The RIP's of Perth:( ...(Then&Now)

RocStar · August 20th, 2005, 07:51 AM

I thought I do a thread on Perth’s forgotten heroes. Warning you may find this thread disturbing! All the before buildings have been demolished to make way for....well you decide.
What was then and now…..>>>

then...Surrey Chambers Building

...it's replacement

then...Moirs Chambers (T&G)

Replaced with (in the 60s)

Now..after renovation

then...Mechanics' Institute

it's replacement...

then...AMP

Now..it's replacement(Still with AMP)

then...CNR Murray & Barrack st (not sure of the name)

...it's replacement (The blue roof building..kill me now!)

then...Perpetual Trustee Building

it's replacement...

then...Princes Building

...it's replacement

then...Temple Court.. (would of made a nice podium facade)

it's replacement...

then...CNR St Georges Tce and Barrack St (not sure of the name)

it's replacement...

then...Colonial Mutual Life

it's replacement...

then...The old Boans Department Store..(the facade should of at least been kept)

Now..(Boans bought out by Myer)

Gut wrenching stuff!

waustralia · August 20th, 2005, 07:59 AM

=(

Worst replacement is CNR Murray & Barrack St. The blue roof building! Isnt that a cinema?

MIMICA · August 20th, 2005, 08:05 AM

The new replacements all seem to be skyscrapers. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

RocStar · August 20th, 2005, 08:21 AM

^ a few others too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by waustralia

=(

Worst replacement is CNR Murray & Barrack St. The blue roof building! Isnt that a cinema?

Yep and a small shitty shopping arcade. I’m not even sure if the cinema is still open.

waustralia · August 20th, 2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocStar

^ a few others too.

Yep and a small shitty shopping arcade. I’m not even sure if the cinema is still open.

Ah yes, that place is terrible. Last time I went there the best thing in there was one of though's 'Japanese Restraunts' with the thing that move's the food along.

It should of been illegal to use brown bricks.

Saithkar · August 20th, 2005, 08:07 AM

Colonial especially should be lynched for their building "upgrade".

Trances · August 20th, 2005, 08:28 AM

1st Colonial Mutual Life shot is great

comingsoon · August 20th, 2005, 09:13 AM

Hmm. This is why I left Perth for Melbourne 12 years ago. It's vandalism really. Perth has little sense of history now. With a little foresight St Georges Tce could have been kept as it was and all these mostly second rate new buildings could have been built elsewhere, like Adelaide Tce, or in West Perth.

Add the trench separating Hay St from Kings Park, the spagetti freeway set up on the foreshore, the destruction of Northbridge and you have a successive series of planning disasters unequalled in Australia.

I blame the Court family myself.

A r c h i · August 20th, 2005, 10:37 AM

I feel for Perth, the same sort of thing happened here in Melbourne. Great Victorian period buildings making way for crappy 60's, 70's skyscrapers or lowrise piles of crap is disgraceful.

comingsoon · August 21st, 2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archibomber

I feel for Perth, the same sort of thing happened here in Melbourne. Great Victorian period buildings making way for crappy 60's, 70's skyscrapers or lowrise piles of crap is disgraceful.

Big difference Archibomber. Collins St lost a fair few buildings but Perth's equivalent, St Georges Tce lost everything save a bank and a church. There's essentially nothing left. Imagine Collins St today with just the Manchester Unity Building and Scots Church remaining. Unimaginable.

The extra sad thing is in the 50s Perth's St Georges Tce was considered to be almost as elegant as Collins St. I have a lot of pics of how it looked but no scanner so I can't upload them unfortunately. I also have a 40's Frank Hurley book and he talks of his fondness for the Perth of the time. "A grand boulevard of stately buildings" he called the Terrace. Today it's just a wind swept street chokkas with buildings of little of no architectural value.

Citystyle · August 21st, 2005, 02:00 PM

Progress for the sake of progress, i dont think so. Knocking them down is a deadly sin replacing them with a ugly short building is a sin.

We have to try to fix what we broke.

Citystyle · August 21st, 2005, 02:04 PM

From chrilaz89aus

We still have a fair few i wouldjust like to see sthem act as facades on new scrapers.

comingsoon · August 22nd, 2005, 02:03 AM

Yeah, it's good that Hay St Mall was largely left alone. I always like to walk thru London Court when I visit. One day hopefully the 2 art deco cinemas along it will be reopened as well. 3 actually if you count the hidden Capri cinema.

Can't let this pic go by without asking what people think of the Central Park skyscraper. I personally hate it because you they left the core sticking out of the top. Not classy. And not what it looked like in the original design at all. Originally the space frame bits were skyscraper. Maybe they ran out of money when they were building it, dunno.

As for the Terrace, not one of these buildings survived. Thanks for the Hurley pic Cul.

The reason the stunning CML building was knocked down was because a single dragon sculpture at the top came loose and fell off. As a crazy result the whole building was deemed a safety hazard and pulled down.

I have loads of pictures of this building. One day I'll buy a scanner and post them.

