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Drew Robinson & Company building facts for kids
| Drew Robinson & Company building | |
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Dylan's on the Terrace 2016
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| General information | |
| Type | Heritage listed building |
| Location | Albany, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°01′36″S 117°53′09″E / 35.0268°S 117.8857°E |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 7 December 2007 |
| Part of | Stirling Terrace, Albany (14922) |
| Reference no. | 52 |
The Drew Robinson & Company building is a very old and important building in Albany. It is also known as the Albany Light Opera Company building or Dylan's on the Terrace. This historic building is located on Stirling Terrace. It looks out over Princess Royal Harbour in the Great Southern part of Western Australia. It is officially listed as a heritage building, meaning it is protected because of its history.
Contents
What is the Drew Robinson Building?
This building has a long and interesting history. It was built way back in 1880. Over the years, it has been used for many different things. It started as a business office and warehouse. Later, it became a cafe, a shop, and even a place for a theatre group. Today, it is a popular restaurant.
Who First Owned the Building?
The building was first owned by the McKail family. A man named John McKail was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He had a warehouse on this spot before the current building was constructed. After he passed away in 1871, his family continued his business. They built the current building in 1880.
John McKail also built a wool store behind this building. It faced Frederick Street. In 1888, after John McKail's death, two men named Charles Drew and John Robinson bought the business and the building. They had just started their company, Drew, Robinson & Co.
What Happened to the Building Over Time?
By 1902, the building was being used as a cafe called the Central Coffee Palace. Later that same year, a big fire broke out. The fire caused a lot of damage. Luckily, the person living there, John Zervoothakis, was not hurt. The building next door, the White Star Hotel, was saved because people kept throwing wet blankets on it. The fire destroyed most of the Drew Robinson building, leaving only the front and side walls.
The building was rebuilt in 1903. After being rebuilt, it was used for many different businesses. It was a tobacconist shop, a hairdresser, a hostel, and another cafe.
How Was the Building Saved from Demolition?
In 1968, a man named Thomas Wardle bought the building. He owned a grocery store chain called Tom the Cheap. He planned to knock down this building and others to build a new shopping center.
In the late 1970s, the Albany Light Opera Company used the building for their shows. After they left, the building became empty and started to fall apart. It was in a very bad condition.
Luckily, in 1980, Gwen and Morris Blake bought the building. They worked hard to fix it up. They restored it and opened it as a bookshop. In 1987, the building was changed into a restaurant. It was first called Dylan's on the Terrace. Today, it is known as Dylan's Cafe and Restaurant.
In 2015, the owners received a grant of $57,600. This money helped them to do more restoration work. They painted the front of the building and the verandah. They also put on a new roof for the verandah. This helped keep the historic building looking great for everyone to enjoy.
Images for kids
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Dylan's on the Terrace in 2016