COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 257-261 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET

Statement of Significance

Commercial Building, 257-261 Queen Victoria Street is a typical group of attached rendered brick, two storey commercial shops with residences above dating from the early 1900s. The place has aesthetic value for its contribution to the streetscape and the surrounding area. It is representative of the typical commercial building stock located within the commercial areas of North Fremantle. Historically significant as a representation of commercial buildings in the North Fremantle area. The place is a simple example of the Victorian Regency style of architecture.

Physical Description

Two storey, rendered and painted brick building designed in the Victorian Regency style of architecture. A simply detailed building, it is an attached row of three commercial shops with residences above. The group includes 257, 259 and 261 Queen Victoria Street and is attached to the similarly detailed 255 Queen Victoria Street.
The original verandahs have been replaced with flat metal awnings. Across the group of three the front facade is symmetrical with a single upper floor window with simple rendered architraves above each shop . There is a continuous simple banded moulding detail to the parapet across the three shops.
There are glass shop fronts divided by rendered and painted brick columns to the ground floor.

History

Queen Victoria Street developed from the 1860s following the construction of the North Fremantle Traffic Bridge and the upgrading of Perth Road by convicts. Initially called Perth Road, the street has had a number of names over the years: Victoria Avenue (c.1907-c. 1937), Stirling Highway (c. 1937 to c. 1976) and Queen Victoria Street (c. 1976 on).

The area bounded by Queen Victoria Street, Stirling Highway (previously Bruce Street) and John Street was the commercial and social centre of North Fremantle, where public buildings such as the town hall, police station and post office were located. Also in this vicinity were the pubs and wine bars, butchers, bakers, grocers, haberdashery and barbers shops that catered for the needs of the local community. Queen Victoria Street continues to be North Fremantle’s main commercial precinct in North Fremantle.

Comprising three retail tenancies, this building was constructed between 1904 and 1910. A plan dated 1940 shows a row of three shops, each with entrances set in the south of the façade, with verandahs at the rear. It would appear that numbers 59 and 61 were used for the same purpose at this time, as the internal dividing wall extends only half the length of the building. Though constructed in a similar style to this building, the architectural detailing of the adjacent shop at 255 Queen Victoria Street would suggest that it was constructed at a slightly later stage. The land was part of a large holding along Queen Victoria Street owned by Kathleen Kenny.

In the early 1920s, the shop and rooms at 57 Victoria Avenue (later 57 Stirling Highway and then 257 Queen Victoria Street) was occupied by Catherine Lowley. It was occupied by McLean Humphrie in 1928/29 and by Alfred Chapman in 1932/33. This shop is now a graphic designer’s office.
In the 1920s, dressmaker Sydney Best occupied the shop and rooms at 59 Victoria Avenue (later 59 Stirling Highway and then 259 Queen Victoria Street). It was occupied by Harry Houston, tobacconist, in the mid-1930s. It was listed as vacant in 1945. This shop is now a café.
In the early 1920s, the shop and rooms at 61 Victoria Avenue (later 61 Stirling Highway and then 261 Queen Victoria Street) was occupied by Henry Dominick. It was occupied by Dominic Feeney, fishmonger, from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s, although it was vacant for a time in the mid-1930s. This shop was a garden shop in 2010 and is now (2016) gift shops.

This place was included in the 'North Fremantle Heritage Study' (1994) as a place contributing to the development and heritage of North Fremantle. It was also included in the list of heritage places in the City of Fremantle identified by the Fremantle Society (1979/80) - RED -significant for contributing to the unique character of Fremantle.

Integrity/Authenticity

Moderate degree of integrity (original intent clear, current use compatible, high long term sustainability, partially restored, some loss of fabric and previous unsympathetic alterations).
Moderate degree of authenticity with basic original fabric remaining.Some loss of fabric.
(These statements based on street survey only).

Condition

Condition assessed as fair (assessed from streetscape survey only).

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This data is provided by the City of Fremantle. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this data, the City of Fremantle makes no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which you might incur as a result of the data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason. Under no circumstances should this data be used to carry out any work without first contacting the City of Fremantle for the appropriate confirmation and approval.