Old Leederville Police Station & Quarters (fmr)

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House

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Sisters of St John of God Convent Chapel

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St John of God Hospital Convent

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St John of God Hospital (site)

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Statement of Significance

The place has historic value for its association with the provision of medical services at this site for the Western Australian community since 1898. The place has historic value as the first permanent facility established by the Sisters of St John of God in Australia. The place has social value to the Western Australian community as it has been the location of medical services which impact on the lives of many individuals, families and groups. St John of God Hospital, Subiaco has social value as a large employer of a diverse range of people who come together daily to provide services and in doing so generate a rich community at this place. The place is a landmark in the community as it is a dominant presence in the streetscape.

Physical Description

The early buildings associated with St John of God Hospital have been demolished. The site has been comprehensively developed with more recent hospital buildings with few reminders of the earlier structures remaining. Whilst the site has become more densely developed over time, small pockets of open space and greenery remain extant which are reflective of the earlier, more open, character of the site in the 1950s/1960s. There is no evidence of the former buildings on the site which dated from the late 19th century apart from the stained glass window from the 1932 hospital which was demolished in 1983. This window is located in the main entry to the hospital complex.

History

The Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God was founded in Wexford, Ireland, in 1871. Inspired by the work of their patron saint work, St John of God, they nursed those in poverty. As the Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God expanded, Bishop Matthew Gibney of Perth invited the Sisters to Western Australia to help care for the sick. The first group of eight Sisters arrived in Perth in late 1895 and began visiting the sick in their homes and established a convent hospital. Within two years, they were also running hospitals on the Eastern Goldfields at Coolgardie (1896-1898) and Kalgoorlie (1897). In 1898, the Sisters opened a convent, hospital and school in the Perth suburb of Subiaco on the 7 acre parcel of land. The Sisters also established a number of schools at this time and over the following decades hospitals in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Since its foundation, St John of God Hospital in Subiaco has undergone many changes. Buildings have been constructed and demolished as requirements and standards have changed. The buildings on the site date from the 1980s. From 1962, when a new 85 bed maternity hospital was built, the hospital has been the leading private maternity hospital. During the 1970s and 1980s, the hospital established its prestigious surgical and medical teaching units and undertook a major rebuild. The hospital continues to be a leading teaching and research facility in Western Australia. The only element retained from a former buildings is a stained glass window from the 1932 hospital (demolished 1983) which was originally located at the top of a marble staircase. This window was dedicated to Dr Jeremiah McCauliffe SJG (c1862-1922) in 1933. When the building was demolished it was relocated to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel until this building was demolished in 2005 and the window is now located at the undercover entry to the hospital. On the relocation of the window it was rededicated to all members of the McAuliffe family by Fr Dado Haber OSCam on 7th October 2006. St John of God Health Care was formed in 1989 when nine hospitals and other services of the Sisters of St John of God in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales were brought together as a single entity. St John of God Hospital Subiaco provides medical services to a large sector of the community and is a significant employer of medical and support staff.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: None

Condition

Site Only

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Commercial Premises, Grantham, Jersey and Nanson Streets

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Statement of Significance

This group of shops have historic value for their association with the growth of the Wembley area in the post war period. This group of shops have some aesthetic value for the remaining form and detail demonstrating the Post War International style.

Physical Description

The commercial premises form two short ranges of shops between Griffiths Lane and Jersey Street and Gaynor Lane and Berresford Lane. All the units are of single storey construction and were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s but have been modified since resulting in the loss of original detail and subsequently the original aesthetic. The shops on the corners of Jersey Street and Nanson Street have angled frontages facing the intersections and were generally the earlier developments. Some of the shops have retained the original form of the shop windows including the highlight windows though the majority of the frontages are no longer original. 46-56 Grantham Street No. 48 Grantham Street presents with a traditional shop frontage which incorporates the recessed entrance with angled window and large window with highlight windows to the street frontage. Nos. 48 and 46 both have retained the awning canopy across the frontages and around to the side elevation. 81 Nanson Street No. 81 Nanson Street, on the corner of Grantham Street and Nanson Street appears to have either been substantially remodelled in the late 1960s/early 1970s or was rebuilt. The corner unit incorporates the angled frontage relating to the intersection and has an extensive glazed frontage addressing both streets. The place is of brick construction with a flat roof and deep flat canopy above the shop frontages. 38-42 Grantham Street Nos. 38-42 Grantham Street were constructed in the early 1960s with the majority of the shop frontages having undergone alteration in the form of recladding, replacement windows and doors which has impacted the authenticity of these buildings.

History

These premises were built in the period between 1953 and 1964 and are representative of the population growth in the district following World War Two. The architect and builder of the premises have not been determined in this research. The clustering of small shops at intersections enabled most households to walk to their local suppliers. The occupants of these shops have changed since their construction from the provision of household goods to more specialist retailers. Since their construction the form and extent of these premises have not changed significantly although internally the has been ongoing modifications to suit changing requirements.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Little

Condition

Fair

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Benedictine Stables (fmr)

Parent Place or Precinct

02231 Catherine McAuley Centre

Uses

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Statement of Significance

The building is of historic significance because it marks the earliest period of settlement on the south side of Lake Monger by the Benedictine Monks. It is of aesthetic significance for it's rustic qualities relating the construction methods used by the first European settlers to the area. It is of social significance as the earliest extant evidence of the life of the Benedictine Monks and subsequent religious orders in the areas.

Physical Description

Random rubble with limewash. Simple rectangular form with simple timber door and window frames from rough sawn timber, Original shingled roof has been replaced with short sheets of corrugated iron.

History

This building is thought to have been part of the Benedictine Monastry Complex built in 1859. It is thought to have been used as a stable but could have been a storage room for machinery or produce. The building claimed to be the State's second oldest extant building, however comparitive evidence does not support this claim.

Integrity/Authenticity

The site has been excavated adjacent to the building on the southern side which reduces the authenticity of the building setting. The building has lost some original fabric through restoration over time.

Condition

Fair-Good

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Catherine McAuley Centre

Child Places

• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23680 Benedictine Stables (fmr)
• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street

Condition

The Benedictine Monastery was demolished in 1979 and replaced by an administration block which was demolished c. 2006.

Uses

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• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23680 Benedictine Stables (fmr)
• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street

Statement of Significance

Catherine McAuley Centre, comprising Benedictine Stables (fmr) (c.1858, 1890s, 1990s); Olive Trees (c.1858); Cemetery (1891-1913); Old School(1893); St Rochs (c.1900); former Laundry (c.1910); St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) which includes the Foundling Home (1914, 1918, 1950s, 1994), Kindergarten (1925, 1971, 1994) and Nursery (1928, 1970, 1994); and, St Gerard’s Hospital (fmr) (1938), has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the Benedictine Stables (fmr) has rarity value as it is one of few agrarian buildings dating from the 1850s still in existence in the metropolitan area and is the only remaining structure from the early Benedictine occupation of the site; the various elements illustrate the evolution of the site from an agrarian beginning, with stables and olive groves, to a facility dealing with the needs of urban family life, and reflect the rapid development and changing social environment of Perth and Western Australia, since the 1850s; the place contributes to the aesthetic qualities of the landscape particularly through the Old School, which has landmark value when approached from the south entrance of the site and provides a focus for the historic group of buildings at the place. St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) contains decorative timber work, terracotta finials and brick work with render banding; the various elements of the place contribute to the community’s sense of place; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are evidence of the Catholic Benedictine Order who occupied the site from 1852 to 1864, and also with Bishop Serra, under whose authority the site was developed. The Old School is a reminder of the ongoing religious associations of the site; St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) and Old Chapel are evidence of the work of the Sisters of Mercy, and the services to children in need which they have provided on the site since 1876; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are a reminder of the olive oil industry conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and which helped provide funds for the ongoing operation of the orphanage and foundling home. The olive oil manufactured at St Joseph’s Orphanage won first prize at several Royal Perth shows; the place is illustrative of the institutional approach to the care and training of children which prevailed in the late 19th century and into the first six decades of the 20th century; and, when opened in 1925, the Kindergarten was one of the first to use the Montessori teaching method and aspects of design in Western Australia. The nursery still displays the ventilated and mosquito proofed verandah, which was considered modern at the time of construction.

