List of heritage buildings in Perth, Western Australia

Trinity Uniting Church, built in 1897.

This is a list of heritage buildings in Perth, Western Australia, a district occupied by British settlers in 1829 and originally named the Swan River Colony. The places are listed in chronological order and include significant buildings in the Perth metropolitan area. Included are examples of governmental, religious, residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Places of identified heritage significance in metropolitan and regional Western Australia are listed in the official "InHerit" database which includes the State Register of Heritage Places, local government inventories and other lists, the Australian Government's heritage list, and other non-government lists and surveys.^[1]

Western Australia’s settlements struggled in the 1800s from lack of resources, labour and investment. The gold rushes of the 1890s brought a great influx of people from interstate and overseas, and considerable development arising from the new wealth. Many ornate and substantial buildings were constructed in the metropolitan area from the 1890s to the early-mid 1900s, including the Palace Hotel, Perth, the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth and the Old Perth Technical School.

In the late 1950s, a group of individuals who were concerned for the need to ‘preserve our heritage’ came together to form the National Trust of Australia (WA) in 1959.^[2] The National Trust’s mandate was to educate the public on the importance of valuing our landscapes.^[3] At this time, there was no legislation or a statutory body in WA to formally recognise and protect heritage places. The National Trust was able to promote and bring attention to the significance of the state's heritage places including natural landscapes and buildings which were supported by heritage assessments of buildings with a classification system.^[4] In 1965, an Act of Parliament established the National Trust as a statutory body in WA and properties were able to be vested under the responsibility of the organisation.^[5]

A mining boom in the 1960s-70s led to another wave of intensive development in Perth and as a result the city lost many of its early 1900s buildings, particularly along St Georges Terrace. From this time, a greater awareness in the community of the loss of heritage places developed as demonstrated by several high profile public campaigns for the Pensioner Barracks (now the Barracks Arch), the Palace Hotel on St Georges Terrace and the Swan Brewery.

The lack of statutory protection for heritage places was a serious issue in WA and it wasn’t until the adoption of the Heritage Act of WA 1990 and the formation of the Heritage Council that post-colonial heritage places were given recognition and statutory protection under the State Register of Heritage Places. This work is undertaken by the State Heritage Office which supports the Heritage Council and Minister for Heritage.^[6] Aboriginal heritage places are dealt with separately under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.^[7]

Further, under the Heritage Act of WA 1990, each local government in Western Australia is required to compile a Municipal Heritage Inventory which identifies places of heritage significance within their municipality.^[8]

The National Trust of Australia (WA) since the early 1960s has maintained a List of Classified Places. Classification by the National Trust does not provide statutory protection; instead these assessments provide a record of heritage places (historic, natural and Aboriginal) and support the Trust’s education and advocacy programs.^[9] The National Trust's List of Classified Places can be searched via Inherit.

Thousands of places across Western Australia have been recognised for their heritage significance. The recognition, protection and conservation of these heritage places has developed from individuals and communities who value these places and understand the contribution they make to WA’s history, culture and environment.

