London Court facts for kids
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St Georges Tce facade and entrance in 2007
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| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Opening date | 29 July 1937 |
| Owner | Fragrance Group Ltd |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 8 October 1996 |
| Reference no. | 1998 |
London Court is a special shopping area in the heart of Perth, Western Australia. It looks like an old English street from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. This unique place was built in 1937 by a rich businessman named Claude de Bernales.
London Court connects two busy streets: the Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace. It's a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. Over the years, it has been recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the State Heritage Register in 1996. The ownership of London Court changed hands in 2021, when it was sold to a company called Fragrance Group Ltd.
Contents
What Makes London Court Special?
London Court is famous for its amazing design, which looks like buildings from the Tudor and Elizabethan times in England. It has fancy entrances with big metal gates at both ends.
The Famous Clocks and Moving Figures
At the Hay Street entrance, there's a large clock that chimes every 15 minutes. When it chimes, four mechanical knights come out of a castle door. They move in a circle, looking like they are jousting (a medieval sport).
At the St Georges Terrace end, another clock shows a tiny mechanical Saint George fighting a dragon. These special clocks were made in London and cost a lot of money back then!
Statues and Decorations
Inside the court, you'll see statues of famous figures. At the north end, there's Dick Whittington and his cat. At the south end, you'll find Sir Walter Raleigh. Both statues are in tall towers, watching over the shoppers below.
The court is also decorated with interesting features like gargoyles (stone carvings), masks, shields, and old-fashioned signs. The roofs have pointed gables and weather vanes, and the windows have leaded glass, all adding to the old English style. The floor is made of terracotta tiles.
Shops and History of Use
When London Court first opened, it had 24 apartments on the upper floors, along with 53 shops and 55 offices. Today, most of the apartments have been turned into businesses. The arcade is now home to many small specialty shops and cafes, making it a great place to explore.
How London Court Was Designed
The design of London Court, especially its northern entrance, was inspired by another famous clock. This clock was part of the Liberty department store in Central London, built more than 10 years before London Court. Both clocks have similar moving figures above them. They also share a message below, warning people not to "squander time" (waste time).
Building London Court
London Court was built on land that used to be a group of small alleys called Gun Alley. Claude de Bernales bought this land in 1935. He wanted to create an important link between the Perth Railway Station and The Esplanade.
De Bernales hired an architect from Melbourne named Bernard Evans to design the arcade. Local architects also helped with the plans. Construction started in August 1936 and was finished in less than a year. It cost about £80,000, which was a lot of money at the time.
The building used very modern construction methods for its era. It even had an air-conditioning system, which was new for Western Australia. There was also a large restaurant in the basement for people working and visiting there. The building also included its own postal and laundry services.
The Grand Opening
London Court officially opened with a big celebration on July 29, 1937. Sir James Mitchell, who was a important political figure, opened the arcade. He said London Court was "unique in Australia" and a beautiful addition to the city.
The opening celebration included a three-day event called "Ye Olde English Fayre." Thousands of people came to see it. Volunteers dressed in old English costumes, and there were plays and music. This event raised £2,000 for the new Perth Hospital.
