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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as a simple Inter-War Free Classical building contributing to the visual qualities of the highly intact streetscape. The place has aesthetic value for its visual connection to other buildings in the William Street streetscape, such as the Rosen Building and the Rechabite Hall. The place has historic value as it reflects the economic changes in Western Australia, particularly the gold boom of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which resulted in heavy development of the street. It represents a continuity of commercial use and reflects a multiplicity of uses which shaped the character and present diversity of the area. The place contributes to the community's sense of place as an integral component of the Northbridge district. The upstairs demonstrates continuity of use for cultural/recreational use, such as dance studios and galleries space. There is also continuity of use in the retail function of the ground floor tenancies.

Physical Description

Two-storey rendered brick and iron building with roof concealed behind a stepped central parapet with moulded detailing including deep horizontal cornices and brackets. The word 'Manchester' can just be made out under the painted surface on the southern side of the parapet. Timber-framed sash windows with top lights in banks of three and four are set into the first floor façade. The ground floor facade comprises three shop fronts, two of which have re-entrant doorways. The northern most tenancy has been recently refurbished as a cafe and extends through to the rear carpark. The cafe has an alfresco seating and plants on the footpath. The central tenancy has two rooms for retail sales, whilst the third tenancy comprises a narrow cafe with kitchen, open to the cafe, behind the seating area. There is also an entry to the first floor, sharing the entry space of the southernmost tenancy in an asymmetrical re-entrant shopfront configuration. The cantilevered canopy has a pressed metal soffit lining. The first floor, originally one open space, has been divided into two smaller areas by a masonry wall with three doors. The rear of this space accommodates a bar and toilet areas. The front space has been further modified with a low partition wall and some metal framing, possibly for hanging drapes. A vault is located towards the southern side of the front hall. The floor is concrete, having been replaced after a fire destroyed a timber floor. The ceilings in both halls are suspended plasterboard systems, the one in the rear hall being slightly lower than window head height. In the rear stairwell is a timber staircase, probably original, and timber-framed ledged and braced exit door. The front entrance to the first floor is by way of a staircase with timber handrails, probably original, with metal chequer-board plate treads.

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. Post Office directory records show that the building was referred to as the Oddfellows’ Hall in 1900, and was originally No. 337. It was called Manchester Unity Hall from c.1925 until c.1955. It was the meeting place for several clubs in Perth, including the Manchester Unity Oddfellows Club, an altruistic society that promoted social development, and the Cracovia Club, a group comprising Polish immigrants who held dances in the hall. The Patch Theatre founded by Edward and Ida Beeby in the 1930s was also located in the Manchester Unity building. Evidence suggests that the first floor was also utilised as a gymnasium and venue for boxing and wrestling matches in the 1930s and was home to the Swan Gymnasium and the Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Association. A photograph from the Northbridge History Collection is of a boxer, Peter Sideris, taken in the Manchester Unity building basement in the late 1940s.The Theatre Australia website and a newspaper article suggest that the Hole in the Wall theatre group may have been based in the building in the late 1990s, possibly in a basement. The ground floor appears to have been used as several tenancies, such as Western Dairy and Co. from c.1915 until the 1970s.Early PWD drawings list the building as a hall of brick construction. It is shown as a long rectangular building with a set of stairs to the south. A 1966 photograph shows three shopfronts, all with re-entrant doors, and the first floor entrance in its current position. The Metropolitan Water Supply Survey plan (1950) labels the building ‘Hall’ with southern and eastern external staircase and a largely vacant area to the rear. In 2014 the tenants were Little Willy's cafe at 267 William Street, Vinnie's Retro at 267B William Street and Joy Cafe at 269 William Street. The first floor was vacant. At 2022, the tenants are Little Willy's cafe at 267 William Street, Vinnie's Retro at 267B William Street and Hongkies Hong Kong Kitchen at 269 William Street. The first floor is ‘Paper Mountain’ a Perth based Artist Run Initiative with a gallery, artist studios and a creative co-working space called The Common Room.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. High level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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