1922 - Michelides Tobacco Factory

Originally Constructed 1922, extended 1934

Converted to Peter's Icecream

In its current condition pending demolition

In 1922, Peter Spero Michelides, a migrant to Western Australia, had a successful enough tobacco manufacturing industry that he was able to build the above Art Deco structure along Roe Street, Northbridge. He was a colourful character who was eventually awarded the silver cross of the Royal Order of George I of Greece in 1940. He died in Perth and is buried in Karrakatta cemetery. His building was converted into a Peters Icecream factory, before being turned into retail stores, with Tony Barlow being the predominant tenant. 

Eventually the building became vacant, until a recent Development Application by Pelworth Pty Ltd t/as Hardie Finance Corporation was approved by the Perth City Council, who were under the mistaken belief that the facade is not original Art Deco, but instead imitation. The DA expires in November 2011, but an application for its Heritage Status is currently under submission to the Perth City Council and the Heritage Council of Western Australia. 

There are still hopes the existing building can be integrated into the proposed Northbridge Link Development, a major initiative by the Western Australian State Government which aims to sink the current railway line dividing Perth, developing a series of mixed-use buildings on the converted land. 

 The central Perth area only has about ten Art Deco structures remaining, with this being the only former factory of its type still in existence.

1830 - Perth Cemetery

1830

The East Perth Cemetaries were set aside as the main burial ground for the capital of the Swan River Colony soon after its foundation in 1829, and were not only associated with the early pioneering period, but for virtually the entire colonial period which lasted until to the end of the nineteenth century.

They are quite correctly called cemeteries as even though the site appears as one today, it originally incorporated seven individual denominational cemeteries which came into existence progressively through the latter half of nineteenth century until the time when the site was closed in 1899. Each cemetery was fenced off and in most cases was separated from the others by a public roadway.

The cemetery complex also houses St. Bartholomew's Church which served as a burial chapel and a parish church for nearby residents.

The photograph above depicts some early settlers' graves around 1850.

1859 - The Deanery

1859

An unusual example of convict architecture, the Deanery was built in 1859; this photograph was taken shortly afterward in the 1860s. The site of the Deanery was formerly the site of the old Perth Gaol, but the land was exchanged with the Crown in July 1858 so that The Deanery could be close to the Cathedral.

There was some controversy regarding the exchange as the Gaol had been used to house Aboriginal prisoners, and it is claimed that Yagan's father, Midgegooroo, who was captured in May 1833, was executed on site. It has also been claimed that "the Town Stocks once stood in the grounds of the Deanery."

Even with this history, the eastern end of St. George's Terrace and Adelaide Terrace was a fashionable residential area. A regulation promulgated in 1833 required owners of lots in this
area to build homes costing at least £200. At a cost of £900, The Deanery was in keeping with the nearby homes of affluent colonists.

Twelve white mulberry trees, planted by Wittenoom and known as the twelve apostles, grew in front of the Cathedral and The Deanery. A large garden with trellises of grapes and other fruit linked The Deanery with the Cathedral.

1860s - St George's Tce

1860s

St Georges Terrace, as shown above in 1860 and 1862, was named for St George's Cathedral. Originally, houses occupied by clergy of the cathedral and lay clerks of the cathedral choir constituted a substantial portion of the Terrace. Some of these houses such as the Deanery remain, however the majority of these were demolished in the 1960s.

The original St George's Cathedral, depicted above in 1864, was built by Frederick Irwin in December 1829 a few months after the city was founded, but replaced in 1888 by a larger structure which still exists today.

The Central Government Offices, shown as they originally appeared around 1863, were rebuilt in 1874 along St George's Tce.

1860s - The Causeway

1860s


The Causeway is the name of two bridges which span the Swan River at the eastern end of Perth Water. They link the City of Perth and Town of Victoria Park. The two bridges are joined at Heirisson Island, which is approximately midway across the river, to make a continuous crossing.

Initially, a dam was constructed across the mud flats in 1839, only 10 years after the establishment of the Swan River Colony.
The first pile of the original Causeway bridge was driven across the river flats in November 2, 1840. It was originally known as the Perth Bridge. In June 1862, the river flooded badly and the bridge was between seven and eight feet under water.

Built by convict labour, a second Causeway bridge was opened in November 12, 1867 by Governor John Hampton. A young onloooker called out after the official opening speeches were completed: "And I, John Stephen Maley, do hereby declare that I will be the first to cross this Perth Bridge and Causeway!". The Governor's party proceeded across the Causeway after the young man had crossed.

The pictures above picture the first Causeway circa 1862.

1850s

1850s

Not long after settlement Perth was struggling to maintain its population due to numerous problems experienced by the settlers. In fact, numbers had reached only 5886, with only 1400 around the Perth area. Thus, in 1850 the colony was compelled to accept convict labour from Britain, whereby a number of important public buildings and infrastructure were thus completed.

In 1856 Perth was proclaimed a City by Queen Victoria.

The photographs above depict Barrack Street in the 1850s, and a view of Perth from Mount Eliza in 1856.

1847

1847

Horace Samson was the draftsman for the Lands Department, and this picture by him is dated 1847.

Of a later lithograph, the Perth gazette, and independent journal of politics and news, 15 October 1852, p.4a describes the print: "We have been favored with a sight of a Lithographic sketch of Perth, taken by Mr Horace Samson, our Colonial Draughtsman, from the top of Mount Eliza, which gives a much more faithful representation of our capital than any attempt we have hitherto seen. We hope that a sufficient number of copies will be issued for the purpose of gratifying parties out of as well as in the colony, for we should be sorry that this work of art should not have a circulation, as alike affording an accurate view of the chief town of our province, and reflecting great credit upon the artist and lithographic printer."

Philatelists will be interested to know that Horace Samson was also responsible for the lithographic design of one of the State's first stamp issues, the 4D 1855 Black Swan, famous for containing the world's first invert error (technically a "frame invert").