List

Building	Construction period	HCWA link	Notes	Image
The Round House Fremantle	1830	[10]	Built as a prison shortly after the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829.
The Old Mill South Perth	1835	[11]	also known as Shenton's Mill. The original (1833) building was destroyed in 1834 and rebuilt.
The Old Court House Supreme Court Gardens, Perth	Built between 1836 and 1837	[12]	The city's oldest surviving public building. Designed by Henry Willey Reveley. As of 2016, houses the Francis Burt Law Education Centre and Museum.
Tranby House Maylands	Built in 1839	[13]	Built by a group of devout Methodists known as the Tranby People who arrived in the Swan River Colony in 1830.[14]
All Saints Church Upper Swan	Built between 1838 and 1840	[15]	The oldest still-standing church in Western Australia.
St John's Pro-Cathedral 18 Victoria Avenue, Perth	Between 1843 and 1844	[16]	The earliest Roman Catholic church building constructed in Western Australia.
Old Perth Boys School 139 St. Georges Terrace, Perth	1854	[17]	Taken over by the Technical College in 1898 - owned by the National Trust (WA).
Perth Gaol Northbridge, behind Western Australian Museum	Built in 1856	[18]
The Cloisters 200 St. Georges Terrace, Perth	Built in 1858	[19]	Designed by Richard Roach Jewell for Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale. Served as W.A.'s first boys' secondary school
Fremantle Prison Fremantle	Between 1852 and 1859	[20]
The Deanery Corner of St. Georges Terrace and Pier Street, Perth	Built in 1859	[21]	Built as a residence for the first Dean of Perth.
Bishop's House Corner Spring Street and Mounts Bay Road, Perth.	Built in 1859	[22]	Residence of Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale
Archbishop's Palace 41 Victoria Square, Perth	First stage completed 1860	[23]	Built by Bishop Joseph Serra who became Catholic Bishop of Perth
Barracks Arch 266 St. Georges Terrace, Perth	Built in 1863	[24]	The former Barracks were built to house the retired Pensioner Forces. The two wings on each side of the entrance were demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Mitchell Freeway. The Government of the day—led by David Brand—intended to demolish the entire structure, but public outrage forced a compromise and the arch was saved.
Government House St. Georges Terrace, Perth	Between 1859 and 1864	[25]	Official residence of the Governor of Western Australia
Fremantle Arts Centre Finnerty Street, Fremantle	Between 1861 and 1864	[26]	Originally built as the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum
Trinity Church 72 St. Georges Terrace, Perth	Partly obscured Trinity Congregational Chapel was built in 1865. The Church (foreground) was built in 1897.	[27]	Chapel designed by Richard Roach Jewell. Hosted the first meeting of the Karrakatta Club in 1894.
St Mary's Cathedral 41 Victoria Square, Perth	Western end was begun in 1865	[28]	Currently undergoing major renovations
Perth Town Hall Corner Barrack and Hay Streets, Perth	Between 1868 and 1870	[29]	Built using convict labour
Wesley Church 75 William Street, corner Hay Street	1870	[30]
St. Mary's Church Middle Swan	1870	[31]	Located near the site of an earlier octagonal church which had been built in 1839
Central Government Offices Barrack Street, Perth	1874	[32]	The former Treasury buildings and Titles Office buildings bounded by Barrack St, St Georges Tce and Cathedral Avenue were originally Perth's GPO, which was moved by the Commonwealth to the Forrest Place building in 1923.
Fremantle Grammar School 200 High Street, Fremantle	1885	[33]	Established by Henry Briggs as an Anglican public school
Fremantle Town Hall 8 William Street, Fremantle	1887	[34]
Court Hotel Beaufort Street, Northbridge	1888	[35]
St George's Cathedral 2 Cathedral Avenue, Perth	Completed in 1888	[36]	Currently undergoing a major renovation
St George's House 235-239 St Georges Terrace, Perth	1892	[37]	designed by Talbot Hobbs[38]
The Weld Club 4 Barrack Street, Perth	1892	[39]	designed by Talbot Hobbs
Perth Railway Station Wellington Street, Perth	1893 to 1894	[40]	designed by George Temple-Poole
The Palace Hotel William Street and St. Georges Terrace, Perth	1896	[41]	Currently offices for Bank of Western Australia
The Esplanade Hotel Marine Terrace, Fremantle	1896	[42]	[43]
Beaufort Street Terraces 235-241 Beaufort Street, Highgate	1897	[44]	Currently used as doctors' and dentists' surgeries, and private residences
Fremantle Markets Market Street, Fremantle	Commenced in 1897	[45]	Design - H.J. Eales and Charles Oldham.
Perth Mint 310 Hay Street, Perth	Foundation stone was laid in 1896 and competed in 1899	[46]	Australia's oldest operating mint
Old Perth Observatory 4 Havelock St, West Perth	Construction completed 1896 and officially opened in 1900	[47]	National Trust, WA branch Headquarters. Design - George Temple-Poole
Jubilee Building North Perth	completed in 1899	[48]	Part of the Western Australian Museum
The Cliffe Peppermint Grove	constructed in 1894	[49]	designed by Talbot Hobbs
The Old Perth Fire Station Perth	1900	[50]	First purpose-built fire station in WA, operated until 1979. Now the FESA Fire Safety Education Centre & Museum
His Majesty's Theatre Perth	1904	[51]	Constructed at the time of the Western Australian gold rush, it was the largest theatre in Australia, and had seating for over 2,500 people. It is believed to be the only remaining working Edwardian theatre in Australia.
The North Mole Lighthouse Fremantle	1906	[52]	This cast iron light tower, together with its southern twin, are the only remaining navigation lights of this design in this State.
The Old Perth Technical School Perth	1910	[53]	First tertiary-education institution in WA. Designed by Hillson Beasley and built on the site of Reveley's Tuscan mill.
Wireless Hill Museum	1912	[54]	Originally built as the Applecross Wireless Station
The Albany Bell Castle	1914	[55]	Bakehouse Factory, expression with considerable elaboration of details, towers, battlements, generous natural lighting and garden setting, is uncommon in the Western Australian community
Anzac Cottage	1915	[56]
General Post Office, Perth	1923	[57]
St Joseph's Church Subiaco	1933–1934	[58]	Interwar Gothic church designed by Edgar Le Blond Henderson.[59]
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Perth	1939	[60]	Art Deco church designed by Ochiltree & Hargrave

See also

• History of Perth, Western Australia
• Category:Heritage places of Western Australia

References

Further reading

• Austen, Tom The Streets of Old Perth St George Books. 1988. ISBN 0-86778-038-X
• Le Page, J. S. H. Building a state : the story of the Public Works Department of Western Australia 1829-1985 Leederville, W.A : Water Authority of Western Australia, 1986. ISBN 0-7244-6862-5
• Stannage, C. T The people of Perth : a social history of Western Australia's capital city Perth : Carroll's for Perth City Council, 1979. ISBN 0-909994-86-2
• Witcomb A and Gregory K From the Barracks to the Burrup: the National Trust in Western Australia University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney. 2010. ISBN 9781-921410-24-6

External links

• Heritage Council website
• A self-guided walk around Perth to view some of the listed buildings