Citystyle · August 21st, 2005, 02:06 PM

Also with skyscrapers above head there would be no need for repulsive varanders in summer.

CULWULLA · August 21st, 2005, 02:36 PM

Yes the Moir Chambers from 1894 was indeed a mistake to rip down. It was perths tallest at the time at 34m to cupola.Gorgeous piece of Vistorian architecture gone.
Dont forgot the greatest highrise to be erected in Perth! the 1936 COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE BLDG.
heres one of the greatest photos ever taken of Perth!
from old AMP looking down St georges terrace at the tallest bldg for 2 decades!CML.

this was pulled down for new offices, (does anyone have a pic?)

The CML was 10storeys and 40m to roof (50m to LMR).

rickster2k · August 21st, 2005, 09:53 PM

http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/wepon/arc...es/002377d.jpg

^ bit off topic but did Aus have Vauxhall before Holden (Vauxhall if i remember correctly were UK owned then bought out by GM, who kept the name - and Holden i presume was the same) or where they two seperate car makers - i had presumed Vauxhall was always just in the UK (Opel on the continent).

CULWULLA · August 22nd, 2005, 01:21 AM

Just look at detail on CML. how on earth could perth council approve its demolishment?? Its first skyscraper . same happened to Melbournes APA and Sydneys CML.

CULWULLA · August 22nd, 2005, 02:16 AM

^ gee they could of just refurbished the bldg if bits were falling off.I also understand the company wanted a larger office thus the site next door was amalgamatedinto new design.
thanks comingsoon.

Homeroids · August 22nd, 2005, 03:13 AM

God it's sad. Imagine a SG Terrace like that today but with a backdrop of the modern skyscrapers away from the road front. Thank God for Heritage listing these days but infortunately it's all too late.

comingsoon · August 22nd, 2005, 11:34 AM

Perth needed a Premier like Adelaide's Dunstan (spelling). He is the reason Adelaide still has its old buildings. In Perth sadly no such visionary was in power. Quite the opposite as it happens. The Charles Court Govt allowed all the demolitions to take place in the 60s and 70s. Then when Robert Holmes A Court was premier in the 90s he gave the go ahead for the Northbridge trench. Thanks for the legacy guys.

August 20th, 2005, 07:51 AM	#1
RocStar Perth's Beach Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Coasturbia Posts: 2,915 Likes (Received): 81	The RIP's of Perth:( ...(Then&Now) I thought I do a thread on Perth’s forgotten heroes. Warning you may find this thread disturbing! All the before buildings have been demolished to make way for....well you decide. What was then and now…..>>> then...Surrey Chambers Building ...it's replacement then...Moirs Chambers (T&G) Replaced with (in the 60s) Now..after renovation then...Mechanics' Institute it's replacement... then...AMP Now..it's replacement(Still with AMP) then...CNR Murray & Barrack st (not sure of the name) ...it's replacement (The blue roof building..kill me now!) then...Perpetual Trustee Building it's replacement... then...Princes Building ...it's replacement then...Temple Court.. (would of made a nice podium facade) it's replacement... then...CNR St Georges Tce and Barrack St (not sure of the name) it's replacement... then...Colonial Mutual Life it's replacement... then...The old Boans Department Store..(the facade should of at least been kept) Now..(Boans bought out by Myer) Gut wrenching stuff! __________________ Say YES to development. .media > > evil scum.

August 20th, 2005, 08:07 AM	#6
Saithkar Not dead, actually.... Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne! Posts: 286 Likes (Received): 0	Colonial especially should be lynched for their building "upgrade". __________________ Hvis lyset tar oss....min tid skal komme.

August 20th, 2005, 08:28 AM	#7
Trances , , and , Fade to Black. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Living in London Posts: 7,896 Likes (Received): 4	1st Colonial Mutual Life shot is great __________________ "Are we ready to go farther or have we already gone to far?" “He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future.”

August 20th, 2005, 09:13 AM	#8
comingsoon design critic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 601 Likes (Received): 0	Hmm. This is why I left Perth for Melbourne 12 years ago. It's vandalism really. Perth has little sense of history now. With a little foresight St Georges Tce could have been kept as it was and all these mostly second rate new buildings could have been built elsewhere, like Adelaide Tce, or in West Perth. Add the trench separating Hay St from Kings Park, the spagetti freeway set up on the foreshore, the destruction of Northbridge and you have a successive series of planning disasters unequalled in Australia. I blame the Court family myself. Last edited by comingsoon; August 22nd, 2005 at 01:35 AM.

August 21st, 2005, 02:00 PM	#11
Citystyle Watch my Chops Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perth, Posts: 5,248 Likes (Received): 42	Progress for the sake of progress, i dont think so. Knocking them down is a deadly sin replacing them with a ugly short building is a sin. We have to try to fix what we broke. __________________ Sec. 31 But how far has he given it us? To enjoy. As much as anyone can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others. Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy. And thus considering the plenty of natural provisions there was a long time in the world, and the few spenders, and to how small a part provision the industry of one man could extend itself, and ingross itself to the prejudice of others. - John Locke

August 20th, 2005, 07:59 AM	#2
waustralia Registered One. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth Posts: 470 Likes (Received): 0	=( Worst replacement is CNR Murray & Barrack St. The blue roof building! Isnt that a cinema?

