Devon House

Statement of Significance

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE gazetted with permanent entry as State Registered Place (18/02/2005), which is deemed to be included in the Heritage List under Clause 8(1) of the Deemed Provisions. Devon House, a four and five storey commercial building of steel and concrete construction, with stucco masonry exterior in the Inter-War Art Deco style, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
+ the place is a very fine example the Inter-War Art Deco style applied to a commercial building incorporating one of Perth’s finest intact Art Deco style facades;
+ the place is part of a landmark group of buildings in the Inter-War Functionalist and Art Deco styles comprising Devon House, Gledden Buildings and P&O Building (fmr);
+ the place was built for and later occupied as a retail store by John R Saunders Ltd, a leading Western Australian chain of menswear stores; and,
+ the place was designed by William Leighton one of the State’s foremost exponents of the Art Deco style.
The ground floor shop front, window mounted air conditioning units, canopy and other advertising signage are intrusive. The shop fitting work, replacement escape stair, suspended ceilings, dry wall linings, and most partitions are of little significance

Physical Description

External - Devon House is a four and five storey commercial building presenting with clearly discernible art deco styling. The building has been finished with a stucco render, creating a smooth finish to the elevations, with steel framed windows and glass block windows. The ground floor shop frontage has been remodelled but every other aspect of the facade retains its original detailing. Immediately above the new awning are a pair of steel framed openings, with a rendered fascia above with "Devon House" attached in art deco styled steel lettering. The remainder of the facade is dominated by rows of steel framed windows and glass block panels.

Internal - Contemporary store fitout with no evidence of the 1930s detailing.

History

This building was constructed in 1937 for the owners John R Saunders for £7245 to a design by architects, Baxter, Cox and Leighton. The original design featured glass bricks from floor to ceiling to enable good natural light.
One of the first tenants was tobacconist, B. H. Alston.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. The office building is still used for office purposes.

High level of authenticity. The exterior of Devon House presents largely as originally constructed, the main area of change being the ground floor retail unit..

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.