and commercial uses.

Integrity/Authenticity

High degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability). Medium to High degree of authenticity with much original fabric remaining. (These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as good (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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