State Government heritage lists three city landmarks

31/1/03
Perth's Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade and Rechabite Hall have been permanently listed and the Aberdeen Hotel and St John's Building interim listed on the State Government's Register of Heritage Places.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the registration recognised the sites' unique architectural and social qualities and would provide permanent statutory protection to the Piccadilly Cinema and Arcade and Rechabite Hall.
"The development of the Piccadilly Cinema and Arcade reflected the optimism and desire for enjoyment and entertainment following the Depression," Dr Edwards said.
"At the time of its construction in 1938, it was fitted out with the most modern features and was the first cinema in Western Australia to be air-conditioned.
"Many Western Australians will recall the grandeur associated with visiting the Piccadilly Theatre as a child; it is a distinctive landmark in the Hay and Murray Street malls and contributes to the community's sense of place.
"The cinema was designed in the inter-war functionalist style, typical of cinema design in the 1930s, and was one of a number of cinemas built in Perth and surrounding suburbs at this time.
"The place is associated with 1930s mining entrepreneur Claude de Bernales, well-known cinema architect William Leighton and sculptor, Edward Kohler.
"A refurbishment of the cinema and arcade in 1984 introduced aesthetic characteristics of the late 20th century post-modern style enhancing the existing ornamental character.
"The refurbishment received the 1986 Architecture Design Award for Renovated Buildings, awarded by the Royal Australian Institute of Architecture (WA)."
Dr Edwards said Rechabite Hall was constructed for the Independent Order of Rechabites and was one of the more architecturally significant buildings within the William Street block.
"Rechabite Hall played an important role in social history of Perth in the latter half of the 1920s," she said.
"The place has a number of interesting features including a mosaic floor and tile dado in the entry hall and a vaulted ceiling lined with pressed metal and embossed with decorative patterns in the main hall.
"The building was acquired by the Commonwealth Bank in 1947 and has also been used as an employment office, travel agent's office, real estate office, hairdressers and a photographic studio.
"Since 1980, the building has formed part of the Perth Cultural Centre Precinct and is now reserved for civic and recreational purposes.
"The Aberdeen Hotel and adjoining St Johns Building are associated with the development of central Perth and Northbridge, following the establishment of the central railway station and the growth that accompanied the gold boom of the 1890s.
"The Aberdeen Hotel is a two-storey masonry and corrugated iron hotel and former residence built using elements of the Victorian Italianate style.
"Built in the late 19th century, the hotel has been valued by the various communities within Perth and Northbridge as a public house and meeting place that has been in continuous use for 115 years.
"The hotel and residence were remodelled in 1923, with the addition of loggias at ground level and a two-storey fa?ade along the main street frontage.
"The hotel was originally built as a colonial inn named the Cosmopolitan Hotel and has also been known as the Union Hotel and Red Lion Hotel.
"The St John's Building is a group of three attached shop houses designed in Federation Free style.
"It is associated with the Perth Greek community of the 1920s, from which the Pittakos Greek night school operated from 1920 to 1923. It was also used as a clubhouse for the Perth Macedonian community from 1940 to 1949."
The St John's Building was incorporated into the Aberdeen Hotel complex in 1996 and was acquired by the Department of Main Roads to facilitate the development of the Northbridge Tunnel in the same year.
Minister's office: 9220 5050