Physical Description

The Catherine McCauley Centre is an elevated site in Wembley containing aged care facilities, children’s welfare facilities and disability services. The site contains a mix of purpose built accommodation and facilities as well as the historic buildings that formed part of the early occupation of the site. Together with the more contemporary developments on the site, the Catherine McCauley forms a precinct of structures and landscape elements developed by the Sisters of Mercy for religious and social welfare purposes. The main vehicular access to the services part of the site is from Barrett Street with additional access to the residential component from Ruislip Street. The site is a mix of buildings, hard landscaping/parking and soft landscaping with trees, other plantings and lawned areas. The historic elements of the site comprise: • Former Benedictine stables • Olive Trees • Remnants of Cemetery • Old School building • St Roch's • Former Laundry building • St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) • Kindergarten building • Nursery building • St Gerard’s Hospital

History

The first Spanish Benedictine priests, Joseph Serra and Rosendo Salvado, arrived in Western Australia in 1846, together with 25 missionaries (including six members of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy). Dr Brady, the newly appointed Bishop of Perth, brought the missionaries to Western Australia following a visit to Rome. Serra and Salvado soon established a mission and school for Aboriginal people at New Norcia and in 1848 Serra travelled to Europe, seeking new missionaries to help with the work in Western Australia. He returned with 39 recruits, including 32 Benedictine monks and an Irish Trappist, Dominic Urquhart. Serra was appointed Bishop c.1850 after Dr Brady left Western Australia. On behalf of the Perth Diocese, Serra purchased all the lands owned by Dr Brady, including Locations Ag and Ah, comprising 300 acres, adjoining Herdsmen Lake and Lake Monger. Serra named the area ‘New Subiaco’, after the original St Benedictine’s monastery in Italy. Bishop Serra established the Benedictine monks beside Herdsman Lake at New Subiaco (in what is now Glendalough), where bush pole and timber chapel and monastery buildings were constructed. The cleared land was planted with olives, grape vines and fruit trees. In 1858, following Serra’s visit to Europe (1853-55), construction of a permanent Benedictine Monastery at New Subiaco commenced. The Monastery building was completed on June 1859. There was ‘a luscious vineyard with sixty thousand vines, and an extensive orchard: olives, oranges, lemons, figs, pears, apples and almonds, etc.’ A smaller olive plantation was planned abutting the southern wall of the monastery, with more olive trees in the adjacent garden. On the 1864 map of New Subiaco, shows the former stable and a burial ground was identified although no records have been located of any burials taking place during the Benedictine occupation of the site. In April 1859, the Vatican separated New Norcia and Perth into two administrations, with Bishop Serra in charge of Perth and Salvado in charge at New Norcia. The monks were given a choice as to whether they lived at New Norcia or in Perth. Following Serra’s resignation in 1862, Father Martin Griver was appointed Apostolic Administrator, with Father Matthew Gibney as his Vicar General. Griver and Gibney were responsible for the administration of the Benedictine Monastery at New Subiaco. However, by 1867, all of the monks had transferred to New Norcia and the New Subiaco Monastery was empty. In the early 1870s, when Perth had one orphanage, a government run institution in Goderich Street referred to as The Home, or the Poor House, Father Gibney requested Governor Hampton that the Catholic children in The Home be housed in Catholic institutions. On 2 February 1872, 12 Catholic boys from The Home moved into the empty Benedictine Monastery. Known as St Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys, as the result of work by the St Vincent de Paul Society, the place was the first non-Government orphanage for boys in Western Australia. In 1876, the Sisters of Mercy assumed control of the institution. They replaced the existing staff with three Sisters, two female assistants and a maintenance man. Catherine McAuley (1778-1841) had founded the Order of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831, for the relief of the poor, sick, underprivileged and the dying. In February 1877, there were 39 boys at St Vincent’s. Father Gibney’s 1883 report to the Colonial Secretary stated that as well as schooling, the occupations of the boys included printing the Catholic weekly, The Record, carpentry, gardening and olive oil manufacturing. During the period in which the property had been vacant the vines and fruit trees had died, but the olive trees had survived. The boys worked at producing olive oil from the olives they harvested. In the 1890’s, the Sisters of Mercy established a cemetery on, or near, the site of the burial ground set aside by the Benedictine monks. The Cemetery was a rectangular plot, situated to the left (west) of the Barrett Street entrance to the property. The first burial took place on 21 June 1891, and the last on 20 June 1913. Twenty-one Sisters of Mercy, three nuns of other Orders and six priests are still interred in the Cemetery, but a number of others were exhumed and reburied at Karrakatta when that cemetery opened. The graves in the Cemetery were generally marked with cast-iron crosses. Other markers and mementoes were often moved by the girls at the Orphanage, sometimes being found elsewhere and replaced. In the 1950s, it was decided to remove all remaining markers, as the sight of the cemetery frightened some of the young girls. The Orders who had members buried in the Cemetery were notified of the removal and many graves were photographed beforehand. Following removal of the grave markers, the Cemetery ground was grassed and a rose bed planted. A monument listing those still buried there was erected at the southern edge of the cemetery in the 1980s. There is no other indication that the site is a burial ground. A school building was constructed for St Vincent’s Orphanage in 1892. Situated in front of the Monastery, the building commonly called the Old Chapel was opened on 22 January 1893 (now the Martin Kelly Centre). The architect was Signor Stombuco, of Perth, and the builder Mr. David Gray. Andrea Giovanni Stombuco was described as architect, builder, sculptor and monumental mason in Melbourne in 1858. He worked as a building contractor in Victoria and Brisbane between 1858 and 1887, and then operated as Stombuco and Son. His work included the first stage of St Peters and Pauls Old Cathedral in Goulburn, NSW (early 1870s), Main Building of All Hallows School, Brisbane (1881-82), and many residences in Brisbane. In 1893 and 1894, the partnership of Stombuco and Moran is recorded as operating in Perth. Circa 1891, Stombuco moved to Western Australia to escape the depressed conditions in the eastern states and take advantage of the buoyant economic situation in Perth brought about by the gold boom. His wife and son remained in Brisbane. In 1896, A. Stombuco called for tenders for several buildings in Perth, including shops in Murray Street for Joseph Parry and several brick houses for E. J. Moran MLA in Hay Street West. He died in Fremantle in 1907 aged 82. The Old School was probably not intended to serve both as school and chapel when it was constructed, as there is certainly no mention of the latter function in the report of the opening. The chapel situated on the upper floor of the Benedictine Monastery probably continued to be used for some time. A brick and tile cottage, known as St Rochs, was possibly built c.1900. In November 1897, a group of Christian Brothers arrived in Western Australia from Sydney, and took over management of St Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys from the Sisters of Mercy. In September 1901, they moved the boys to new buildings at Clontarf, Waterford. On 21 November 1901, St Joseph’s Orphanage for Girls was moved from Victoria Square to take up residence in the Monastery, under the care of six Sisters. At that time there were about 79 girls at the Orphanage listed as wards of the State and 12 privately funded by family and charitable donations. The number of girls at St Joseph’s increased rapidly and, in 1908, a two-storey brick extension was constructed at the eastern end of the Monastery. The extension comprised reception and dining rooms on the ground floor and dormitories on the first floor. In 1909, there were 148 girls and eight Sisters at the Orphanage. As well as attending school the older girls worked in the Laundry or assisted with the production of olive oil. Girls over fourteen were trained for domestic work. This involved cookery, dressmaking, art, needlework and knitting, caring for poultry, vegetable gardening, soap making, and baking. Some girls, who were considered intellectually capable, undertook secondary study at the Orphanage or at Mercedes College. It is not known when the Old School began to be used for religious services, but it is likely that the building was called in to service as a chapel as the numbers at St Joseph’s grew. The Laundry, a substantial brick and iron building situated at the western end of the administration block, may have been constructed c.1910. The Laundry employed twelve older girls and two Sisters, and the mothers in St Margaret’s Hostel. It met the laundry needs of the Orphanage, the Victoria Square convent and, later, St Anne’s Mercy Hospital, Maylands. The Laundry was extended over the years as its workload grew. The Sisters of Mercy established the St Vincent’s Foundling Home in 1914 to provide accommodation and care for deserted or homeless infants. Archbishop Clune laid the foundation stone for St Vincent’s Foundling Home on 10 September 1914. The architect for the project was George McMullen (c1861-1924), and the builder was Frederick Edward Sedgley (c1877-1958). George McMullen trained as an architect in Victoria and was elected a fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1890. By 1894, Mullen had moved to Western Australia where the Public Works Department (PWD) employed him as a draftsman. He appears to have been in private practice from about 1902, with several houses in Highgate, Perth and West Perth being attributed to him between 1905 and 1909. In 1910, he was responsible for the additions to the Children’s Hospital and, from 1913, lived at Bagot Road, Subiaco. St Vincent’s Foundling Home was opened on 13 December 1914, by the Governor Sir Harry Barron. The opening ceremony was preceded by a procession involving societies from the various parishes including Children of Mary, Catholic Young Men, St Vincent de Paul Society, Hibernians, Foresters, Sacred Heart Sodalities, Oblate Fathers and Redemptorists. The building was blessed by Archbishop Clune. Photographs published at the time of opening show a substantial building, with the east and west wings forming a ‘U’ shape. The west wing appears to have contained the kitchen, and possibly the dining room, while the east wing contained toilet and bathroom facilities. The Foundling Home catered for both boys and girls from birth to six years. Babies were often left on the verandah of the Home, or under the hedge at the Orphanage. It was soon found that some accommodation for expectant mothers was also needed and another wing was added to the Home. Archbishop Clune opened the additions on 17 February 1918. The