Atlas Building

Atlas Building is a four-storey building, with a basement, constructed in the Inter-War Free Classical style in 1930-31. It opened on 28 April 1931, to provide office and leasing space for the Atlas Assurance Company and its tenants. The Atlas Company was a successful insurance company founded in Britain in 1808, with branches in other countries where demand necessitated. Their building in Perth was designed by Mr. F. G. B Hawkins, architect, and was erected at an approximate cost of £30,000.

At the opening ceremony of the Atlas Building, the Governor made particular mention that although Perth was experiencing difficult times, there was still some progress:

’ … In spite of the fact that we are not suffering from affluence, buildings continue to go up. This is the third occasion recently upon which I have been privileged to declare a fine new building open.’

Atlas Building, which was constructed by contractors, Messrs. Todd Bros., employed up-to-date fire proofing construction techniques with the most modern firefighting appliances being installed on each floor. In fact, the flat roof was designed as such so as to allow firemen to fight fires in adjoining buildings. All windows were steel framed and strongrooms were provided for all suites. Natural lighting was a conspicuous feature, with about 75% of the outside walls being occupied by windows.

The detailed description of the facade provided in the West Australian illustrates the innovative design and decorative use of materials: ‘

‘The whole of the facade, with the exception of the steel windows, is a Wunderlich production. It is faced with Wunderlich architectural terra cotta of a graduated salmon brown tone, mottled with black and white with a tooled surface, with an attractive matt semi-glaze finish. The company’s emblem is also modelled and produced in architectural terra cotta, with a nice ivory finish, the figure supporting the globe, being heavy sheet copper. Wunderlich architectural terra cotta of modern design has also been used by the architect for the dadoes and panelling to the entrance halls and corridors. … The massive bronze entrance doors, 9 feet wide, by 16 feet high, sheathed and studded, the bronze grills, the lift cage, the mail box, the bronze lift doors, the ornamental copper cornice, and the attractive spandrel panels are also of Wunderlich manufacture. Another interesting feature is the Wunderlich Wunderglaze, a new process of window treatment in copper electro-glazing.’

The involvement of the Wunderlich Ltd company features prominently with regards to the materials chosen in the building’s construction and decoration. Founded and based in Sydney 1887, Wunderlich Ltd. had branches Australia-wide company, with branches also in New Zealand and the Far East. They specialised in the importation and subsequently manufacture of roof tiles and decorative metal materials for use in ceilings, walls etc. In the Atlas Building, the use of architectural terracotta was an important design element. The introduction of steel framed buildings and electric lifts (in 1923) had seen the rapid development of city centres in most states.

During construction, the architect made a feature of the utilising local labour and Australian-made products, the majority of which were also Western Australian. Electric lighting and power was installed by L. H. Deague and Co. Ltd, and main feature of the system being the switchboard which used highly polished Zelemite, an Australian product. Other firms involved in the construction were: Arcus Ltd. who were responsible for the door fittings which involved the incorporation of a figure of Atlas into the door knobs; Messrs. A. T. Brine and Sons ; the glazing was done by Clarkson Ltd and the fire doors, steel cabinets and shelving by Wormold Bros.

Atlas Building 1931, Courtesy of State Library WA

Surmounting the facade was a life-size figure of Atlas supporting the globe. This was also modelled in Architectural TerraCotta and finished in an ivory colour, the globe being of sheet copper. In 1968, Frederick McCardell was commissioned by the Atlas Assurance Co. to design a new roof for the building. Resulting from this, in February 1969, the builders reported that one of the arms of the statue of Atlas was loose and as the company did not wish to repair the statue, it was removed and taken into possession by the architect. The Atlas Assurance Company was the main tenant, occupying the ground floor, until they sold the building and the name of the building was changed to the Phoenix Building. The ground floor and the office space has been leased to a variety of professional firms, mainly insurance agents and solicitors and architects.

Minor alterations have been carried out on the third floor in recent years to accommodate modern office requirements and a side entrance has been closed. Today, there are tenants on each floor, though the building is not occupied to full capacity.

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