Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium
After the 2017 renovation, including reinstated verandah.
Alternative names	Gallery 152, Botanicalia, Kookaburra's
General information
Address	152 Avon Terrace
Town or city	York, Western Australia
Coordinates	31°53′14″S 116°46′07″E / 31.8873°S 116.7685°E / -31.8873; 116.7685
Construction started	1886
Completed	1887
Renovated	2017
Design and construction
Architecture firm	James William Wright
References
York municipal inventory

Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium is a very old and special building on Avon Terrace in York, Western Australia. It is considered a 'heritage-listed' building, which means it's important to history and needs to be protected. This building was built by William Dinsdale, who was once the mayor of York!

Discovering Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium

This historic building has seen many changes over the years. It started as a shoe store and has been used for different things since then. It's a great example of old architecture in York.

Building a Dream Shoe Store

• In 1885, a bootmaker named William Dinsdale decided he wanted a new building.
• He hired an architect named James William Wright to design it.
• The building was completed in 1887 by a team of contractors.
• It had two floors: shops were on the ground floor, and homes were upstairs.

What Was Inside Dinsdale's?

• The building was mainly used as a store and factory for boots, shoes, and saddles.
• You can still see some of the original lettering from Dinsdale's sign on the front!
• The store even has its original counter from 1887, which is over 130 years old.
• In 1888, William Dinsdale traveled around Australia to find new machines.
• He wanted to make his business even bigger, adding saddles and harnesses.

A Mayor and a Hotel

• William Dinsdale was an important person in York.
• He served as the Mayor of York twice: from 1896 to 1898, and again from 1901 to 1907.
• Around 1892, part of the building was even used as the local council office.
• In 1908, William Dinsdale faced some money problems.
• The building was then transferred to his brother, Alfred.
• Later, a woman named Charlotte Pyke leased the building.
• She opened a lodging house there, which was like a hotel, called the Temperance Hotel.
• Old photos show that the building used to have a two-story verandah (a covered porch).

The Building's Style and Protection

• Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium is built in a style called Victorian Free Classical.
• This style often includes decorative features like alternating pediments (triangular shapes above windows or doors).
• The building is officially recognized as important history.
• It is listed on the Shire municipal inventory (since 1995).
• The National Trust of Australia also classified it as important (in 1984).
• It's also on the Register of the National Estate (since 1978).
• In 2017, the front of the building was restored to look its best.