Mitchells Building
Joseph Mitchell, was born on 10 June 1829, just nine days after Stirling’s arrival at Fremantle and the first white baby born in the Swan River Colony. His parents were John Mitchell, who was a bugler in the 63rd Regiment, and Jane Mitchell, his wife. In 1867, now aged 38, Joseph Mitchell married Harriet Eliza Churchyard, who was responsible for Mitchell’s Buildings on William Street.
Harriet had buildings there before the current ones, and in 1910 the newspapers complained about the state of these. There were “seven one-storeyed shops, starting with a tea shop and finishing up at a boot emporiumâ€. These places, however, were so run down, said the press, they “should be wiped out of existenceâ€.
Either stung by this criticism, or perhaps the City of Perth was moved into action, the current Mitchells Buildings’ were designed for Mrs Mitchell by architect Louis Bowser Cumpston, who also drew up the plans for the Ocean Beach Hotel.
Extensive renovation and restorations were undertaken on the building as part of the 140 William Street project. When the development took place, the façade was removed, stored, and re-erected in front of a new building. Today, the newly restored Mitchell’s Building is home to a branch of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain.
Mitchell’s Buildings, a two-storey brick and stucco building, was constructed in 1912-13 for owner Harriet Mitchell. The building originally comprised four retail premises at ground floor level and offices at first floor level and replaced an earlier row of buildings, also owned by Mrs Mitchell.
Joseph Mitchell, was born on 10 June 1829, just nine days after Stirling’s arrival at Fremantle and the first white baby born in the Swan River Colony. His parents were John Mitchell, who was a bugler in the 63rd Regiment, and Jane Mitchell, his wife. In 1867, now aged 38, Joseph Mitchell married Harriet Eliza Churchyard, who was responsible for Mitchell’s Buildings on William Street.
The site where Mitchell’s Buildings are located, was originally granted to John Mitchell in 1837. After his death in 1868, his estate was granted to his widow Jane. Their eldest son Joseph inherited the site after Jane’s death in 1878. And in 1886, after Joseph died, it was inherited by his widow, Harriet Mitchell.
By the early 1900s, various shop buildings had been constructed along Harriet’s William Street frontage, for businesses such as Breckler Brothers boot manufacturers, B. Roffman & Co. picture frame manufacturers, hairdresser Joseph Lacerda and fruiterer Nathan Mazo.
In 1910 the newspapers complained about the state of these shops. There were “seven one-storeyed shops, starting with a tea shop and finishing up at a boot emporiumâ€. These places, however, were so run down, said the press, they “should be wiped out of existenceâ€. Perhaps Mrs Mitchell was stung by this criticism, since the current Mitchell’s Buildings were designed by architect Louis Bowser Cumpston, who also drew up the plans for the Ocean Beach Hotel.
A list of early tenants of Mitchell’s Buildings in 1914 included: A Krakour, wine saloon; B. Roffman & Co, picture framers; Breckler Shoe Stores; and, Joseph Lacerda, tobacconist and fishing tackle in the ground floor retail premises. At first floor level were the offices of: WD Campbell, quality surveyor; an employment office; L. Bowser Cumpston, the architect of the building; JA Halls, music teacher; Brown, Clinch & Co. auctioneers and agents; agents Cleland & Co.; and estate agent Alfred N. Geeve.
After World War II, retail and commercial tenancies in areas such as William and Wellington Streets went into a decline. This was the primarily the result of the decentralisation of Perth, which saw the relocation of industries such as retail and wholesale to new suburban areas, the pedestrianisation of Murray and Hay Streets and Forrest Chase to draw consumers into this tighter retail centre, and the redevelopment of the cityscape to form large office blocks thus encouraging use of larger, modern spaces.
A proposal for the conversion of the first floor of Mitchell’s Buildings into a boarding house was made to the City of Perth in 1996, but these plans did not eventuate. Extensive renovation and restorations were undertaken on the building as part of the 140 William Street project. When the development took place, the façade was removed, stored, and re-erected in front of a new building. Today, the newly restored Mitchell’s Building is home to a branch of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain.