Perth Government Stores (fmr) (Department of Mines, Murray House)
When the Government Stores opened on Murray Street in 1911 it proved controversial with Fremantle residents. As the name suggests, Government Stores was a warehouse where some state-owned goods were held for use by the government, including stationery, as well as offices in charge of distributing these goods.
The site of the Government Stores had been the ‘Old Women’s Home’. The residents were transferred to the former Lunatic Asylum at Fremantle (today the Fremantle Arts Centre), which had been disused since the new Claremont Mental Hospital opened in 1909. In March 1910, plans were drawn up for the Government Stores by the Public Works Department (PWD), whose chief architect was Hillson Beasley.
In 1919, plans were drawn up for the conversion of the Murray Street Stores for use by the Education Department and Mines Department. The ground floor was partitioned to provide office accommodation, a classroom for correspondence classes, and a library for the Education Department. The stationery store was divided for accountants, staff and records department for Mines. The first floor was likewise redeveloped for a new role.
After World War II, many further alterations were made to Perth Government Stores, although the basement was little changed and eventually became disused. In 1985, the Communicable Diseases Control Centre took over the building, before the Stores were once again converted for use by the Inner City Mental Health Service.
When the Government Stores opened on Murray Street in 1911 it proved controversial with Fremantle residents. As the name suggests, Government Stores was a warehouse where some state-owned goods were held for use by the government, including stationery, as well as offices in charge of distributing these goods. Before this building was erected, the Government Stores had been in Fremantle and it was believed by some that the port city was a more appropriate place for such a building.
The site of the Government Stores had been the ‘Old Women’s Home’. The residents were transferred to the former Lunatic Asylum at Fremantle (today the Fremantle Arts Centre), which had been disused since the new Claremont Mental Hospital opened in 1909. In March 1910, plans were drawn up for the Government Stores by the Public Works Department (PWD), whose chief architect was Hillson Beasley. Beasley had travelled to Western Australia during the gold boom period, found employment as a draughtsman in the PWD, and proved his ability so well he became Chief Draughtsman, then Chief Architect in 1905.
Government Stores is a two-storey brick and Donnybrook sandstone building designed in the Federation Free Classical style with the front façade having elements of the Georgian style. Inside there was a large basement, and the ground floor had a bulk store and a stationery store, as well as offices. The first floor had a large boardroom, sample rooms and further offices. The date ‘1910’ is on the front, above lettering reading ‘W. A. GOVERNMENT STORES’.
However, some residents of Fremantle saw the new building as a betrayal, since the previous Stores had been in the port city. Previous governments had repeatedly promised that any new Stores would continue to be located in North Fremantle, and now the previous building lay empty as politicians congratulated each other on the beauty of the Murray Street building. Its new location was seen as the government favouring Perth over the employment needs of Fremantle.
In 1919, plans were drawn up for the conversion of the Murray Street Stores for use by the Education Department and Mines Department. The ground floor was partitioned to provide office accommodation, a classroom for correspondence classes, and a library for the Education Department. The stationery store was divided for accountants, staff and records department for Mines. The first floor was likewise redeveloped for a new role.
After World War II, many further alterations were made to Perth Government Stores, although the basement was little changed and eventually became disused. In 1985, the Communicable Diseases Control Centre took over the building, before the Stores were once again converted for use by the Inner City Mental Health Service. Today it remains an impressive
West Australian 17 August 1910
West Australian 4 August 1911
Golden Gate 5 August 1911