total cost of the Foundling Home was built for £12000 with much of the costs borne by donations. In 1918, the Foundling Home was extended and appears to have been the building, seen on various site plans, which ran east to west behind the ‘U’ shaped 1914 structure, effectively creating a courtyard between the original wings at the rear of the Home. This addition provided accommodation for mothers following child birth. This addition was removed during the 1994 renovations. St Rochs was refurbished, with verandahs added to match those of the Foundling Home and possibly a tile roof to replace an original iron roof c.1915. By 1925, there were 110 children at St Vincent’s Foundling Home. Further additions were made to cater for the growing numbers. The additions comprised two separate buildings, situated on the eastern side of the Home. They were the Kindergarten (1925) and the Nursery (1928). Local benefactors, Stuart and Eileen Patterson funded both buildings. Thomas Stuart Patterson and Bridget Eileen Coake were married in Albany on 27 September 1898. Patterson, a Presbyterian, was born in Sydney in 1866, and Bridget was an Irish Catholic migrant. The Patterson's had one daughter who died young, a factor that may have influenced their generosity towards young children in need of care. The building plans for the Kindergarten are signed by G.J. Douglas Sanders, while the building application was submitted to Perth City Council by J.W. Sanders. From 1910 into the 1920s, a James D. Sanders is listed in Wise’s Post Office Directories as a contractor, while a James W. Sanders appears in the listing of architects in 1924. As no tender advertisements were located for the Kindergarten, it possible that J.D. Sanders, the contractor, was also responsible for its construction. The Kindergarten was opened by Archbishop Clune on 3 May 1925. Total cost of building and equipment was £2,160. The Kindergarten was equipped with the ‘apparatus of the Montessori method’. Also opened on 3 May 1925, was St Joseph’s Orphanage Chapel (no longer extant). The growth of the Foundling Home, and increases in the number of girls at the Orphanage, severely taxed the accommodation available for the Sisters as well as the capacity of the existing chapel (Old Chapel). St Joseph’s Orphanage Chapel, was a two-storey building with a community room and eight bedrooms on the upper floor, and the chapel below. St Joseph’s Orphanage Chapel was also designed by G.J. Douglas Sanders. The Nursery, also known as the Stuart Patterson Wing, was designed by Cavanagh & Cavanagh, and built by L. Libovich and S. Barker. The partnership of Cavanagh & Cavanagh consisted of brothers Michael Francis and James Charles, sons of John Cavanagh, a builder and supervisor of public works in South Australia. Michael trained in South Australia and in London (1885-88). By 1891 he was working in private practice in Adelaide. He came to Perth in 1895 to establish a branch office under the management of his younger brother, but remained in Perth himself, becoming an active member of the newly formed WA Institute of Architects. James Cavanagh joined his brother in Perth in 1900. The Nursery, comprising a dormitory, infirmary, and a bathroom, kitchenette and nurse’s room, was designed to accommodate infants less than two years of age. The building was opened on 29 April 1928 by Archbishop Clune and cost between £4,500 and £5,000. It featured ‘ultra-modern’ concepts in ventilation and fly and mosquito proofing. From 1938, St Rochs Cottage was used as the night duty residence for staff at St Gerard’s Hospital. The foundation stone for St Gerard’s Hospital, a single-storey red brick and tile building, situated immediately east of the Nursery and north of St Rochs, was laid on 17 October 1938 by Archbishop Prendiville. World War II intervened in its development, however, and it did not take in patients until 1944. The Lotteries Commission provided funds, and Archbishop Prendiville himself paid for a maternity nurse. It was a natural progression from looking after children of unmarried mothers, to looking after the needs of the mothers themselves. Accommodation after child birth was first provided in the 1918 Foundling Home extension. Later, St Margaret’s Hostel was established on the upper floor of the Orphanage kitchen block to accommodate expecting mothers. St Gerard’s Hospital facilitated the next step, which was to provide the women with full medical facilities during childbirth to avoid their having to attend a public hospital where staff and other patients were not always sympathetic to their situation. St Gerard’s could house sixteen mothers and infants and, during its operating life, delivered 845 babies. St Gerard’s operated until 1972, when it was considered no longer needed because of other facilities in the community. In 1940, St Joseph’s Orphanage and St Vincent’s Foundling Home housed 264 children, and there were 25 Sisters living and working on site. About half the children were supported by charity and whatever parents could afford, while the other half were wards of the State. In the 1950s, another extension was made to the Foundling Home in the form of two-storey addition at the northern end of the ablution block. This addition provided accommodation for mothers and their newborn babies. By the mid 1960s, St Vincent’s Foundling Home was also acting as a day-care centre for young children on the site. One dormitory was closed, with 30 children between three and five still in residence. By the 1970s, social needs and concepts of social welfare were changing. More emphasis was being placed on social welfare for the family unit. The Sisters of Mercy determined to redevelop the Orphanage and Foundling Home institutions and, in late 1971, the centre was renamed Catherine McAuley Centre. In 1989 the site was renamed Catherine McAuley Family Centre. It was planned to keep the environment of the Centre as close as possible to that of a family in a community setting, and to keep the numbers catered for to 100 children from babies to teenagers. Children were to be sent to local schools instead of being educated on site, and natural brothers and sisters were to be kept together. Short-term crisis care and family support services would also be provided. To accommodate the changes, the buildings underwent some alterations. In 1970, the Nursery had an extension added on the west side comprising a dining room, food preparation area and extra bathroom facilities. The original kitchen and nurse’s room were converted into linen and clothes storerooms. The verandahs were closed in with extensive glazing to form play areas, visitors’ waiting room, solarium, and staff room. The work was designed by Oldham, Boas, Ednie-Brown & Partners, and paid for with a $15,000 State grant. In 1971, the Kindergarten verandahs were closed in with asbestos and glass and the toilet facilities on the back verandah were upgraded. The work on the Kindergarten was carried out by builder Norm Power. A family group of twelve children was established in St Margaret’s Hostel, on the upper floor of the Orphanage kitchen block. St Gerard’s Hospital was remodelled for another group, and the Monastery was divided into a number of ‘fairly autonomous’ units. In October 1977, a new complex for ‘out of home care’ for difficult to place children was opened. Each was staffed by ‘cottage parents’. The group houses were spread over the northern section of the property and were accessed off Ruislip Street. Their construction resulted in the removal of most of the remaining olive grove in this area. Development was restricted to the eighteen acres of the site that had been transferred to the ownership of the Sisters of Mercy around 1910, prior to subdivision of the bulk of the Church’s New Subiaco landholding. This meant that some of the existing buildings had to be demolished, including the Presbytery, the Benedictine Monastery, Orphanage Extension, St Joseph’s Orphanage Chapel, timber stables (not the 1858 structure), some of the outbuildings, and part of the Laundry (the westernmost accretions and extension to the north) were demolished. A new administration block was constructed on the site of the Benedictine Monastery in the early 1980s. At the same time, as the family services were being developed, a nursing home and units for the aged were also under construction. Between 1975 and 1988, day care numbers doubled to 104 full-time, 25 part-time, 40 after-school care, 50 vacation care and 16 nursery places. In 1989, some restoration work was carried out to the Old School including fitting clear acrylic panels over the damaged windows to provide some protection and weatherproofing while allowing light into the building. The original iron roof was replaced with steel decking which resulted in the removal of the dormer ventilators, and some of the timber floors were replaced with concrete. The Old School was renamed the Martin Kelly Centre on 11 July 1989, in recognition of Sister Martin Kelly whose contribution to childcare in Western Australia was significant. Photographs of the former Benedictine Stables taken in the 1970s and 1980s, show a deteriorating building with a rusting iron roof which, when removed, uncovered the original timber shingles, also in a state of deterioration. In 1991, a conservation report was prepared and the work that resulted halted deterioration of the building, while a later conservation report of 1996 continued the restoration work. In 1994, St Vincent’s Foundling Home buildings were upgraded by Santelli Holbrook Architects. The work on the Foundling Home involved general upgrading of facilities, and the removal of the 1918 addition. The original 1914 building, and the two-storey 1950s addition remained. During development of the Catherine McAuley Centre site in the 1970s and 1980s, the olive grove on the south side of the Monastery was reduced to the remaining two dozen or so trees. The larger olive groves that existed to the north gradually succumbed to residential subdivision after 1910, but their existence is noted in the name of one street, The Grove, which angles between Ruislip Street and Lake Monger Drive and which may, together with neighbouring St Columbas Street, indicate the orientation of the rows of the original olive plantation. The centre is constantly being upgraded to provide for the community and in 2003/4 1154 units and a community centre were built on the site. Whilst new works have been implemented conservation works are continued, the most recent in 2016/17. Currently [2018] St Vincent’s Foundling Home is still utilised for Child Day Care, but some of the external playground areas have been changed or been improved as a result of the Retirement Village works completed in the mid 2000s. Child day care programmes have been expanded over the decade and some refurbishments were undertaken to allow this to occur.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

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Child Places

• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23680 Benedictine Stables (fmr)
• 23830 St Vincent's Foundlings Home
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street
• 23834 Olive Trees, Barrett Street

Statement of Significance

This is a most important building from and historical point of view, as a relic of the Benedictine community in the area and a link with New Norcia. It is highly regarded by the City of Subiaco which takes its name from this original Benedictine settlement, even though outside its boundaries. The primitive construction, probably the work of members of the community is also of interest.

