The Story of the Cremorne Arcade

Cremorne Arcade, Carabiner Architects studio
November 2006 to present

*Cremorne Arcade, 1965. Image credit: State Library of Western Australia*

As Architects who design and deliver public buildings, we remain aware of current and emerging construction styles, as well as appreciating the heritage fabrics of the past, and their contribution to shaping of place and local history.

Our own office, ‘Cremorne Arcade’ located at 572 Hay Street Perth, has a story to tell.

Built in 1897 during Perth’s Goldrush boom, ‘Cremorne Arcade’ is a two storey Federation Free Classical style building with much of the original façade character intact, including decorative pediments, battlement parapet and chimneys.

The Arcade was used as an entry way, and is now all that remains of what was originally a much larger property, Cremorne Hotel, Theatre and Picture Gardens, a substantial block spanning between Murray and Hay Street (or Howick street, as it was then known).

The Cremorne Hotel (a colonial building established in 1851) was originally trading as the Horse and Groom, facing out onto Murray Street, featuring a saloon, lockup coach and gig house and large ballroom. The Hotel changed hands numerous times after the passing of the original licensee George Haysom in 1868, seemingly plagued by bad luck and tragedy with the concurrent deaths of three of its successive publicans up until 1892.

In 1894, the Perth Gas Company began operating the state’s first significant power station in nearby Wellington Street, and the venue was one of the first adopters of direct current power for electric lighting, a point that was broadly advertised within local papers.

Redevelopment and Expansion of the Site

A flurry of pubs and inns would come and go as urban growth continued, with the Hotel and abutting lands eventually being purchased by Mrs Annie Oliver in April 1895. Mrs Oliver, a widow, and a business woman ahead of her time, would substantially redevelop the land, and would turn the site into one of the most successful entertainment venues in Perth’s early history.

Oliver was inspired by successful outdoor entertainment venues in London, and desired to recreate the site in the image of refinement and class.

George R Johnson (1840-98), an architect who had by then established his reputation for designing and erecting theatres throughout the colonies, had been given the commission to provide the architectural plans for both the garden and the hotel, and designed the various additions and alterations as instructed by Oliver including the garden, and the Cremorne Arcade (as a more stately entrance). The construction work was undertaken by the Bunning Brothers.

Cinema garden with bandstand gazebo

Garden, colourised. Painted landscapes visible

Cinema with screen on rear wall

A Golden Age of Cinema

On Christmas Eve, 1895, the Garden’s had its Grand Opening, and would be best described as an open air outdoor theatre, comprised of latticed kiosks, a fountain, a band rotunda, palms, rockeries and high surrounding walls painted with panoramic scenery of Australian landmarks. Areas were separated off for private parties enjoyed by Perth’s upper crust, their faces illuminated by fairy light.

In 1896 Cremorne Gardens was the second venue in Perth to present film, a miraculous modern marvel of the time.

Summer programs included Saturday matinees, and evening showings of short pictures distributed by the Lumiere Company, including “Grand Steeplechase”, “Buckjumping horse”, “Arrival of a train at a station”, “A Game of Cards” and glimpses from exotic places far away.

The Gardens adjoined the bungalow veranda of the hotel saloon bar. When pictures were not screened, the stage returned to lively vaudeville shows with refreshments served by waitstaff in evening dress, many of which were finding their own way amongst this young and bustling city.

Some four months after opening the Gardens, Oliver began construction of an enclosed theatre on the site, opening on 25 June as the Cremorne Theatre. Oliver originally managed the business herself, but due to bouts of ill health, chose to instead lease use of the property, which brought in a range of musical acts. Oliver would sell the theatre in 1896 due to ongoing health concerns, retaining ownership of the hotel.

