Commercial Hotel

Child Places

• 05319 Barnard's Hall Site

Statement of Significance

The Commercial Hotel has cultural heritage significance for its strong visual appeal and is a good example of a hotel building in the Federation Filigree style. It is a strong presence on the corner of Queen and Albert Streets and an important streetscape element at the beginning of the Queen Street precinct.

Physical Description

Two storey rendered brick and iron hotel with a two-storey verandah in the Federation Filligree Style.

A two storey rendered brick and iron hotel building with a verandah on the two principal elevations giving the place its Federation Filigree appearance. The main roof is steeply pitched and forms a hip and the street corner, while the verandah is separately pitched off a wall plate and is set at a lower pitch. The two-storey verandah is carried on timber posts and has a simple timber balustrade with vertical balusters.
There are a variety of openings to the street on the ground floor and many of these would appear to be modifications of earlier openings. There is an addition to the eastern site with a low pitched roof and the style characteristic of building in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

History

Robert Donald, who built many hotels and shops in the south-west, including the first Caves House at Yallingup, built the hotel for George Barnard, who lived at the Retreat. It was built and opened as the Freemasons’ Hotel and the name later changed to Commercial Hotel. Additions were made to the eastern side of the building in the late 1960s or early 1970s. In recent times the place has been progressively upgraded with improvements to the exteriors, restaurant, and bar facilities.

Archaeology

There may be archaeological evidence of Barnards Hall at the rear of the building.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity Notes: The place remains in use as an hotel and retains a moderate to high degree of integrity.
Authenticity Notes: There appear to be a good many changes to the ground floor fabric and the place retains a moderate degree of authenticity.

Moderate-High Degree/Moderate Degree

Condition

Good

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.