List of heritage buildings in Perth, Western Australia facts for kids
Perth, Western Australia, has many amazing old buildings! These buildings tell us stories about the past. British settlers first arrived in 1829 and called the area the Swan River Colony. Many of the buildings from those early days are still standing today. They are "heritage-listed," which means they are special and protected.
This article will show you some of these important buildings in and around Perth. You'll see different types of buildings, like government offices, churches, homes, shops, and schools. These special places are listed in a database called "InHerit." This database helps everyone know which places are important to Western Australia's history.
Why Old Buildings Matter in Perth
Early Struggles and Gold Rush Boom
In the 1800s, the early settlements in Western Australia faced many challenges. There weren't enough resources, workers, or money to build much. But then, in the 1890s, something big happened: the gold rushes!
Thousands of people rushed to Western Australia from all over the world. This brought a lot of new wealth and led to a building boom. Many grand and beautiful buildings were constructed in Perth and nearby towns. Famous examples include the Palace Hotel, Perth, the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, and His Majesty's Theatre, Perth.
Protecting Perth's Past: The National Trust
By the late 1950s, some people worried that Perth was losing its old buildings. They wanted to "preserve our heritage." So, in 1959, they formed the National Trust of Australia (WA). Their main goal was to teach people why our old landscapes and buildings are important.
At first, there were no laws to officially protect these heritage places. The National Trust worked hard to show how special these sites were. They even created a system to classify buildings based on their historical value. In 1965, a new law made the National Trust an official body in Western Australia. This meant they could take care of important properties.
Changes and New Laws for Heritage
In the 1960s and 1970s, a mining boom brought another wave of building to Perth. Sadly, many beautiful early 1900s buildings were torn down, especially along St Georges Terrace. This made people realize how much was being lost.
Public campaigns started to save important places like the Barracks Arch, the Palace Hotel, and the Swan Brewery. Because of this growing awareness, a new law was finally created. The Heritage Act of WA 1990 officially recognized and protected many post-colonial heritage places. This law also created the Heritage Council to oversee this important work.
Local governments in Western Australia now also have to keep a list of heritage places in their areas. The National Trust still keeps its own list of classified places. These lists help everyone understand and protect the amazing history found in Western Australia's buildings and natural sites.
Historic Buildings in Perth and Fremantle
Here is a list of some of the oldest and most interesting heritage buildings in the Perth area. They are listed by when they were built.
| Building | Built | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
1830s Buildings |
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| The Round House Fremantle |
1830 | This building was one of the first prisons in the Swan River Colony. | |
| The Old Mill South Perth |
1835 | Also known as Shenton's Mill. The first mill was built in 1833 but rebuilt after being destroyed. | |
| The Old Court House Supreme Court Gardens, Perth |
1836–1837 | This is the oldest public building still standing in Perth. It was designed by Henry Willey Reveley. | |
| Tranby House Maylands |
1839 | Built by a group of religious settlers called the Tranby People. | |
1840s Buildings |
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| All Saints Church Upper Swan |
1838–1840 | This is the oldest church in Western Australia that is still standing. | |
| St John's Pro-Cathedral 18 Victoria Avenue, Perth |
1843–1844 | This was the very first Roman Catholic church built in Western Australia. | |
| Shenton House Crawley |
1846 | A large house now part of the University of Western Australia. It is home to the School of Indigenous Studies. | |
1850s Buildings |
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| Old Perth Boys School 139 St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1854 | This building was later used by a Technical College. The National Trust of Australia (WA) now owns it. | |
| Perth Gaol Northbridge, behind Western Australian Museum |
1856 | This was an early prison in Perth. | |
| The Cloisters 200 St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1858 | Designed by Richard Roach Jewell, this was Western Australia's first secondary school for boys. | |
| Fremantle Prison Fremantle |
1852–1859 | A large prison complex in Fremantle, now a popular heritage site. | |
| The Deanery Corner of St Georges Terrace and Pier Street, Perth |
1859 | Built as a home for Perth's first Dean. | |
| Bishop's House Corner Spring Street and Mounts Bay Road, Perth. |
1859 | This was the home of Bishop Mathew Blagden Hale. | |
1860s Buildings |
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| Archbishop's Palace 41 Victoria Square, Perth |
First stage completed 1860 | Built by Bishop Joseph Serra, who became the Catholic Bishop of Perth. | |