Physical Description

This is a three roomed building of rubble and stone with a brick chimney at one end and brick surrounds to some doors and windows. It has a shingle roof covered in some sections with CGI.Two of the rooms are unlined with rafters and shingles exposed and interior walls roughly plastered and whitewashed. The room with chimney is lined and has a fireplace with mantlepiece. The condition of the building is not good, though basically sound. Windows are broken, woodwork of doors and windows deteriorated and mortar gone from between the stones. The building dates from the time when the Benedictines lived on the site and gave the area the name of Subiaco. A three storeyed monastery and chapel were built between 1858 and 1859. A winery and operating theatre were also included. It is thought that the building we are considering would have been the winery. Its subsequent use when first the Christian Brothers and later the Sisters of Mercy were in charge is not known.

History

Assessment 1980

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Olive Trees, Barrett Street

Parent Place or Precinct

02231 Catherine McAuley Centre

Uses

Creation Date

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Parent Place or Precinct

02231 Catherine McAuley Centre

Statement of Significance

The olive trees are of historic and aesthetic significance for associations with the original The following statement is taken from the Register Entry for place 2231 Catherine McAuley Centre included on a permanent basis on the State Register of Heritage Places in 2012. Catherine McAuley Centre, comprising Benedictine Stables (fmr) (c. 1858, 1890s, 1990s); Olive Trees (c.1858); Cemetery (1891-1913); Old School(1893); St Rochs (c.1900); former Laundry (c.1910); St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) which includes the Foundling Home (1914, 1918, 1950s, 1994), Kindergarten (1925, 1971, 1994) and Nursery (1928, 1970, 1994); and, St Gerard’s Hospital (fmr) (1938), has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the Benedictine Stables (fmr) has rarity value as it is one of few agrarian buildings dating from the 1850s still in existence in the metropolitan area and is the only remaining structure from the early Benedictine occupation of the site; the various elements illustrate the evolution of the site from an agrarian beginning, with stables and olive groves, to a facility dealing with the needs of urban family life, and reflect the rapid development and changing social environment of Perth and Western Australia, since the 1850s; the place contributes to the aesthetic qualities of the landscape particularly through the Old School, which has landmark value when approached from the south entrance of the site and provides a focus for the historic group of buildings at the place. St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) contains decorative timber work, terracotta finials and brick work with render banding; the various elements of the place contribute to the community’s sense of place; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are evidence of the Catholic Benedictine Order who occupied the site from 1852 to 1864, and also with Bishop Serra, under whose authority the site was developed. The Old School is a reminder of the ongoing religious associations of the site; St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) and Old Chapel are evidence of the work of the Sisters of Mercy, and the services to children in need which they have provided on the site since 1876; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are a reminder of the olive oil industry conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and which helped provide funds for the ongoing operation of the orphanage and foundling home. The olive oil manufactured at St Joseph’s Orphanage won first prize at several Royal Perth shows; the place is illustrative of the institutional approach to the care and training of children which prevailed in the late 19th century and into the first six decades of the 20th century; and, when opened in 1925, the Kindergarten was one of the first to use the Montessori teaching method and aspects of design in Western Australia. The nursery still displays the ventilated and mosquito proofed verandah, which was considered modern at the time of construction.

Physical Description

The mature olive trees on the site are in good condition and located near the entrance to the administration building and on the eastern side of the property.

History

The olive trees in the grounds of the Catherine McAuley Centre were first planted by the Benedictine Monks in the mid-1850s, prior to the completion of the monastery in 1858-9. Records indicate that the first olive oil was produced by the monks in the mid-1850s while the building was under construction. Two groves were planted, a large grove to the north of the building and a smaller one abutting the south wall. In 1864, when the Monks relocated to New Norcia, the vines and orchards were left to die. Only the olive trees survived out of all the cultivation and there is no record of how many of the original trees survived. From 1876, when Father Gibney was Chair of the Board of Governance for St Vincent's Boys Orphanage there are records of oil production with the boys harvesting the olives under the guidance of John Prendergast. Mr Dale, Inspector of Charitable Institutions reported at his visit in 1881 that over 100 gallons of olive oil had been produced at the orphanage that year. At the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London in 1886 the oil received high commendation and often took first prize at the Royal Show. The first mention of sale of the oil was made in 1897 when the Christian brothers moved to the site for a short time. They left in 1901 with the Sisters of Mercy moving back in. The girls in their care harvested the olives and helped with the production of the oil. The purification of the oil took place in the east room of the building now designated as, Benedictine Stables (fmr). In 1902, sale of olive oil manufactured at the Orphanage netted £2/8/9. The girls of the Orphanage exhibited their oil at the Royal Perth Show each year, where it was often awarded first prize. In 1909, there were 148 girls and eight Sisters at the Orphanage. As well as attending school the older girls worked in the Laundry or assisted with the production of olive oil. In 1921, sales amounted to £140/5/2. It is not known how long olive oil production continued at the site. References to the production of olive oil are made in the local press in 1934 and in 1950. Although the later date refers to preparation for a fete rather than commercial sales. An aerial photograph of the site in 1964 shows many trees on the property but by this time the focus of the organisation had shifted with less children living on the site. One dormitory was closed, with 30 children between three and five still in residence. In October 1977, a new complex for ‘out of home care’ for difficult to place children was opened. Each were staffed by ‘cottage parents’. The group houses were spread over the northern section of the property and were accessed off Ruislip Street. Their construction resulted in the removal of most of the remaining olive grove in this area. Between the Catherine McAuley Centre and Lake Monger is a residential development in which one of the roads has been named 'The Grove'. It is speculated that this name reflects the former grove of Olive Trees in this location. Residential properties in this area have olive trees in their gardens which may originate with the original plantings. In 1999, six trees in front of the administration building were successfully transplanted and in 2004 two additional trees were transplanted. Unfortunately some trees could not be successfully relocated and their wood was culled for use in the organisation. The remaining olive trees on the site are clustered near the administration building and on the eastern side of the property.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

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St Vincent's Foundlings Home

Parent Place or Precinct

02231 Catherine McAuley Centre

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02231 Catherine McAuley Centre

Statement of Significance

The following statement is taken from the Register Entry for place 2231 Catherine McCauley Centre included on a permanent basis on the State Register of Heritage Places in 2012. Catherine McAuley Centre, comprising Benedictine Stables (fmr) (c. 1858, 1890s, 1990s); Olive Trees (c.1858); Cemetery (1891-1913); Old School(1893); St Rochs (c.1900); former Laundry (c.1910); St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) which includes the Foundling Home (1914, 1918, 1950s, 1994), Kindergarten (1925, 1971, 1994) and Nursery (1928, 1970, 1994); and, St Gerard’s Hospital (fmr) (1938), has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: the Benedictine Stables (fmr) has rarity value as it is one of few agrarian buildings dating from the 1850s still in existence in the metropolitan area and is the only remaining structure from the early Benedictine occupation of the site; the various elements illustrate the evolution of the site from an agrarian beginning, with stables and olive groves, to a facility dealing with the needs of urban family life, and reflect the rapid development and changing social environment of Perth and Western Australia, since the 1850s; the place contributes to the aesthetic qualities of the landscape particularly through the Old School, which has landmark value when approached from the south entrance of the site and provides a focus for the historic group of buildings at the place. St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) contains decorative timber work, terracotta finials and brick work with render banding; the various elements of the place contribute to the community’s sense of place; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are evidence of the Catholic Benedictine Order who occupied the site from 1852 to 1864, and also with Bishop Serra, under whose authority the site was developed. The Old School is a reminder of the ongoing religious associations of the site; St Vincent’s Foundling Home (fmr) and Old Chapel are evidence of the work of the Sisters of Mercy, and the services to children in need which they have provided on the site since 1876; the Benedictine Stables (fmr) and Olive Trees are a reminder of the olive oil industry conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and which helped provide funds for the ongoing operation of the orphanage and foundling home. The olive oil manufactured at St Joseph’s Orphanage won first prize at several Royal Perth shows; the place is illustrative of the institutional approach to the care and training of children which prevailed in the late 19th century and into the first six decades of the 20th century; and, when opened in 1925, the Kindergarten was one of the first to use the Montessori teaching method and aspects of design in Western Australia. The nursery still displays the ventilated and mosquito proofed verandah, which was considered modern at the time of construction.

