Windsor Hotel (South Perth) to be placed on Heritage Register

6/4/96

South Perth's most famous pub, the Windsor Hotel, is to have its unique heritage values protected forever.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the turn-of-the-century hotel would be placed on the State Government's permanent register of heritage places.

Mr Lewis said the Windsor was a fine example of the Australian pub tradition of a two-storey hotel, with verandahs, located on a prominent street corner.

He said the Windsor was one of the oldest surviving hotels south of the river and was closely associated with the rapid development of South Perth in the 1890s.

Built in 1898 on the corner of Mill Point Road and Mend Street, it was opened at a time when the popularity of South Perth was increasing.

"From the mid-1880s there was a steady growth in the number of residents in South Perth and within 10 years it had become a well-established suburb," Mr Lewis said.

"By the end of the 1890s South Perth was progressing rapidly and a number of facilities were opened, including the zoo and a school.

"There was, however, still some shortage of public facilities and for a short time the Windsor Hotel served as the post and telegraph office."

The hotel was built for George Strickland by architect JJ Talbot Hobbs for a contract worth more than £4,000.

Hobbs, who trained in England, arrived in Western Australia in 1887 and soon established a reputation as one of Perth's finest architects.

His early commissions included Christ Church, Claremont, the Weld Club, Perth, and the Swan Brewery.  After forming an architectural partnership, he was responsible for the design of pubs such as the Paddington and the Savoy.

Mr Lewis said George Strickland owned the hotel until World War Two. It was later willed to the University of Western Australia, which still owns the hotel.  

"The hotel is built in the Federation Filigree style and a verandah and balcony extends along both street facades," he said.

"The verandah roof is supported on fine, ornamental cast iron posts and the verandah and balcony were extensively restored in 1980.

"There have been numerous other additions and alterations to the hotel since 1962.

"The building is in sound condition, its original layout is still clearly evident and the external fabric remains largely intact.

"The Windsor Hotel is highly valued by the local community for its aesthetic appeal and its contribution to the streetscape of the Mend Street area.

"This is demonstrated by its continued popularity as a local pub."

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 221 1377