St George's House, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Terrace Hotel |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Federation Queen Anne |
| Location | 237 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Talbot Hobbs |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 29 May 2001 |
| Reference no. | 2094 |
St George's House is a historic building in Perth, Western Australia. Today, it is known as the Terrace Hotel. You can find it at 237 St Georges Terrace. Over the years, it has also been called Cardigan House, Bishop's Grove, and Ingle Hall.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of St George's House
Early Days as Homes
St George's House was built between 1891 and 1892. It's a two-storey building made of brick with a corrugated iron roof. The style is called Federation Queen Anne, which was popular in Australia around that time. The Anglican Church built it to earn money from renting it out.
The land where St George's House stands has an interesting past. In 1856, Matthew Hale, the first Anglican Bishop of Perth, bought five plots of land. He chose this spot because it had large grounds and a natural spring. This area became known as the Bishop's See.
Bishop Hale built several other important buildings nearby. These included Bishop's House (built in 1859) and Bishop's Cottage (built in 1860).
In 1875, Bishop Hale gave all his Perth properties to the Perth Diocesan Trust. After he left, the Trust continued to build more homes on the Bishop's See. St George's House was one of these new buildings.
The architect for St George's House was John Talbot Hobbs. He was the official architect for the Perth Diocesan Council. He designed five houses on St George's Terrace, including St George's House.
The building was originally designed with prominent gables facing the street. It had verandahs with decorative timber-work. Over time, the building's appearance changed. In 1912, a two-storey verandah was added to most sides. Later, these verandahs were often enclosed to create more rooms.
St George's House had many different names throughout its history. For a while, it was known as "Bishop's Grove." It was rented out to many different people and families. From about 1915 to the 1960s, parts of the building were used as boarding houses or apartments.
In 1939, major changes were made to the eastern part of the building, then called "Cardigan." Architects Hobbs and Winning added 26 new bedrooms and bathrooms. The front verandah and balcony were also updated with a more modern look.
Becoming Offices and Redevelopment
In the 1960s, St George's House changed from homes to offices. This happened because office spaces could earn more money. A lunch bar was also added on the ground floor.
By the early 1980s, there were plans to redevelop the entire Bishop's See area. In 1986, a company called St George's Investments (later Australian City Properties, or ACP) leased the property for 99 years.
At first, there were thoughts of tearing down St George's House because it was in poor condition. However, Alistair McAlpine, who was in charge of ACP, decided to save and restore the building. He renamed it St George's House, and it became ACP's main office.
In 1986, architects began restoring St George's House. Many original features had been lost or damaged over the years. For example, much of the external timberwork was gone, and the brickwork had been painted. Inside, large rooms had been divided.
In 1987, many of the later additions were removed. This brought the building closer to its original look. The number of rooms was reduced from 60 to 30. Some of the original verandahs were also put back, and the inside was completely refurbished.
From 2000 to 2002, Hawaiian Property Investments used the building as offices. After that, it remained empty for several years.
The Terrace Hotel Today
St George's House was given a new life when it was refurbished and turned into a fancy hotel. It became "The Terrace Hotel," a luxury boutique hotel with 15 rooms, a large bar, and a restaurant. The hotel first opened its doors on November 1, 2012.
The Terrace Hotel was even recognized for its excellent restoration. It was a finalist in the WA Heritage Awards for being an "Outstanding Tourism Product." These awards celebrate great work in preserving Western Australia's heritage.
The hotel closed briefly in 2018 but reopened in 2022 under new management. Today, it serves as a popular place for dining and events in the west end of St Georges Terrace.
Why St George's House is Important
St George's House is a very important building in Western Australia's history. It was officially recognized by the National Trust of Western Australia on May 11, 1998. It is also listed on the City of Perth's Municipal Inventory.
On March 24, 2000, it was permanently added to the State Register of Heritage Places by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. This means it is protected and valued for its historical and architectural significance.