Even within the cultural climate of the time, Mrs Oliver’s entrepreneurial spirit was well recognised, with an excerpt from the Western Mail, Friday 10 December 1897 commenting:
“WHEN a full and complete history of this great and glorious colony shall be truly written it will contain among its names to be remembered and handed down to posterity that of Mrs. A. Oliver, the originator in this colony of that high class of entertainment with which one becomes familiar on the Continent, but which was unknown on these shores until Mrs. Oliver took possession, about three years ago, of the old-time hostelry then known as the Horse and Groom, but which now exists under the more euphonious title of Cremorne. This favourite place of resort has since changed hands, but it would be scarcely fair to deal with the Gardens as they now stand without paying a slight tribute to the lady whose enterprise and energy and capable censorship resulted in the conversion of a positive eyesore into a perfect beauty spot on the face of our capital city. When Mrs. Oliver took over the old Horse and Groom Hotel and grounds, the latter were but a series of backyards, not particularly clean and inviting, and the amount of trouble and expense involved in bringing about the transformation which has taken place can be readily imagined.”

Wrote The Leader in 1898 "... during long, sultry summer evenings a string orchestra discourses sweet music, and concerts are held nightly by the best talents to be found in the colonies. The Governor and suite, judges, the Premier and Ministers of the Crown with their wives and families are usually seen there on Friday evenings, the fixed fashionable night.”

Cremorne Gardens was the place to be, and rebranded itself numerous times, finally as the Cremorne Theatre and Palace Gardens, closing with the onset of World War 1 in 1914. By that time, the venue was showing vaudeville, pantomime and musical acts only - as purpose built cinemas had been established in competition. In 1916 the saloon and gardens provided returned servicemen with free meals and entertainment with film shows. The Cremorne enjoyed a brief revival in 1917-1918 as the war drew to a close.

During the early 1900’s, Annie Oliver would join the Baptist Church, with its chapter located in nearby Museum Street, and would eventually give up the hotel trade, in deference to strict religious beliefs regarding consumption of alcohol. She would become a generous benefactor of the YMCA, and would eventually sell the hotel to the organisation, with the premises becoming the YMCA’s Perth Headquarters. Annie would pass away from diabetes in 1921, and was widely applauded for her pious donations and generosity of spirit.

Left: Hotel facade after possession of the YMCA, returned soldiers served in the hotel saloon.

Cremorne Arcade – Modern History

From 1901, the Cremorne Arcade (itself a substantial commercial space with downstairs shopfronts) served a variety of purposes. This included a business premise for Charles Harper, a trained musician and eventual musical director of Cremorne Gardens (later becoming Perth’s Lord Major from 1937-39), a dance hall (upper floor), billiard saloon (basement level) and public entertainment space for parlour game tournaments. The building underwent redevelopment in 1928-1930.

One newspaper in 1931 (left) would report on the public spectacle that arose one night after a would-be thief smashed large glass skylights within the Arcade to gain entry, and was chased across the rooftops by several policemen. He would later be found hiding within one of the storerooms of the upper floor of the Bon Marché Arcade (a nearby printing works of the same period) and charged with ‘unlawful possession of a pair of slippers’.

Since this time, the Cremorne Arcade has held many functions, from a bookstore, tenanted accommodations, home of the Young Australia League in the 1940’s (a youth league later connected with the WA Football Association), a TAB, and café. In 1980 it became a continental store - selling biscuits, cakes, chocolates and sweets. By this time, the Arcade sat within the epicentre of a growing retail and business district.

The Arcade had a number of occupants over the years, eventually becoming a McDonalds restaurant, taking up the basement levels and ground floor from August 1986 (whereby the building was significantly renovated) until 2006, with a Pizza Hut also operating upstairs on the first floor throughout the 1990’s.

Whilst now only the Cremorne Arcade remains, Carabiner appreciate the history within these walls, and see heritage as an opportunity, not a hinderance, and ensure our heritage projects (such as Subiaco Arts Centre, and WA Ballet Company Headquarters in Maylands WA) align with the emerging needs of our clients, while respecting the stories told before.

Image credits:
State Library of WA
Australian Museum of Motion Pictures and Television