Physical Description

The Foundling Home is a predominantly single storey red brick building with a clay tiled roof. The complex roof over the U-shaped plan form comprises a mix of hipped and gabled forms and feature gablets. Terracotta finials, including a central cross, have been placed at some of the apices and face brick chimneys that widen at the top, punctuate the roof forms. The roof pitch is lower over the verandah around the outer edge of the building. The Foundling Home is representative of the Federation Queen Anne style displaying some complexity in the decorative elements of the roof and timberwork. A verandah wraps around the south (front) elevation of the building but has been enclosed at the southeast corner and along the east elevation. The concrete verandah floor is approximately at ground level adjacent to the car park along the western edge but the fall in the site reveals a base of coursed, squared rubble limestone beneath floor level on the east side of the building. The principal entrance to the place is located centrally in the south elevation and is defined by gables in the verandah roof and main roof form above. Both these gables exhibit a half-timber effect in the infill. In addition, a plaque reading ‘St Vincent’s Foundling Home’ is evident beneath the main gable. The verandah timberwork is moderately elaborate with curved brackets and carved panels fixed to the square timber posts supporting the roof. The close spacing of the exposed rafter ends, apparent beneath the ogee profile gutter, establishes a frieze which with the contrasting colours of the paintwork accentuates the decorative effect. A metal balustrade spanning between the posts has been introduced. The square panels of the valance, between the grouped posts at the corners, appear to have a carved timber ‘S’ imposed over a hollow ‘M’. This refers to SIHS (Greek meaning Jesus Christ Son of God & Saviour) and HIS (Latin meaning Jesus saviour of men). Walls of the building have been constructed in red, colonial bond face brickwork with a contrasting cream mortar. Bands of cream render are evident at windowsill and head height and also in the outer gablets in the roof above. Vertical strips in the brickwork of these gablet infills allow ventilation to the roof space. The infill of the west gable is supported on a frieze of brick corbels. Other brickwork bonds are apparent around the building providing evidence of different periods of construction. A Foundation Plaque laid on 10 September 1914 identifying the architect and contractor is located on the south face of the extruding west gable of the building. Windows and doors are principally of timber construction. Many of the openings exhibit an unusual form of ‘Lifting Window’ with sliding glazed upper sashes and a three panelled timber sash below. Large windows prominent in the south and west elevations are composed of narrow panes in timber frames between masonry mullions and exhibit rendered quoining. Sliding aluminium windows are located in the area where the verandah has been enclosed.

History

The first Spanish Benedictine priests, Joseph Serra and Rosendo Salvado, arrived in Western Australia in 1846, together with 25 missionaries (including six members of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy). Dr Brady, the newly appointed Bishop of Perth, brought the missionaries to Western Australia following a visit to Rome. Serra and Salvado soon established a mission and school for Aboriginal people at New Norcia and in 1848 Serra travelled to Europe, seeking new missionaries to help with the work in Western Australia. He returned with 39 recruits, including 32 Benedictine monks and an Irish Trappist, Dominic Urquhart. Serra was appointed Bishop c.1850 after Dr Brady left Western Australia. On behalf of the Perth Diocese, Serra purchased all the lands owned by Dr Brady, including Locations Ag and Ah, comprising 300 acres, adjoining Herdsmen Lake and Lake Monger. Serra named the area ‘New Subiaco’, after the original St Benedictine’s monastery in Italy. Bishop Serra established the Benedictine monks beside Herdsman Lake at New Subiaco (in what is now Glendalough), where bush pole and timber chapel and monastery buildings were constructed. The cleared land was planted with olives, grape vines and fruit trees. In 1858, following Serra’s visit to Europe (1853-55), construction of a permanent Benedictine Monastery at New Subiaco commenced. The Monastery building was completed on June 1859. There was ‘a luscious vineyard with sixty thousand vines, and an extensive orchard: olives, oranges, lemons, figs, pears, apples and almonds, etc.’. A smaller olive plantation was planned abutting the southern wall of the monastery, with more olive trees in the adjacent garden. On the 1864 map of New Subiaco, shows the former stable and a burial ground was identified although no records have been located of any burials taking place during the Benedictine occupation of the site. In April 1859, the Vatican separated New Norcia and Perth into two administrations, with Bishop Serra in charge of Perth and Salvado in charge at New Norcia. The monks were given a choice as to whether they lived at New Norcia or in Perth. Following Serra’s resignation in 1862, Father Martin Griver was appointed Apostolic Administrator, with Father Matthew Gibney as his Vicar General. Griver and Gibney were responsible for the administration of the Benedictine Monastery at New Subiaco. However, by 1867, all of the monks had transferred to New Norcia and the New Subiaco Monastery was empty. In the early 1870s, when Perth had one orphanage, a government run institution in Goderich Street referred to as The Home, or the Poor House, Father Gibney requested Governor Hampton that the Catholic children in The Home be housed in Catholic institutions. On 2 February 1872, 12 Catholic boys from The Home moved into the empty Benedictine Monastery. Known as St Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys, as the result of work by the St Vincent de Paul Society, the place was the first non-Government orphanage for boys in Western Australia. In 1876, the Sisters of Mercy assumed control of the institution. They replaced the existing staff with three Sisters, two female assistants and a maintenance man. Catherine McAuley (1778-1841) had founded the Order of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831, for the relief of the poor, sick, underprivileged and the dying. In February 1877, there were 39 boys at St Vincent’s. Father Gibney’s 1883 report to the Colonial Secretary stated that as well as schooling, the occupations of the boys included printing the Catholic weekly, The Record, carpentry, gardening and olive oil manufacturing. During the period in which the property had been vacant the vines and fruit trees had died, but the olive trees had survived. The boys worked at producing olive oil from the olives they harvested. A school building was constructed for St Vincent’s Orphanage in 1892. Situated in front of the Monastery, the building commonly called the Old Chapel was opened on 22 January 1893. (now the Martin Kelly Centre). In November 1897, a group of Christian Brothers arrived in Western Australia from Sydney, and took over management of St Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys from the Sisters of Mercy. In September 1901, they moved the boys to new buildings at Clontarf, Waterford. On 21 November 1901, St Joseph’s Orphanage for Girls was moved from Victoria Square to take up residence in the Monastery, under the care of six Sisters. At that time there were about 79 girls at the Orphanage listed as wards of the State and 12 privately funded by family and charitable donations. In 1909, there were 148 girls and eight Sisters at the Orphanage. As well as attending school the older girls worked in the Laundry or assisted with the production of olive oil. Girls over fourteen were trained for domestic work. This involved cookery, dressmaking, art, needlework and knitting, caring for poultry, vegetable gardening, soap making, and baking. Some girls, who were considered intellectually capable, undertook secondary study at the Orphanage or at Mercedes College. The Sisters of Mercy established the St Vincent’s Foundling Home in 1914 to provide accommodation and care for deserted or homeless infants. Archbishop Clune laid the foundation stone for St Vincent’s Foundling Home on 10 September 1914. The architect for the project was George McMullen (c1861-1924), and the builder was Frederick Edward Sedgley (c1877-1958). George McMullen trained as an architect in Victoria and was elected a fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1890. By 1894, Mullen had moved to Western Australia where the Public Works Department (PWD) employed him as a draftsman. He appears to have been in private practice from about 1902, with several houses in Highgate, Perth and West Perth being attributed to him between 1905 and 1909. In 1910, he was responsible for the additions to the Children’s Hospital and, from 1913, lived at Bagot Road, Subiaco. St Vincent’s Foundling Home was opened on 13 December 1914, by the Governor Sir Harry Barron. The opening ceremony was preceded by a procession involving societies from the various parishes including Children of Mary, Catholic Young Men, St Vincent de Paul Society, Hibernians, Foresters, Sacred Heart Sodalities, Oblate Fathers and Redemptorists. The building was blessed by Archbishop Clune, who said in his speech that: "Under [the] aegis [of the Catholic Church] a system of charitable institutions had been established… Catholics felt that, however excellent their institutions were, there was still something lacking… That which was lacking was an institution like St Vincent’s Foundling Home, where the destitute children from birth to school age might be received, and where infant life might be safeguarded. The work of safeguarding and preserving child life was… doubly valuable at the present time when war was making a drain upon adult life in the battlefields of Europe, and when it was likely that immigration would probably be checked for some years to come. Housed in a building set upon a healthy site, and equipped according to a most exacting hygienic standard, the children would be under the care of the Sisters of Mercy, whose success in a kindred department was phenomenal." Photographs published at the time of opening show a substantial building, with the east and west wings forming a ‘U’ shape. The west wing appears to have contained the kitchen, and possibly the dining room, while the east wing contained toilet and bathroom facilities. A contemporary description stated: It is a spacious building, well laid out, its several parts very finely proportioned, with every ward and every room equipped according to the most modern ideas. The wards and the infirmary, which open on to large and very well-designed verandahs, are admirably ventilated and roomy. There are special cells for the Sisters in charge of these wards. Nor is the portion of the institution set apart for the nursing staff neglected. Each nurse will have a pretty and neatly furnished room, as well as the general sitting and dining room set apart for the nursing staff. Beside the various accessories usually attached to such an establishment, a special feature of the new home is its up-to-date electrical fittings. Radiators are installed in almost every apartment, while there is attached to the wards special electrical apparatus by which, in case of urgency or at night, food may be conveniently and speedily heated. But the department of the building which deserves special attention is the beautifully equipped kitchen which experts have pronounced to be second to none in Australia… It is furnished with a splendid range and coppers, wash-up contrivances, and it is so admirably arranged that hot water may be conveyed therefrom to any portion of the whole building." The Foundling Home catered for both boys and girls from birth to six years. Babies were often left on the verandah of the Home, or under the hedge at the Orphanage. It was soon found that some accommodation for expectant mothers was also needed and another wing was added to the Home. Archbishop Clune opened the additions on 17 February 1918 and in his opening address stated; "The additions just completed would afford a greater chance of classification and isolation, if necessary, and would enable a mother’s care to be given to the little ones during their infancy. At present nearly 70 children were being cared for by the Sisters… The new wing consists of a large dormitory for twelve mothers and their infants. There are commodious balconies on either side. The lavatories, etc., are most up-to-date in design, a large dining-room for the mothers and a day nursery for the infants, are most admirable adjuncts. St Vincent’s Foundling Home is growing. Already it is a compact block of buildings and a picturesque object to the eye. The building, as it stands today, has been planned by Mr McMullen and carried out under his supervision. The total cost of the Foundling Home, including the additions, is £12,000." Special thanks were given to the Ugly Men’s Association, and doctors and staff of the Children’s Hospital. Donations for the additions were also obtained by two Sisters who travelled throughout the Perth Archdiocese visiting each household. In 1918, the Foundling Home was extended and appears to have been the building, seen on various site plans, which ran east to west behind the ‘U’ shaped 1914 structure, effectively creating a courtyard between the original wings at the rear of the Home. This addition provided accommodation for mothers following child birth. This addition was removed during the 1994 renovations. By 1925, there were 110 children at St Vincent’s Foundling Home. Further additions were made to cater for the growing numbers. The additions comprised two separate buildings, situated on the eastern side of the Home. They were the Kindergarten (1925) and the Nursery (1928). Local benefactors, Stuart and Eileen Patterson funded both buildings. Thomas Stuart Patterson and Bridget Eileen Coake were married in Albany on 27 September 1898. Patterson, a Presbyterian, was born in Sydney in 1866, and Bridget was an Irish Catholic migrant. The Patterson's had one daughter who died young, a factor that may have influenced their generosity towards young children in need of care. In 1940, St Joseph’s Orphanage and St Vincent’s Foundling Home housed 264 children, and there were 25 Sisters living and working on site. About half the children were supported by charity and whatever parents could afford, while the other half were wards of the State. In the 1950s, another extension was made to the Foundling Home in the form of two-storey addition at the northern end of the ablution block. This addition provided accommodation for mothers and their newborn babies. By the mid 1960s, St Vincent’s Foundling Home was also acting as a day-care centre for young children on the site. One dormitory was closed, with 30 children between three and five still in residence. By the 1970s, social needs and concepts of social welfare were changing. More emphasis was being placed on social welfare for the family unit. The Sisters of Mercy determined to redevelop the Orphanage and Foundling Home institutions and, in late 1971, the centre was renamed Catherine McAuley Centre. In 1989 the site was renamed Catherine McAuley Family Centre. In October 1977, a new complex for ‘out of home care’ for difficult to place children was opened. Each were staffed by ‘cottage parents’. The group houses were spread over the northern section of the property and were accessed off Ruislip Street. Their construction resulted in the removal of most of the remaining olive grove in this area. Between 1975 and 1988, day care numbers doubled to 104 full-time, 25 part-time, 40 after-school care, 50 vacation care and 16 nursery places. In 1994, St Vincent’s Foundling Home buildings were upgraded by Santelli Holbrook Architects. The work on the Foundling Home involved general upgrading of facilities, and the removal of the 1918 addition. The original 1914 building, and the two-storey 1950s addition remained. A wall plaque in the entrance hall of the Foundling Home reads: "Catherine McAuley Family Centre. Restoration and refurbishment of the Child Day Care buildings. In appreciation of the support provided by the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy and The Lotteries Commission of Western Australia. Santelli Holbrook Architects P/L. Project Architect A Santelli. June 1994." Above the plaque is a painting of the Foundling Home executed by Al Santelli and donated to the Home. Currently [2018] St Vincent’s Foundling Home is still utilised for Child Day Care, but some of the external playground areas have been changed or been improved as a result of the Retirement Village works completed in the mid 2000s. Child day care programmes have been expanded over the decade and some refurbishments were undertaken to allow this to occur.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Exceptional

