Bon Marche Arcade
Bon Marché Arcade was one of the most imposing buildings on Barrack Street, and has had a long history under three different names. Opening as Stein’s Buildings in 1895, the site was owned by ex-convict Bernard Stein. He had been convicted of larceny and transported to the Swan River Colony in 1867, eventually becoming a successful bookseller which enabled him to finance Stein’s Buildings on Barrack Street.
In 1899, William Gordon Brookman acquired Stein’s Buildings and renamed them the Brookman Buildings. Brookman, who was born near Adelaide, had made his fortune in gold at Kalgoorlie. New buildings were erected in sections, to minimise the inconvenience to those paying rent there. Three storeys were built at the rear, with an additional storey added to added to the existing building on Barrack Street.
In the first decades of the 20th century Barrack Street was a lively thriving part of the city, so it was no surprise when Bon Marché, a department store, decided to buy Brookman’s Building in 1919 to link it to its existing store which ran from Hay Street to Murray Street. Bon Marché extended the rear of Brookman’s Building, making the whole store T-shaped.
In 1954, the department store David Jones took over Bon Marché Ltd and rebranded it as a David Jones, and in 1962 the Barrack Street building was obtained by the University of Western Australia. A series of redevelopments took place in the 1970s and 1980s, some of which proved controversial. Today, Bon Marché Arcade continues in use as shops and offices and remains a key landmark on Barrack Street.
Bon Marché Arcade was one of the most imposing buildings on Barrack Street, and has had a long history under three different names. Opening as Stein’s Buildings in 1895, the site was owned by ex-convict Bernard Stein. He had been convicted of larceny and transported to the Swan River Colony in 1867. Although he obtained his ticket-of-leave, and took up working as a bookbinder, tutor and tailor, in 1874 he attempted escape by walking to Adelaide. Eventually, he was granted a conditional pardon, and became a successful book seller in Perth. This enabled him to finance Stein’s Buildings on Barrack Street.
Following the gold boom of the 1890s, land in the city centre became increasingly valuable and so changed hands to new developers and speculators. In 1899, William Gordon Brookman acquired Stein’s Buildings. Brookman, who was born near Adelaide, had made his fortune in gold at Kalgoorlie before moving into the property business and becoming a Member of the Legislative Council.
He arranged a major redevelopment of Stein’s Buildings, now renamed Brookman’s Building, but did not want to lose the existing tenants. The project, planned by architect HJ Procter, erected the new buildings in sections to minimise the inconvenience to the tenants. Three storeys were built at the rear, with an additional storey added to added to the existing building on Barrack Street. The new façade was red brick with cement dressings, finished with an ornate parapet and pediment.
The main entrance was from Barrack Street through an archway with circular plate glass windows on either side into a wide corridor, floored with tessellated tiles. As an up-to-date building, it had a hydraulic lift, and lavatories. When finished in 1901, Brookman’s Building had two shops and fifty offices. As most other buildings in Barrack Street at this period were of one or two storeys, Brookman’s Building was a notable landmark in Barrack Street.
In the first decades of the 20th century Barrack Street was a lively thriving part of the city, so it was no surprise when Bon Marché, a department store, decided to buy Brookman’s Building in 1919 to link it to its existing store which ran from Hay Street to Murray Street. Bon Marché extended the rear of Brookman’s Building, making the whole store T-shaped. The Barrack Street front was pulled out and replaced with show windows and the advantages of having a store with three entrances from Perth’s principal streets was very attractive.
In 1954, department store David Jones took over Bon Marché Ltd and rebranded it as a David Jones, and in 1962 the building was purchased by the University of Western Australia. A series of redevelopments took place in the 1970s and 1980s, some of which proved controversial.
Towards the end of the 20th century, suburban shopping centres attracted business awayfrom the centre of Perth. The creation of Hay Street Mall and Murray Street Mall drew shoppers there, and the surrounding streets saw less business. With the closure and demolition of David Jones Hay Street store, pedestrian traffic through Bon Marché Arcade ceased, and the place was little frequented.
Today, Bon Marché Arcade continues in use as shops and offices and remains a key landmark on Barrack Street.
Daily News 9 October 1895
Australian 9 November 1900
Daily News 1 September 1919