HERITAGE ASSSESSMENT

File No. PRO0315 Precinct: North Perth Locality: N/A

Address: No. 459 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth Place Name: The Rosemount Hotel Folio: 793 Lot : 8 D/P: 1647 Vol. 1437

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The place has some historical value as a hotel, which was constructed at the time of the Gold Boom, a significant cultural and development phase in the history of Western Australia. The place has some historical value as a hotel, which was strategically located at the junction of two important movement and public transport routes at the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove Streets at the beginning of the twentieth century when North Perth became increasingly important in terms of its amenities and as a place where people would pass through in order to access adjoining northern streets and suburbs. The strong presence of the place contributes to its surrounding as an anchoring point for the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove Streets. The place has some social value as a continuously licensed and operating hotel from at least 1902, providing a social venue and meeting place for the local community. With its public bar and dining facilities at ground floor level and bedroom accommodation on the upper floor, the place is representative of the type of hotels built around the turn of the century reflecting the prosperity flowing from the Gold Rushes. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION: Consultant's Recommendation: Draft Municipal Heritage Inventory (Hocking Planning & Architecture) - Management Category A ("Conservation Essential") OFFICER'S MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION: Include the place on the Town's Municipal Heritage Inventory with an amended Management Recommendation - the place has some cultural heritage value to warrant entry onto the Town's Municipal Heritage Inventory. However, it is considered that a Management Category B - Conservation Recommended listing is appropriate in light of the various alterations that have taken place to the hotel's physical fabric, which have reduced its authenticity and aesthetic value. 1.0

ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE The Policy ‘Heritage Management – Assessment’, adopted by the Council at its Ordinary Meeting held on 17 January 2006, has been used to determine the cultural heritage significance of the place.

1.1

PRINCIPAL HISTORIC THEMES • What people did for a living HISTORIC SUB THEMES • Retail and commercial businesses

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1.2

AESTHETIC VALUE The place was constructed in the Federation Filigree style of architecture. Changes to the façade, including and not restricted to the removal of the two-storey verandah, original windows and parapet detail have resulted in the place no longer being representative of the Federation Filigree style with little aesthetic value. Notwithstanding the above, the strong presence of the place contributes to its surrounding as an anchoring point for the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove Streets.

1.3

HISTORIC VALUE The place has some historical value as a hotel, which was constructed at the time of the Gold Boom, a significant cultural and development phase in the history of Western Australia. The place has some historical value as a hotel, which was strategically located at the junction of two important movement and public transport routes at the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove Streets at the beginning of the twentieth century when North Perth became increasingly important in terms of its amenities and as a place where people would pass through in order to access adjoining northern streets and suburbs. The strong presence of the place contributes to its surrounding as an anchoring point for the intersection of Fitzgerald and Angove Streets.

1.4

SCIENTIFIC VALUE The place has little scientific value. There is no obvious potential for the place to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the natural or cultural history of the Town.

1.5

SOCIAL VALUE The place has some social value as a continuously licensed and operating hotel from at least 1902, providing a social venue and meeting place for the local community.

2.0

DEGREE OF SIGNIFICANCE

2.1

RARITY The place is not rare and does not represent any aspect of cultural heritage of the Town of Vincent that may be endangered.

2.2

REPRESENTATIVENESS With its public bar and dining facilities at ground floor level and bedroom accommodation on the upper floor, the place is representative of the type of hotels built around the turn of the century reflecting the prosperity flowing from the Gold Rushes.

2.3

CONDITION The place is in a sound condition.

2.4

INTEGRITY The Rosemount Hotel has a medium degree of integrity. The place no longer serves its original purpose as a hotel. However, the use of the place as a public bar remains intact.

2.5

AUTHENTICITY The hotel has a low degree of integrity. The original external detailing of the place, including verandah has been removed and the internal spaces have been reconfigured to accommodate the changing needs of the hotel.

