Savoy Hotel

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE gazetted with permanent entry as State Registered Place (23/11/2001). Savoy Hotel, a five-storey rendered brick former hotel constructed in 1914 in the Federation Free Classical style, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
+ as one of the largest hotels constructed in Perth at the time, the place is a tangible reminder of the optimism and prosperity of Western Australians early in the twentieth century;
+ the place is an excellent example of the Federation Free Classical style and the work of architects Hobbs, Smith and Forbes;
+ the place contributes to the community's sense of place through the operation of a hotel on the site from at least 1877 through to the 1990s and shoe store from 1932;
+ the place is significant for its association with the Army during World War Two; and,
+ the substantially intact interior spaces above the ground floor are representative of the type of accommodation expected by wealthy travellers early in the twentieth century
The basement level cinema was not examined as part of this assessment as access could not be obtained. The buildings to the rear of the hotel were not examined. The ground floor retail space and first floor cocktail bar are intrusive.

Physical Description

External - No access 2017 but previous reports indicate that original fabric and detailing remain extant within the upper floors. The upper floors have been vacant for a number of years and left largely untouched since their last occupation.

Internal - Five storey rendered brick former hotel building in the Federation Free Classical style. The main building has a gabled roof with a mansard roof to Hay Street. Two brick two-storey buildings are constructed to the rear. The façade presents with a heavily rusticated symmetrical facade with an awning at ground level and balconies to the upper levels. The lower balcony has a concrete balustrade and handrail whilst the upper balconies have a decorative cast iron balustrade/handrail. The central section of the facade is flanked by identical end bays with rusticated elements and three windows per floor with classical motifs. Pediment dormer windows punctuate the mansard roof section. The awning above the shops has been altered and the shop frontages are non-original. No other aspects of the exterior were accessed.

History

Savoy Hotel is a five-storey building containing ground floor retail tenancies,
basement storage, former cinema and former hotel. It was constructed in 1914 on a site formerly occupied by The Shamrock Hotel.
The owners of the Shamrock Hotel, the Connor Quinlan estate engaged architects, Hobbs, Smith and Forbes to prepare plans for the new hotel in 1905 but it was not until 1914 that the building commenced. Prominent local builder, C. W. Arnott oversaw the construction which featured many modern features of the day. The building included a cinema, retail tenancies on the ground floor and the hotel rooms above.
In 1932, local shoe retailers, Cecil Brothers opened a large store on the ground floor and subsequently purchased the whole property in 1959.
In 1961, the building underwent major refurbishments which saw the ground floor converted to one tenancy for Cecil Brothers.
During the 1970s the profitability of retail businesses declined in central Perth and the cinema and hotel closed in the late 1980s.
The Savoy Hotel was included on the State Register in 2001 and underwent external conservation and restoration works in the 2000s.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low level of integrity.

Low level of authenticity. Exterior of the building remains largely intact, with internal changes.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.