Condition

Good

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Wembley Theatre and Gardens (fmr)

Condition

Extensively damaged by fire in 1980 and only the facade remains of the original building

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value for its remnant elements of the Inter War Functionalist style on the Cambridge Street façade and portion of the Station Street façade. The place has historic value for its association with the development of the community in the Inter War period. The place has historic value for its association with the widespread popularity of cinemas in metropolitan Perth in the Inter War period. The place has social value for the members of the community who attended the place as a cinema from 1937 to 1962 and for its later function as a restaurant.

Physical Description

AArt Deco corner building that has retained much of its original design aesthetic to the facade. The place has a characteristic art deco style parapet with stepped elements and bands that were key elements of the style. The angled section of the façade facing the intersection incorporates a long thin window as well as increased height parapet. As a former cinema, the upper levels of the elevations are mainly blank, with only small windows breaking up the rendered construction. The ground level benefits from a higher degree of activation with a number of shop units and the original entrance to the building. The shop frontages consist of a simple arrangement of large windows with frosted glazing and single glass and timber door. The original entrance has a large window divided into a series of panes in an art deco style arrangement, flanked by entrance doors. An awning extends around the façade. Only the façade is original.

History

In 1937 the Wembley Theatre and Gardens, each holding about 800 seats, were built for Mervyn Lambert to a design by architect Frank Coote. This was a bad time to invest capital, and Lambert was unable to keep up payments on the loan, so shortly afterwards the venue was bought by Hatfields Pictures. The cinema had an ingenious method of transferring the projectors across from one venue to the other, both bio-boxes were built in the middle of the venue, above the ground on pillars, with a rail track joining them. The projectors had only to be disconnected from the power, pushed along the track and reconnected, the whole process taking only a few minutes. The theatre on the corner site, had a central staircase in the downstairs foyer giving access to the lounge above. A small confectionary shop was located on the street corner, within the theatre building, but with no access from the theatre side theatre patrons exited the theatre and entered the shop through the same entrance on the street front as the passing trade. The ticket box was located inside the foyer, on the left, serving patrons for both theatre and gardens, and entrance to the gardens was through the side wall of the theatre foyer, exit from the gardens was on the street wall. In the gardens, there was a central deckchair section, surrounded by a low wall, and the rest of the space was filled with less comfortable wooden chairs. Films continued to be screened in both theatre and gardens until after television arrived in Perth. In 1962, £17,000 was spent on conversion into a reception house, known as Wembley Lodge. The conversions were undertaken by contractors, J.L.C. Zelinski for Messrs Howawicz and Zen. The picture gardens were demolished at part of the works. The building was gutted by fire in September 1980, and when rebuilt contained little of the interior of the original theatre, though the façade was retained.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low Authenticity: Low

Condition

Good

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Statement of Significance

SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE - demonstration of a way of life, custom, process or junction: The social significance of the place is demonstrated by the continuance of the socially orientated functions on the site. HISTORICAL : Historical significance of development of cultural phases; association with important figures. The place demonstrates a significance as one of the picture theatre and gardens in the reviving WA economy in the 1930s. AESTHETIC: The place demonstrates an aesthetic typifying the transition from the Edwardian to the streamline modern picture theatres. The streetscape demonstrates an emphasis on the main street illustrating a design agenda which predates other theatres.