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3.0

SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

3.1

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE Initially called Woodville and Toorak after the early estates, it was not until c.1901 that the area was named North Perth. The area was seen as a good place to live as housing was relatively cheap, and it was within walking distance to the city. North Perth was then on the outskirts of the Perth metropolitan area, with bushland extending from the suburbs limits. By 1903 subdivision had grown so rapidly that North Perth's street plan extended to the junction of Walcott Street and Wanneroo Road, although many of these were to remain bush tracks for years. Fitzgerald Street has always been an important transport link between the city centre and the farms and industry north of the city. Its significance increased with the development of suburbs in North Perth, Mount Lawley and Osborne Park in the early 1900s, as can be measured by the number of hotels that were erected along its length, particularly on corner locations, which include the Hyde Park Hotel (formally known as the Commonwealth Hotel and the subject Rosemount Hotel.1 Trams from the city to North Perth ran along Fitzgerald Street from 1900 to 1953. Roads were constructed to provide a firm base for the tracks. The lines entered Fitzgerald Street from Bulwer Street with the first route ending at Forrest Street. The Fitzgerald Street line was continued north along Angove Street with the Albert Street terminus opening in 1906. The line extended to Charles Street in 1927. These extensions led to rapid growth in North Perth. Whereas only 12 per cent had been built on in 1904, this had risen to 36 per cent by 1911. As Perth entered a new century it moved away from being a small Town to a growing city, which was stimulated in 1885 when gold was found in the Kimberly. There was a subsequent influx of miners, merchants, builders, architects and other professionals seeking their fortune.2 The physical nature of Perth changed with the increase in wealth and population, this enable growth in the real estate and business industries. Prior to the Gold Rush Perth consisted mainly of residence and low lying shops and factories. However, by the end of the 19th century, the city had become transformed by elaborate, architecturally designed, multi-story buildings. This era also saw the development of the State's hotel industry.3 In the 1850s many hotels were built by enterprising individuals, causing some concern to Governor Kennedy. In Perth there was one hotel for every 73.6 adult males. The typical pub of this era was often built on a corner block with the entrance to the public bar on the corner and the door to the hotel proper off one of the streets. A verandah, sometimes seven metres wide, with balcony, extended along both streets. The flashier hotels added elaborate towers and cupolas on the corner and the buildings were often decorated with cast iron lace. It was the era of the grand hotel4 A clipping from an unknown document, which was provided by one of the current owner's states that the 'Rosemount Hotel has stood since 1902 and was the more respectable of North Perth's two pubs managed for many years by the Little family.' The original Building Licence plans for the place could not be located to substantiate this construction date. The Wise Post Office Directories first list the Rosemount Hotel in 1904 with Mr N.A Gilchrist as the proprietor. However, the Perth Water Department Plans circa 1902 illustrate that the Rosemount was extant at that time. The two-storey

1

Heritage Council of Western Australia (1996) Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation Fitzgerald Hotel. 2 Heritage Council of Western Australia (1996) Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation Carlton Hotel 3 Heritage Council of Western Australia (1996) Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation Carlton Hotel 4 De Mori, C Time Gentlemen' A History of the Hotel Industry in Western Australia, Western Australian Hotels Assocaition HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 3

brick and iron Rosemount Hotel was constructed in the Federation Filigree style of architecture. However, as seen from the images contained in this assessment none of this original façade detail remains. The Federation period in which the subject place constructed marked a decline in the use of cast iron for structural and ornamental components of verandah and a marked growth in the use of timber for these components. As seen from an early photograph of the Rosemount Hotel, which is contained within this assessment, the timber detail of the place including posts, balustrade, brackets and valances had a thicker quality than cast-iron, but it still created the 'filigree screen' effect.5 As seen from the Perth Metropolitan Sewerage Map Plans and a photograph provided by one of the current owners the hotel was original half of its current size and only extended four bays along Angove Street. The façade was presumably tuck pointed red brick, which had two string courses, one along the ground floor level and one along the first floor, as can be distinguished from the circa 1910 photograph. The windows were timber sash and similarly to the doors where headed by distinct discharging arches possibly constructed from stone. The façade had a continuous decorative two-storey timber verandah, which is no longer extant. The Wise Post Office Directories list a number of proprietors of the hotel, which include: Mr Archibald Cale in 1905, Mr Herbert Murton from 1906 to 1908, Mr William Cutmore from 1909 to 1911, Mrs J Loughin in 1912, Mr Dennis Fitzgerald 1913 to 1918 and Mr R. Lakey from 1919 to at least 1949. A clipping from an unknown document dating from the early twentieth century period circa 1910, which was provided by one of the current owners provides insight into the history of the place: 'the well-known Hotel having been recently renovated and refurbished throughout, offers the best accommodation. All bedrooms open onto balcony. Special attention given to visitors from the Goldfields and Country by the Proprietor, W.B Cutmore, who is an old prospector. Excellent table and liquors. First-class Billiard Table. Telegrams and Letters will receive immediate attention… Terms: 35/- per week.' Another document provided by the owner states that the 'Rosemount Hotel was extensively renovated in the art deco style in the later 1930s and while the public bar remained the noisy, smoky milieu of gregarious masculinity, its dining and accommodation aspired to a more up-market clientele.'6 Today only a portion of the Rosemount Hotel is actively used. The down stairs former public bar area has been modified and enlarged as a live music venue and a large beer garden with a mature palm tree is extant along the western side of the hotel. The former dining room, the accommodation up stairs, the proprietor's quarters and Bar 'Four 5 Nine' are not currently being used. 3.2

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PHYSICAL EVIDENCE The two-storey brick and iron Rosemount Hotel at No. 459 Fitzgerald Street was constructed in the Federation Filigree style of architecture circa 1902. The hotel is positioned on the corner of Fitzgerald Street and Angove Street with a nil set back to the road verge. The original detail of the façade, which included a highly decorative timber verandah, sash windows and a decorative first floor corner parapet design have all been stripped from the façade. The ground floor truncated corner entry to the hotel has been bricked up and has a fixed window with mullion detail in its place. Above this window along the first floor there is a casement window with stack bond brick detailing along its vertical dimensions and triangular frame detail projecting above.

