Northbridge precinct awarded heritage protection

20/12/01
A Northbridge street precinct which reflects how Perth's middle classes lived in the era following the 1890s gold boom has been listed on the State's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said houses that formed the Parry Street Precinct, between Stirling and Braid Streets, were part of the historic character of the area.
"They demonstrate the standard of residential accommodation built there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries," Dr Edwards said.
"The subsequent changes in ownership also show the social mobility of the Northbridge population.
"As transport services expanded, the more affluent residents could move further out to new suburbs."
The collection of residences - single-storey buildings including freestanding and semi-detached homes, many with elaborate detailing - has remained largely intact.
Dr Edwards said they were originally occupied by members of Perth's middle and lower middle class community - trades and small business people, shop keepers, commercial travellers and some professional people.
There was a constant turnover of residents for at least the first half of the twentieth century.
"However, the precinct population continued to be solidly British for many years - unlike other parts of the inner city which saw many central and southern European immigrants settle there in the 1930s, 40s and 50s," Dr Edwards said.
The plan for the northern city bypass was released in 1959 and in 1978 properties in the precinct were transferred to the Metropolitan Region Planning Authority.
They were then leased by Homeswest and upgraded in 1987, along with other buildings in the Northbridge Tunnel area as part of the East Perth Project managed by Landcorp.
Since 1992-3 the Parry Street houses have been sub-leased to the Perth Inner City Housing Association for low income housing.
Minister's office: 9220 5050