August 20th, 2005, 08:05 AM	#3
MIMICA Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,098 Likes (Received): 0	The new replacements all seem to be skyscrapers. I don’t see anything wrong with that.

August 20th, 2005, 10:37 AM	#9
A r c h i Render Monkey Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 5,789 Likes (Received): 11	I feel for Perth, the same sort of thing happened here in Melbourne. Great Victorian period buildings making way for crappy 60's, 70's skyscrapers or lowrise piles of crap is disgraceful.

August 21st, 2005, 02:04 PM	#12
Citystyle Watch my Chops Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perth, Posts: 5,248 Likes (Received): 42	From chrilaz89aus We still have a fair few i wouldjust like to see sthem act as facades on new scrapers. __________________ Sec. 31 But how far has he given it us? To enjoy. As much as anyone can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others. Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy. And thus considering the plenty of natural provisions there was a long time in the world, and the few spenders, and to how small a part provision the industry of one man could extend itself, and ingross itself to the prejudice of others. - John Locke

August 22nd, 2005, 02:03 AM	#13
comingsoon design critic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 601 Likes (Received): 0	Yeah, it's good that Hay St Mall was largely left alone. I always like to walk thru London Court when I visit. One day hopefully the 2 art deco cinemas along it will be reopened as well. 3 actually if you count the hidden Capri cinema. Can't let this pic go by without asking what people think of the Central Park skyscraper. I personally hate it because you they left the core sticking out of the top. Not classy. And not what it looked like in the original design at all. Originally the space frame bits were skyscraper. Maybe they ran out of money when they were building it, dunno. As for the Terrace, not one of these buildings survived. Thanks for the Hurley pic Cul. The reason the stunning CML building was knocked down was because a single dragon sculpture at the top came loose and fell off. As a crazy result the whole building was deemed a safety hazard and pulled down. I have loads of pictures of this building. One day I'll buy a scanner and post them.

August 21st, 2005, 02:06 PM	#14
Citystyle Watch my Chops Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perth, Posts: 5,248 Likes (Received): 42	Also with skyscrapers above head there would be no need for repulsive varanders in summer. __________________ Sec. 31 But how far has he given it us? To enjoy. As much as anyone can make use of to any advantage of life before it spoils, whatever is beyond this, is more than his share, and belongs to others. Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy. And thus considering the plenty of natural provisions there was a long time in the world, and the few spenders, and to how small a part provision the industry of one man could extend itself, and ingross itself to the prejudice of others. - John Locke

August 21st, 2005, 02:36 PM	#15
CULWULLA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46,864 Likes (Received): 32	Yes the Moir Chambers from 1894 was indeed a mistake to rip down. It was perths tallest at the time at 34m to cupola.Gorgeous piece of Vistorian architecture gone. Dont forgot the greatest highrise to be erected in Perth! the 1936 COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE BLDG. heres one of the greatest photos ever taken of Perth! from old AMP looking down St georges terrace at the tallest bldg for 2 decades!CML. this was pulled down for new offices, (does anyone have a pic?) The CML was 10storeys and 40m to roof (50m to LMR). __________________ Sydney Harbour Bridge -1932, Sydney Opera House- 1973, Sydney Tower- 1981, Crown Hotel- 2015..

August 21st, 2005, 09:53 PM	#16
rickster2k Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southampton Posts: 1,620 Likes (Received): 12	http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/wepon/arc...es/002377d.jpg ^ bit off topic but did Aus have Vauxhall before Holden (Vauxhall if i remember correctly were UK owned then bought out by GM, who kept the name - and Holden i presume was the same) or where they two seperate car makers - i had presumed Vauxhall was always just in the UK (Opel on the continent).

August 22nd, 2005, 01:21 AM	#17
CULWULLA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46,864 Likes (Received): 32	Just look at detail on CML. how on earth could perth council approve its demolishment?? Its first skyscraper . same happened to Melbournes APA and Sydneys CML.

August 22nd, 2005, 02:16 AM	#18
CULWULLA Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 46,864 Likes (Received): 32	^ gee they could of just refurbished the bldg if bits were falling off.I also understand the company wanted a larger office thus the site next door was amalgamatedinto new design. thanks comingsoon.

August 22nd, 2005, 11:34 AM	#20
comingsoon design critic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 601 Likes (Received): 0	Perth needed a Premier like Adelaide's Dunstan (spelling). He is the reason Adelaide still has its old buildings. In Perth sadly no such visionary was in power. Quite the opposite as it happens. The Charles Court Govt allowed all the demolitions to take place in the 60s and 70s. Then when Robert Holmes A Court was premier in the 90s he gave the go ahead for the Northbridge trench. Thanks for the legacy guys.

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