Apperly, R (1989) A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture, Angus and Robertson Unknown Source provide by owner. HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 4

Today the hotel stands with minimal detail and has been painted a dusty blue colour. The ground floor of the Angove Street façade comprises six rectangular windows with mullion detail and one entry door. The Fitzgerald Street façade comprises one rectangular window along the northern end, three long timber framed casement windows and along the southern end. A porch area is located between the two different sets of windows and has the words 'Rosemount Hotel' above its entry. The porch is accessed via three steps, which lead to two sets of French doors with sidelights. It is at this point where access is gained to the former entrance foyer of the hotel. The first floor portion of the façade, which fronts Angove Street has had one of its original windows removed and bricked up to accommodate a small square aluminium framed replacement. There are three other windows with stack bond brick work along the vertical sides and a triangular projecting detail above, in the location of the former original windows. Forming a continuation of the original portion of the hotel along Angove Street is the later addition circa 1951, which essentially contains the proprietors' quarters. The first floor of the two storey addition comprises five large openings, which shelter a large balcony area. The balcony area extends around to and along the western elevation. The balcony along the western elevation comprises a timber verandah with a timber floor. The original six timber framed sash windows along the first floor of the Fitzgerald Street portion of the facade have been removed and replaced with aluminium windows with stack bond brick work along the vertical sides and a triangular projecting detail above. Abutting the southern end of the hotel is Bar 'Four 5 Nine', which use to be a shop and did not form part of the original hotel. Today there is access to this bar from the Rosemount Hotel. The ground floor shop front to the bar comprises a pair of centrally located French doors, which are flanked on either side by a narrow windows above sill height. A suspended awning provides shelter for the ground floor façade. The first floor façade has a simple parapet and features a large opening, which effectively forms an enclosure for a balcony area. Internally the ground floor plan of the hotel has been altered over the years and is not clearly discernable. The truncated corner entrance has been removed and blocked up. A number of internal walls within the northern portion of the hotel have been removed and additions added to the north-west to create one large bar area. The far western wall of the large bar area has four large timber framed pairs of sash windows. The sills of these windows are positioned at head height and abut the underside of the cornice detail. Underneath the large bar area there is a cellar, which was not viewed during the inspection but is still in use at the time of writing this assessment. The timber floors, which are extant in the remainder of the original portion of the hotel, have been replaced with concrete. The central original staircase, which is accessed from the entrance foyer off Fitzgerald Street, is of interest as it comprises a grid like balustrade. To the south of the entrance foyer is a former dining room, which retains what appears to be an original timber fire place surround along is southern wall. A number of steps lead down from the dining room into Bar 'Four 5 Nine'. Behind the dining room there are kitchen and office facilities. The room layout of the original portion of the first floor is evident. This level comprises a central 'L shaped' hall way from which a number of rooms of varying sizes project. Ten rooms project of the eastern and northern sides off the original portion of the hallway and four to the west. Only five of these rooms appear to have contained fireplaces. There have been substantial additions to accommodate the proprietor along the north western side of the hotel and other alterations above Bar 'Four 5 Nine' along the southern portion of the hotel. There is a rear verandah along HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 5

the eastern elevation of the first floor, which is accessed from four points; via two sets of external stairs, the end of the original portion of the hallway and from a hallway from the Bar 'Four 5 Nine' additions. This rear balcony provides access to the proprietor's quarters, which comprise five large art deco inspired rooms. Streetscape With the building boom in the first decade of the 20th century, North Perth became increasingly important in terms of its amenities and as a place where people would pass through in order to access adjoining northern streets and suburbs. This was enhanced by the extension of the tramway, which ran along Fitzgerald Street, north towards Walcott Street. The remaining original commercial buildings which are extant along the section of Fitzgerald Street where the Rosemount sits has remained largely intact for about 90 years, despite pressures of increased road use and urban and commercial development. The Rosemount Hotel is located along the south west corner of the intersection of Angove Street and Fitzgerald Street, North Perth, which comprises commercial buildings in a variety of ages and styles forming an important district centre. These buildings include the two-storey former Westpac Bank at No. 42 Fitzgerald Street, which was constructed 1938 in the Inter-war Stripped Classical Style; the row of single storey Federation Italianate style and Inter-war Retail style shops at Nos. 454460 Fitzgerald Street and the row of Inter-war shops along Angove Street. Notwithstanding the above, there has been some newer development within the setting of the Rosemount Hotel including the offices at No. 468 Fitzgerald Street, the Service Station at No. 465 Fitzgerald Street and the mixed use development at No. 448 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth. 3.3

