Johnston's Buildings

Statement of Significance

One of the earliest surviving buildings. The types of commerce has varied but generally relate to essential needs of a small town. The association with Bertie johnston is significant.

Physical Description

Johnston's Buildings are located on the north west corner of Honour Avenue and Railway Terrace in the commercial area of Wyalkatchem. Commercial buildings are positioned on the northern side of Railway Terrace, an extremely wide street, facing the railway line to the south. No buildings have been constructed on the southern side of the road. A small, waterwise garden as been developed on the vacant block of land on the corner of Honour Avenue and Railway Terrace.
The place is a brick and iron building with a front verandah which extends out to cover the public footpath. The brickwork to the front of the buildings has been rendered and features a raised parapet wall with central triangular pediment and alternating horizonal and vertical plaster elements above the verandah's skillion roof line. The pediment bears the date '1921' and immediately below this the words: 'Johnston's Buildings' surround by a rendered rectangle. The verandah is supported on turned timber posts. The footpath immediately in front of the shops has been laid with brick paving. The parapet wall conceals the buildings' iron clad skillion roof.
At the rear of the building it is possible to see the single remaining chimney stack, which is covered with pebble dash, and a raised party wall between the general store and the hairdresser. A skillion roofed brick addition has been constructed at the rear of the general store.
The building currently contains three separate shops (from west to east): general store, hairdresser and butcher. Ther general store occupies what was once two separate shops. Each of the three shops has a wide single, timber framed window (the general store has two). Below the verandah line the rendered brickwork of the shop fronts have been treated differently: the general store wall has been painted,, the hairdresser wall has been re-rendered and marked out to resemble dressed limstone blocks and the butcher's wall is clad with tiles. While both the general store and the butcher features entry doors which lie flush with the line of the front wall, the hairdresser's shop has a recessed door. The original entry door at the western end of the general store was blocked up sometime in the 1970s.
It was possible to view the interiors of only the general store and the butcher. The general store featured painted brick walls, timber floors and asbestos and batten ceilings. The partitioning wall which once existed between what was once two shops has been replaced with an I beam just below ceiling height. The original fireplace has been retained in the kitchen at the rear. A double hung sash window (kitchen) has also survived. The butcher's shop had similar features with the addition of a cool room.

The Honour Avenue sidewall of the shop features a mural depicting the history of Wyalkatchem.

History

Built by Bertie Johnston.

Integrity/Authenticity

Still Maintains outward appearance of buildings of the age and construction.
High degree of Authenticity.

Condition

Generally good externally but with some deterioration of the internal fabric.

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.