Criterion Hotel given interim heritage listing

21/8/96

Perth's sole remaining Art Deco hotel has had its unique heritage values recognised by the State Government.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the Criterion Hotel in Hay Street had been placed on the Heritage Council of Western Australia's interim register of heritage places.

Mr Lewis said the hotel, also known as the Regatta Hotel and Bugatti's Bar, was one of the most significant Art Deco buildings in the city.

"Few other buildings in central Perth possess such an extensive range and quality of Art Deco details as the Criterion," he said.

"The aesthetic significance lies in the cohesive, consistent and comprehensive range of original Art Deco details in its design, both inside and out.

"The hotel makes a strong contribution to the streetscape of Hay Street.

"It is also one the few remaining pubs in the CBD that is still operating as a hotel with accommodation."

Mr Lewis said there had been a licensed public house on the site of the Criterion Hotel since at least 1848.

One of its earliest names was the John Bull Inn, but by 1885 it was known as the Criterion. The pub was also one of the first establishments in the city to adopt the electric light system.

Mr Lewis said the new Criterion was built by the Swan Brewery in 1937, with the aim being to create a modern building with an imposing and attractive exterior.

"The pub was described as having three finely-equipped bars, a dining room with accommodation for more than 120 people, a spacious lounge and 74 single and double rooms," he said.

"The Art Deco style was popular in Australia after the Depression, when building activity increased significantly."

The Criterion is a four-storey building with basement. Its symmetrical design was known as the 'Skyscraper Style', typified by the stepped forms and vertical emphasis of the twin towers.

This style can also be seen in nearby buildings such as the Plaza Arcade and Cinema and the Gledden Building.

Mr Lewis said that although the front bar had been refurbished, its ceiling remained largely unaltered, with Art Deco themes on the plaster modelling of the beams and cornices.

"Despite these alterations, the authenticity of the hotel is high and it remains in good condition," he said

"The Criterion is also a demonstration of the Swan Brewery's faith in the continued growth of the city area following the Depression.

"As a rare example of an Art Deco pub in the city area, the building deserves heritage protection."

Media Contact: Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595, 221 1377