COMPARATIVE INFORMATION The 'State-wide Survey of Hotels 1829 -1937' identifies twelve hotels in the Town of Vincent. They are: the Brisbane Hotel (circa 1900), the Commonwealth Hotel, the Leederville Hotel (circa 1900), the Mount Hawthorn Hotel (circa 1930), the Former Newcastle Club Hotel (circa 1900), the Oxford Hotel (circa 1900), the Queen's Hotel (circa 1900), the Rosemount Hotel (circa 1900), the North Perth Hotel, which has since been demolished and was located at the corner of Scarborough Beach Road and Charles Street, Mount Hawthorn, the Tower Hotel, which has since been demolished and was located at No. 89 Charles Street, West Perth, the Royal Standard Hotel, now known as Hotel Northbridge (circa 1900) and the Norwood Hotel, now known as Jackson's Hotel (1898).7 Nine of the hotels listed in the Town of Vincent are said to date from the turn of the twentieth century, primarily due to their construction in the Federation style. All ten hotels are two-storey and are situated on main inner-city thoroughfares, nine on prominent corner locations. Alike the Rosemount many of these hotels have been renovated on numerous occasions to suit the changing needs of the hotel and entertainment area.

3.4 -

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7

REFERENCES Apperly, R, Irving, R and Reynolds, P A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Architecture, Angus and Robertson, Australia 1994 HCWA (1999) HCWA (1999) Heritage Assessment for the Norwood Hotel

HCWA (1999) HCWA (1999) Heritage Assessment for the Norwood Hotel HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 6

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Heritage Council of Western Australia (1996) Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation - Fitzgerald Hotel.

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Heritage Council of Western Australia (1996) Register of Heritage Places Assessment Documentation - Carlton Hotel

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Hocking Planning and Architecture Collaboration, Town of Vincent Municipal Heritage Inventory - Draft Thematic History, Unpublished Report, 2004

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Palassis Architects, North Perth Town Hall Conservation Plan, Unpublished report, 1998

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Stapleton M & I, Australian Housing Styles, The Flannel Flower Press Pty Ltd, 1997

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The Wise Post Office Directories

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Building Licence Archive Cards

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Perth Water Department Metropolitan Sewerage Plans

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Appendix 1: Themes and Sub-Themes Theme

Sub-Theme

1. Population and settlement

a. Aboriginal occupation b. Surveys and land allocation c. Workers d. Technology e. Government policy f. Depression and boom g. Exploitation h. Residential development i. Redevelopment and infill j. Refurbishment and recycling

2. Transport and communication

a. Roads b. Horses c. Rail d. Mail services e. Newspapers f. Telecommunications g. Bus transport h. Trams

3. What people did for a living

a. Rural activities b. Domestic activities c. Factories d. Retail and commercial businesses e. Government utilities and agencies f. Service industries

4. What people did together

a. Government and politics b. Education c. Law and order d. Community services and utilities e. Sport, recreation and entertainment f. Religion g. Cultural activities h. Health i. Community organisations j. Environment

5. Outside influences

a. Wars b. Other national and world events c. Depression and boom d. Transport routes e. Immigration

6. Famous people and events

a. Aborigines b. Early settlement c. Local heroes and battlers d. Famous and infamous

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Appendix 2: Maps/Plans

Metropolitan Sewerage Map Plans Date unknown Sheet 134

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Perth Water Department Map circa 1902

Perth Metropolitan Sewerage Plan circa 1901

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City of Perth Building Licence Plans 1951 Architect William Bennett

City of Perth Building Licence Plans 1951 Architect William Bennett

HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 11

City of Perth Building Licence Plans Ground Floor Plan

HERITAGE ASSESSMENT (13 Jan/ Rosemount/ SJK) 12

City of Perth Building Licence Plans First Floor Plan of Rosemount Hotel

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City of Perth Building Licence Plans Plan of Cellar

The Rosemount Hotel- Source circa 1910 Sheet 134

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The Rosemount Hotel- circa 1997 State-wide Hotel Survey J. Ball

The Rosemount Hotel 2007

Northern Elevation along Angove Street

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Eastern Elevation along Fitzgerald Street

Western Elevation

Western elevation of the Rosemount Hotel

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Bar 459, which forms part of an extension of the Rosemount.

Ground floor, underneath verandah along western side of Hotel.

Verandah along western side of Hotel.

Rear of the Rosemount Hotel

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Interior of Bar 459

An example of one of the larger rooms along the first floor

Central Staircase of the Rosemount Hotel

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Entrance doors off Fitzgerald Street

Western wall of public bar area.

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