Outram Street Terraces (Kent VilOutram Street Terraces (Kent Villa, Heimath, Echuca, Wainera, Janey’s Supper House Cafe, Office, Restaurant)
This row of single-storey houses is a reminder of time when West Perth was one of the most prestigious suburbs in the city. At the turn of the 20th century, its closeness to the city centre and its elevated position meant many prominent people chose West Perth as their home. The Outram Street Terrace was built in 1904 as an investment property to capitalise on the local demand for housing.
One feature of the original residences was that each house had a name, except for No. 76, whose name is not recorded. The largest house, on the corner with a turret, was No. 74, and was known as ‘Kent Villa’. The names of the others were Echuca (No. 78), Heimath (No. 80) and Wainera (No. 82). A 1953 sewerage plan showing lavatories and basic laundry facilities in the backyard and basic bathrooms on the back verandahs.
The terrace continued to be leased as individual residences until 1969 when the property was transferred to entrepreneur Frank Baden-Powell. The terrace now became the site of one of West Perth’s first late night coffee houses, Janey’s. West Perth was changing from a residential suburb to an extension of the CBD with the buildings used for offices and eating establishments.
Today, the Outram Street Terraces continue to operate as business premises as a mixture of dining and office space, while still providing a link to West Perth’s residential past.
This row of single-storey houses is a reminder of time when West Perth was one of the most prestigious suburbs in the city. At the turn of the 20th century, its closeness to the city centre and its elevated position meant many prominent people chose West Perth as their home. The Outram Street Terrace was built in 1904 as an investment property to capitalise on the local demand for housing.
Philip Cantor was a solicitor with the prominent Perth firm of George Leake and Associates. He took out a mortgage with the Union Bank of Australia and erected a row of five house. The first tenants of Outram Street Terraces were a civil servant, an engineer, a warehouseman and Louisa Patterson, whose occupation was not listed. It appears the tenants were mostly middle-class people, as was common in West Perth.
One feature of the original residences was that each house had a name, except for No. 76, whose name is not recorded. The largest house, on the corner with a turret, was No. 74, and was known as ‘Kent Villa’. The names of the others were Echuca (No. 78), Heimath (No. 80) and Wainera (No. 82). A 1953 sewerage plan showing lavatories and basic laundry facilities in the backyard and basic bathrooms on the back verandahs.
The terraces were consistently occupied throughout the early decades of the century. Only a few years show any vacancies, and often tenants stayed for five to ten years. Of course, others changed rapidly, but occupancy stayed high. The terrace continued to be leased as individual residences until 1969 when the property was transferred to entrepreneur Frank Baden-Powell. The terrace now became the site of one of West Perth’s first late night coffee
houses, Janey’s. West Perth was changing from a residential suburb to an extension of the CBD with the buildings used for offices and eating establishments.
In 1978, Nos. 78 and 80 were converted to restaurant premises to be called ‘The Olive Tree’, and although now located elsewhere, the name continues toto be used for a restaurant today. By 1983, a substantial awning for ‘The Olive Tree’ provided an alfresco dining space.
Today, the Outram Street Terraces continue to operate as business premises as a mixture of dining and office space, while still providing a link to West Perth’s residential past.