City of Subiaco Thematic History and Framework
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CITY OF SUBIACO THEMATIC HISTORY AND FRAMEWORK Prepared for the City of Subiaco KRISTY BIZZACA February 2014 THEMATIC HISTORY & FRAMEWORK OF SUBIACO ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2012, the City of Subiaco determined to undertake a Thematic History that would become the guiding document used to provide a Framework for understanding the evolution of the City’s cultural landscape in order to review the City’s Local Government Inventory. The consultant, Kristy Bizzaca, was commissioned in March 2012 to undertake this work. This Thematic History examines Subiaco's growth from pre-history, through to the foundation of the Swan River Colony in 1829 and up to the present day (2014) for the purposes of creating an overview of the main periods of development in the City. The history has been divided into eight periods with each chapter/section marking an important stage in the progress of Subiaco. In addition to providing a summary of local events and activities during these years, key factors, stories, themes and characteristics have been determined for each context. The first section identifies Aboriginal Histories of the area such as the water ways and gathering places of pre-history through to the dispossession, assimilation, institutionalisation and, more recently, reconciliation of the Post European History Period. The Colonial Period (1829 - 1870s) is the basis of the second section. It traces the early history of the place following the foundation of the Swan River Colony in 1829, encompassing the original land grants, the roads and railway routes that stimulated settlement and the establishment of the Benedictine Community at 'New Subiaco' in the 1850s. In section three, the Gold and Population Boom Period (1880s - 1897), Subiaco is surveyed for residential development. Subiaco, Shenton Park and Jolimont become the first suburbs and timber worker's cottages form a large part of this initial housing phase. Roads are constructed, civic and state government services introduced and the Subiaco municipality gazetted in 1897. Section four sees a continuation of the influence of the Gold Boom in addition to Federation (1890s - 1910s). The Subiaco suburb is shaped by this rapid growth. Subdivision benefits from schemes like that of the Worker's Home Board, the central and commercial spines of Rokeby Road and Hay Street are consolidated, public services and transport extended, a light industrial area - and major element in Subiaco's history - created, and a distinct character complete with brick houses in the Federation style and street tree plantings and parks formed. FOR THE CITY OF SUBIACO FEBRUARY 2014 THEMATIC HISTORY & FRAMEWORK OF SUBIACO iii The uncertain times of World War One, Inter-war and World War Two Period (1910s - 1940s) are outlined in section five. This is a period marked by slow, steady growth and the brunt of world events. Public utilities and amenities remain a focus as does the clearing and drainage of the land and the development of the Daglish garden suburb. It also sees brick construction be the preferred method of all building, the advent of Inter-war and Art Deco architectural styles and the start of the popularity of the motor car. Section six deals with Post World War Two (1940s - 1950s) recovery led by the reconstruction and immigration policies of the state and federal governments. The population boom results in further residential and demographic changes in Subiaco including the use of aging housing stock for rental purposes. Modern trends such as the one-stop supermarket hold sway and, in 1952, the City of Subiaco is declared. Sections seven and eight account the history of the City in the latter half of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. In section seven, the Redevelopment Period (1950s - 1980s) covers the ongoing expansion and modernisation of Subiaco; its services, facilities and landscape. Demolition and redevelopment, high density building, apartment living and contemporary construction materials and techniques are all features of Subiaco becoming an inner city suburb of Perth. In the midst of this, a growing social, political and environmental awareness lead to concerns about the preservation of a Subiaco identity and sense of place, and the establishment of the first heritage policies. In the Urban Village Period (1980s - 2010s) in section eight, the City is significantly impacted by major planning schemes; the most consequential being Subi Centro. This sees the redevelopment of the former industrial lands for residential and commercial purposes and the sinking of the Subiaco Railway Station. It coincides with the municipality’s own revitalisation program and focus on transforming Subiaco into an urban village that actively engages long-time residents as well as the young professional couples and families relocating to the area. Rokeby Road becomes a destination point for locals and visitors alike and Council-driven strategies are aimed at encouraging the community to participate in planning for the future of the City, including in the retention and enhancement of Subiaco's heritage character and identity. These eight periods of development are crucial to understanding and appreciating the City’s distinct heritage and have been used to produce the following Thematic Framework by which the cultural heritage significance of places in Subiaco can be recognised and, as a result, be represented on the Local Government Inventory. FOR THE CITY OF SUBIACO FEBRUARY 2014 THEMATIC HISTORY & FRAMEWORK OF SUBIACO iv CITY OF SUBIACO THEMATIC FRAMEWORK Aboriginal Histories The Swan River Surveys & Shaping a Suburb A Time of Uncertainty Recovery A 'Modern' Looking Forward THEMES* Pre & Post European Colony & New Boundaries Federation & Late WW1, Inter-war & Post WW2 Period Community Urban Village Period Subiaco *as fixed by the State History Period Gold Boom Period Gold Boom Period WW2 Period 1940s - 1950s Redevelopment 1980s - 2010s Heritage Office of WA Colonial Period 1880s - 1897 1890s - 1910s 1910s - 1940s Period 1829 - 1870s 1950s - 1980s Demographic Aboriginal occupation Swan River Colony Suburban lots surveyed Rapid expansion Steady growth Rapid development Expansion & Continued expansion Settlement & Mobility Waterways & pathways (1829) for private sale (1883) Central commercial Residential Significant population modernisation Subiaco as urban Immigration Camps & Gathering Land grants & Traditional grid pattern core established development & increase Ageing building stock village, inner-city living Aboriginal histories Places allocations town plan - streets Civic Square subdivision Ageing housing stock in Demolition & Planning & Land allocation & north-south & east-west Fringe camps (1920s- Swan Location 87 Residential Clearing & drainage central area used for redevelopment revitalisation subdivision 1950s) (1837) - Shenton First residential blocks development & Flooding rental purposes Apartment living Demolition & Settlements House, Crawley First estates & suburbs subdivision Outer suburbs owner redevelopment Government policy Swan River Colony Daglish garden suburb Higher density impacts Swan Locations Ag & - Subiaco, Shenton occupied Environmental change (1829) Clearing & drainage Subiaco's character Young, professional Ah - Benedictine Park, Jolimont Depression & boom Land grants & Crawley acquired by Residential boom - Gentrification & couples & families, community at 'New Massive gold rush Shenton Park & Daglish absentee landowners allocations Subiaco Municipality absentee owners Subiaco' (1850s) population boom Racial contact & Subi Centro (from late Clearing & drainage of interaction, Clearing & drainage 1990s) lake systems begins dispossession Transport & Aboriginal track ways Convict-built Perth- Perth - Fremantle Station at northern end Bus services Motor cars proliferate Car parks Residential carports Communications Roads & railways Fremantle Road Railway (1881) of Rokeby Rd (c. 1897) Telephone Service stations Changing patterns - Railway Passenger Rail & light rail transport (1860s) Suburban street layout, Axon St crossing infrastructure traffic lights, timber Service reopens after 4 Road transport Perth - Fremantle incl secondary streets & (1914) Motor cars kerbs replaced by years (1983) Technology & Railway (1881) lanes Rokeby Rd & Hay St concrete Urban village - traffic technological change Road construction - are area's central Buses replace trams calming, underground Telecommunications Rokeby Rd (1895) spines power, minimisation of Rokey Rd develops as street parking main street Sinking of part of Perth Tram built to Subiaco - Fremantle Railway for underground station Occupations From living off the land Grazing & droving Grazing Grazing Domestic activities Domestic activities Domestic activities Domestic activities Rural activities to grazing & settlement Domestic activities Domestic activities Light industrial area Light industrial area Modernisation of Modernisation of Domestic activities Increase in commercial continues to develop expands due to post commercial industry - commercial industry - Intellectual activities, businesses Calyx Porcelain WW2 activity supermarkets loss of independent arts & crafts stores Subiaco granted Company (later Modern trends (eg Intellectual activities - Commercial Services endowment land & Australian Fine China) refrigerators) evident at library, museum Intellectual activities - industries becomes light industrial (1920s - 2006) light industrial area arts & theatre centre Technology & area & major local Rokeby Road as Technological change