| Barracks Arch 266 St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1863 | This arch is all that remains of the old Barracks. The rest was demolished in the 1960s, but public protests saved the arch. | |
| Government House St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1859–1864 | This is the official home of the Governor of Western Australia. | |
| Fremantle Arts Centre Finnerty Street, Fremantle |
1861–1864 | This building was originally known as the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum. | |
| Trinity Church 72 St Georges Terrace, Perth |
Chapel 1865, Church 1897 | The chapel was designed by Richard Roach Jewell. The church in the foreground was built later. | |
| St Mary's Cathedral 41 Victoria Square, Perth |
Western end begun 1865 | A significant Catholic cathedral in Perth. | |
1870s Buildings |
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| Perth Town Hall Corner Barrack and Hay Streets, Perth |
1868–1870 | This important building was constructed using convict labour. | |
| Wesley Church 75 William Street, corner Hay Street |
1870 | A historic church located in the heart of Perth. | |
| St Mary's Church Middle Swan |
1870 | This church is near where an even older church was built in 1839. | |
| Central Government Offices Barrack Street, Perth |
1874 | These buildings used to be Perth's General Post Office. | |
1880s Buildings |
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| Royal Hotel 300 Murray Street |
1882 | This historic hotel is part of the Raine Square development. | |
| Fremantle Grammar School 200 High Street, Fremantle |
1885 | Established by Henry Briggs as an Anglican public school. | |
| Fremantle Town Hall 8 William Street, Fremantle |
1887 | The main civic building for Fremantle. | |
| Court Hotel Beaufort Street, Northbridge |
1888 | A well-known hotel in Northbridge. | |
| St George's Cathedral 2 Cathedral Avenue, Perth |
Completed 1888 | A major Anglican cathedral in Perth. | |
1890s Buildings |
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| St George's House 235-239 St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1892 | Designed by Talbot Hobbs. | |
| The Weld Club 4 Barrack Street, Perth |
1892 | Designed by Talbot Hobbs. | |
| Perth Railway Station Wellington Street, Perth |
1893–1894 | Designed by George Temple-Poole, this is a key transport hub. | |
| Theatre Royal & Metropole Hotel 637-645 Hay St |
1894–1897 | A historic theatre and hotel complex. | |
| The Palace Hotel William Street and St Georges Terrace, Perth |
1896 | This grand hotel now serves as offices for the Bank of Western Australia. | |
| The Esplanade Hotel Marine Terrace, Fremantle |
1896 | A large and historic hotel in Fremantle. | |
| Beaufort Street Terraces 235-241 Beaufort Street, Highgate |
1897 | These terraces are now used as doctors' and dentists' offices, and private homes. | |
| Fremantle Markets Market Street, Fremantle |
Commenced 1897 | Designed by H.J. Eales and Charles Oldham, these markets are still popular today. | |
| Tom Burke House 191-195 Newcastle Street, Northbridge |
c.1898 | Designed and first lived in by Louis Bowser Cumpston. | |
| Perth Mint 310 Hay Street, Perth |
Foundation stone 1896, completed 1899 | This is Australia's oldest operating mint, where coins are made. | |
| Old Perth Observatory 4 Havelock St, West Perth |
Completed 1896, opened 1900 | This building is now the headquarters for the National Trust, WA branch. | |
| Jubilee Building North Perth |
Completed 1899 | This building is part of the Western Australian Museum. | |
| The Cliffe Peppermint Grove |
1894 | Designed by Talbot Hobbs. | |
1900s Buildings |
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| The Old Perth Fire Station Perth |
1900 | This was the first building specifically built as a fire station in WA. It's now a museum. | |
| His Majesty's Theatre Perth |
1904 | Built during the gold rush, it was once the largest theatre in Australia. It's still a working theatre today! | |
| The North Mole Lighthouse Fremantle |
1906 | This cast iron lighthouse and its twin are unique navigation lights in Western Australia. | |
1910s Buildings |
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| The Old Perth Technical School Perth |
1910 | This was Western Australia's first college for higher education. | |
| Wireless Hill Museum | 1912 | Originally built as the Applecross Wireless Station. | |
| The Albany Bell Castle | 1914 | This unique building, with its towers and battlements, was once a bakehouse factory. | |
| Anzac Cottage | 1915 | A special cottage built to commemorate Anzac soldiers. | |
1920s Buildings |
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| General Post Office, Perth | 1923 | This building served as Perth's main post office. | |
| Young Australia League building | 1924 | A building associated with the Young Australia League. | |
1930s Buildings |
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| Salvation Army Congress Hall (former) 69 Murray Street, Perth |
1929–1930 | This building was once the Salvation Army's Congress Hall. | |
| Atlas Building 8–10 The Esplanade, Perth |
1931 | This building now houses the Museum of Perth. | |
| St Joseph's Church Subiaco |
1933–1934 | An Interwar Gothic style church designed by Edgar Le Blond Henderson. | |
| First Church of Christ, Scientist, Perth | 1939 | An Art Deco style church designed by Ochiltree & Hargrave. | |
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See also
- List of heritage places in Fremantle
- History of Perth, Western Australia
- Category:Heritage places of Western Australia