Physical Description

The structure is still a well known landmark in the Wembley District and possesses an eye-catching facade which towers above other buildings in the vicinity. Despite this advantageous corner position, the entrance to the cinema faces Cambridge Street and the auditorium runs parallel with Station Street. (A year later WA architects began to adequately address the corner site with the design for the Regal Theatre in Subiaco, where the curved facade and entrance are placed at the comer position. In 1939 Harold Boas followed this successful plan in his design for the Hoyts Theatre, Fremantle.) The Southern Elevation shown on Frank Coote's plans outlines the architect's intent. Here a towered cornerpiece rises above the roofline and partly conceals the gabled roof of the auditorium behind. In keeping with the remainder of the design, the angled tower is stepped and constitutes a series of vertical elements which is broken by horizontal bands. Window lights under the cantilevered awning continue the horizontal emphasis. These are divided by metal strips, stressing the geometric design of the theatre. The awning, which sweeps around the comer of the building and extends into Station Street, is lined with pressed tin. This reiterates the diamond pattern found elsewhere in the theatre. The stepped theme continues with the marquee above the entrance to the theatre and is noticeable in the design for doorways at street level on both the hardtop and the outdoor venues. (This motif was carried through to the auditorium, where the proscenium was decorated with a series of angular and interlocking steps. A similar design was planned for the proscenium at the neighbouring picture garden. Both indoor and outdoor theatres were similar in size, although the architect has made provision for future extensions to the hardtop venue. The two screens were parallel on the plan and whilst the outdoor Picture Gardens at Wembley accommodated 870 patrons, the indoor theatre seated 600 at ground floor level. An extra 130 were seated in the upstairs lounge, where an irregular shaped curved balcony was decorated with angular motifs.) The extra space accommodated the entrance foyer which was flanked by shops. Three shops in all completed the plan, with one opening onto the comer site. An extra 130 patrons were seated in the upstairs lounge, where an irregular shaped curved balcony was decorated with reliefs and angular motifs. Female toilets were provided on both ground floor and lounge levels, whilst the male toilet was situated on the mezzanine floor. As the plans seem to indicate, female patrons to the outdoor gardens had access to the hardtop toilets, whilst the male counterpart was situated at the rear of the site behind the picture screen. Unlike most of W.A.'s picture gardens which accompany a hardtop theatre, the venue at Wembley was fitted with two bio boxes. One of these operated in the outdoor gardens. In his plan for the Beacon Theatre several months later Rosenthal devised a more innovative method of projecting film to the outdoor venue.

History

Assessment 1995 Architect/Designer: F.J. Coote Builder: J.L.C. Zelinski Constructed 1937 Alterations/Additions: 1961 Plans for the Wembley Picture Theatre and Gardens were filed at the Public Health Department building Section in September, 1936. Although it is unlikely that the building was constructed until early 1937, it is felt that the Wembley Theatre was the first to be completed after the recovery of the Western Australian economy in the Mid Thirties, predating the Cottesloe Theatre (now demolished) and the Radio Theatre in Geraldton by several months. The building was commissioned by a Mr Alexander, who became insolvent within a year of going into business. Little is known of the architect, F.J. Coote, except that he came to WA, from Victoria, before the 1920s and worked for CJ. de Garis on the Group Settlement Scheme at Kendenup. The Wembley Picture Theatre is a recognisable feature in the Wembley District and appears to be a reconstruction of an earlier theatre on the site. After the re-opening, an undated film exhibiting advertisement announces the Wembley Theatre as "completely remodelled and transformed into a modern comfortable and well equipped theatre". The simple, basic structure, dressed up with a few angular, geometric stepped decorations in the earlier Art Deco mode, is the only cinema building still standing in Western Australia which typifies the transitional period between the Edwardian style (e.g. the New Oxford Theatre, Leederville) (1927) and the Streamlined Moderne style (e.g. the Windsor Theatre a decade later). In 1961 J.L.C. Zelinski was consulted to renovate the building as the Wembley Lodge for Messrs. Horawicz and Zen. The Theatre gardens were demolished in 1962. It is of some interest that Zelinski planned to make use of the vertical neon sign which did not appear on Coote's working drawings. It is assumed that the original sign was erected at the time of the theatre's opening. The neon sign is not in evidence today, although some evidence of neon lighting is seen on the turret-like corner parapet extension which is decorated with a pattern of triangles and diamonds. This was painted over with a cream and green colour scheme after the $250,000 fire damage to the building in 1980.

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Commercial Premises, 284 Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with some original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s.

Physical Description

A single storey inter-war corner commercial property with dual frontages to Cambridge Street and Essex Street. The place is of brick construction which has been rendered and painted. The hipped iron roof is hidden behind a low parapet wall. A contemporary skillion verandah canopy supported on wall brackets extends around the entire frontage to both elevation. The south west portion of the elevation is not original but has been successfully tied into the original section of the building. Both sections of the elevation are enlivened by full height windows with double glass doors to the Cambridge Street elevation and the main angled entrance.

History

This place is one of a number of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to serve the growing community in the district. As was common practice the original building was a combined shop and residence. Its location on the corner of Cambridge and Essex Streets was valuable exposure for the business. The shop portion of the building was divided into two premises. Initially one of the shops was occupied by Alfred L Trotter who operated a store from the premises, presumably a mixed business store. Later the other shop premises were occupied by Mrs Grist. Aerial photographs indicate that the building originally had a set back portion allowing access to the residence from Cambridge Street which was infilled c1970 allowing additional shop frontage.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

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Commercial Premises, 286 Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s.

Physical Description

A row of inter-war single storey commercial shops consisting of three units, tied together with a single verandah awning. The three shops have undergone some decorative alteration but the original design intent remains clearly evident. Above the verandah canopy, the buildings present with a unified aesthetic consisting of a parapet. The central section of the parapet is the dominant section with the two flanking sections being slightly subservient in terms of scale and decoration. The shop frontages present in a symmetrical manner. The two flanking shop units each have a single entrance door positioned on the outer edge of the façade, recessed behind the large shop window with a traditional angled arrangement. The central shop has a centrally placed entrance with double doors and windows to either side. The windows appear to be boarded over and evidence of the highlights extending across the top of the elevation remain evident.

History

This place is one of a number of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to serve the growing community in the district. As was common practice the original building was a combined shop and residence. The shop portion of the building was divided into three premises. When the premises were first occupied in 1931 two of the shops was vacant, the other was occupied by Firth Moody, a bookmaker. Aerial photographs indicate the form and extent of the building has not changed significantly since the mid 20th century. The roof cladding of the verandah has changed from red corrugated iron to its current Zincalume.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Commercial Premises, 288 Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as a good intact example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s

Physical Description

A single storey inter-war commercial building with elaborate parapet with distinctive pyramid ornamentation. The parapet is of rendered brickwork construction, left in a natural colour whilst the render of the shop has been painted. The boxed awning is cantilevered with awning ties above and a broad profile corrugated metal lined canopy. The roof cannot be seen from the street frontage. The shops present as a symmetrical frontage. The treatments have changed over the years but the original design intent of the façade remains visible, the two units being separated by a broad masonry pilaster. The retail units each have a large plain glass window to the street and a smaller angled window leading to the recessed access doors. The doors are double timber framed glass doors with fanlight above. The fanlight in both instances has been boarded up. The highlights above the main shop windows have also been boarded up although the separate panels remain visible.

History

This place is one of a number of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to serve the growing community in the district. As was common practice the original building was a combined shop and residence. The shop portion of the building was divided into two premises. When the premises were first occupied in 1930 only one of the premises was occupied by real estate agent, J.H. Glen. The following year the two premises were occupied by; Mrs Amelia Formiatti a dressmaker, and butcher Frank Stephens. Aerial photographs indicate that the form and extent of the building has not changed significantly since the mid 20th century. The roof cladding of the verandah has changed from red corrugated iron to its current Zincalume.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Commercial Premises, 294 Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as a good example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with original form and detail despite evidence of poor structural integrity. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s.

Physical Description

A single storey inter-war commercial building located on the corner of Cambridge Street and Nanson Street. The place consists of three separate units, each presenting in a similar manner tied together by the painted rendered finish and the face brickwork to the lower section of the shop frontages. The roof cladding over the former residence is a product known as Decramastic (Decromastic) which was a galvanised steel metal roof cladding with a tile profile. There is evidence of concrete corrosion and cracking in the parapet to all three shop premises. The verandah canopy is in poor condition due to regular collisions with vehicles. The rear of the property demonstrates poor structural integrity as evidenced by failing mortar and cracking.

History

This place is one of a number of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to serve the growing community in the district. As was common practice the original building was a combined shop and residence. Its location on the corner of Cambridge and Nanson Streets was valuable exposure for the business. Plans dated 1930 are held by the Town of Cambridge which indicate the original form and detail of the building are still evident. The plans are noted with the name of local builder J H Glenn, identified in additional research as William Luitpold John Henry Glenn (1898-1972). Glenn was a well-known local builder who lived at 308 Cambridge Street with his wife and two children. It is likely that Glenn designed, as well as constructed the premises. Glenn may have been a competent builder but was not a good business man, who also enjoyed gambling, leading to several appearances in local courts and bankruptcy in 1937. Glenn served during the Second World War with the Australian Imperial Force and avoided another legal issue over contracts with the Workers Home Board undertaken when he was still bankrupt. When the premises were first occupied in 1931 one of the premises was vacant and the others were occupied by, hairdresser Frederick Holland, and draper Joseph W Bateman. The owner of the property has not been identified in this research. Aerial photographs indicate that the form and extent of the building has not changed significantly since the mid 20th century although the lot was subdivided c2007 allowing the construction of a car park at the rear of the lot accessed from Nanson Street. A site visit in August 2018 indicated that the internal arrangement of the spaces has been altered and the rear portion of the building is in poor condition.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Commercial Premises, 296 Cambridge Street

Uses

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Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with some original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s.

Physical Description

A pair of single storey commercial premises located on the western corner of Nanson Street and Cambridge Street. The former residence to the rear is also used as a commercial premises. The units are of painted brick construction below the awning and rendered masonry above to the plain parapet walls. The corner unit has an angled entrance with timber framed glass double doors and flaking windows with a large shop window to Cambridge Street. The fanlights above have been boarded up. The adjoining shop has replaced the windows and doors but still presents in a semi-traditional manner with full height windows to the awning. The fanlight above the double entrance doors remains albeit not original. A boxed awning extends across the full extent of both retail units. The former residence has a tiled roof and rendered walls with remaining original timber front door and timber casement windows.

History

This place is one of a number of buildings constructed in the late 1920s to serve the growing community in the district. As was common practice the original building was a combined shop and residence. Its location on the corner of Cambridge and Nanson Streets was valuable exposure for the business. The shop portion of the building was divided into two premises. When the premises were first occupied in 1929 the two premises were occupied by; storekeeper O.M.E Wearne and Mrs Nellie Blakely, a stationer. Aerial photographs indicate that the form and extent of the building has not changed significantly since the mid 20th century.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Commercial Premises, 318 Cambridge Street

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War residence with original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period. The place has social value for its demonstration of the practice of combining a residence with professional rooms.

Physical Description

This entry relates only to the former residence on Strata Lot 1. A single storey brick and tiled inter-war residence that has been extended along the eastern side of the house and converted for non-commercial use. The brickwork has been painted and possibly rendered to the lower sections of the façade. Some original windows have been retained and where they have been replaced, the openings have not been enlarged. Both original and non-original windows are timber framed. The roof is a complex arrangement of hips with separate hips to the projecting wing and the verandah, an elevated roof line to the central apex of the roof before it drops down to the western ridge. A tall rendered chimney extends from the western plane of the roof. The verandah is located towards the western half of the façade, the tiled canopy supported on square masonry columns with a non-original steel balustrade. The property is located on a corner site with the garden converted to hard standing for parking, enclosed by a low boundary wall with tall rendered piers and palisade style fencing panels.

History

This place was built by the owner Cyril Stanley Fletcher (c1898-1979) as a residence and premises for his practice as a dentist. It is probable that the professional rooms were accessed separately from Pangbourne Street. The architect and builder for the place have not been determined in this research. Aerial photographs indicate that the original form and extent of the building have not changed significantly since the mid 20th century and the lot was subdivided c1990 to enable the construction of a new premises in the rear of the lot. The place continues to be used as professional rooms for a dentist.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

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Residence, 319A Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War residence with original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period. The place has social value for its demonstration of the form and scale of housing in the Inter War period.

Physical Description

This entry relates only to the former residence on Strata Lot 1. Single storey brick and tiled residential property of asymmetric plan form. The house contains Federation styled features although is an inter-war property. The place is of face brick construction to the lower half of the elevations with render to the top half. The verandah/porch columns are all render, apart from a brick detail at the top, providing a contrast to the brick balustrade. The verandah/porch entry is located to the south east corner of the façade, accessed via brick steps to a brick paved deck. The south and west walls both form part of the main house with the east wall being a mid-height solid brick balustrade. The verandah/porch area has a separate tiled gable roof with timbered gable, supported on twin rendered masonry columns. The projecting wing section of façade equates to approximately two-thirds of the front elevation and contains a boxed bay with four casement windows and a smaller boxed window close to the verandah. Both windows are protected by a tiled window awning. The roof is a combination of hipped and gabled elements. The roof above the projecting wing is gabled with fibre cement cladding with battens, similar to the gable over the verandah. The main roof is hipped with broad based chimneys to the east and west planes of the roof. A contemporary carport has been constructed to the front of the property, replicating the design features of the original house. The lot has been subdivided with a long driveway extending along the eastern boundary of the site to the rear property.

History

This place was built c1929 as a residence and the first occupant was noted in the Post Office Directories as Mrs Lucky G Glen and rates book indicate the owner was Charlotte Hannan. A later long term occupant was engineer Harold Henry Strickfuss (c1898-1948). The lot was subdivided c1990 and a new residence was constructed in the rear of the lot. A new carport was constructed in the front portion of the lot at that time and the original residence was extended. Aerial photographs indicate that the form of the original residence can still be determined. The current owner has provided information that much of the original detail has been replaced with contemporary finishes.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Residence, 321 Cambridge Street

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War residence with original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period. The place has social value for its demonstration of the form and scale of housing in the Inter War period.

Physical Description

Single storey brick and tiled residential property of traditional asymmetric plan form. The house is a simple example of an interwar Californian bungalow in a mixed-use street. The house has a generous setback and is located in the front third of the lot behind a lawned garden area with a low brick boundary wall. The lot has not been subdivided. The house is of brick construction which is rendered to the upper two-thirds of the elevation and face brick to the lower third. A small verandah/porch area is located to the centre of the façade with a tiled canopy that extends across the projecting wing portion of the façade. The canopy is supported on broad rendered columns. The deck is painted concrete. The main roof is hipped with additional hips to the projecting wing, the verandah area and the adjoining garage, all at the same pitch. The two windows to the front elevation are both casement ensembles comprising side hung panes flanking a central fixed pane.

History

This residence was constructed c1938 and first occupied by Frank G Burrows and later by Alfred Spooner and his wife Elizabeth. Information from the current [2018] owner states that the place was built by builder J H Glenn and the lot was owned by his wife Edith May Glenn. Additional research has determined that William Luitpold John Henry Glenn (1898-1972) was a builder who undertook many small building projects in the district. It is probable that the land was purchased by Glenn and his wife who built the home for immediate sale. This type of small development project was not uncommon. Glenn may have been a competent builder but was not a good business man, who also enjoyed gambling, leading to several appearances in local courts and bankruptcy in 1937. The construction of this house by Glenn after 1937 seems unusual given his bankruptcy but as the client was his wife this may not have been a formal contract. Glenn served during the Second World War with the Australian Imperial Force and avoided another legal issue over contracts with the Workers Home Board undertaken when he was still bankrupt. Aerial photographs indicate the form and extent of the premises have not changed significantly since the mid 20th century.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Fair

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Commercial Premises, 332 Cambridge Street

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as an example of an Inter War combined shop and retail premises with some original detail. The place has historic value for its association with the development of Wembley in the Inter War period and this section of Cambridge Street which was, and continues to be, a retail hub. The place has social value for its continuity of function as a commercial premises since the 1930s.

Physical Description

332 Cambridge Street consists of three shops attached to a rear residential property that extends along Jersey Street. The shop frontages to each unit has been altered but the design intent remains visible. The units are unified by the rendered parapet that wraps around to the Jersey Street frontage of the corner unit. Due to the change in land levels, the verandah is stepped to allow for full height windows in each unit. The Corner unit has an extensive glazed frontage with windows to both Cambridge Street and Jersey Street as well as to the angled wall which incorporates the glazed entrance door. A seven-section highlight extends above all the windows and the door creating a continuous glazed frontage. The adjoining units have both undergone minor adaptations to the presentation of the original shop frontages. Both have retained the metal framed high level windows above the main strip windows although the east unit has adapted the central window to accommodate an air conditioning unit. The western unit has changed the shop doors to a single door with narrow side light. All three frontages are rendered brickwork with the plinth painted a contrasting colour.

History

This place was constructed as a shop and premises c1935 and the first occupant was newsagent Leonard Albert Wearn (c1908-1987). The architect and builder for this building have not been determined in this research. Its location on the corner of Cambridge and Jersey Streets was valuable exposure for the business. Wearn's Wembley Newsagency operated from these premises until at least the mid 1950s. Leonard and his wife Ethel relocated to premises in Essex Street Wembley in the 1960s. In c1978, two new commercial premises were constructed in the rear of the lot facing Jersey Street. A small carport was created in the space between the old and new building. In recent years the front façade of the original shop has been altered. The shop front windows have been replaced with aluminium framed windows and the original front door has also been replaced. The original parapet has been obscured with metal sheeting. The elevation of the original residential premises to Jersey Street cannot be readily determined because of a high brick wall.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

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