Part of a series of posts by Neil Cownie on The Future of Swanbourne Village

The former Swanbourne Hotel (Inter-War Art Deco) was located on the corner of Claremont Crescent and Franklin Street, now the site of ‘The Beaumont’ aged care building.

The loss of the Hotel is unfortunate for the local community as it previously provided a place for the community to gather. While there was always an issue of noise from the pub affecting the neighbours, the pub was very popular, particularly for ‘Sunday Sessions’. If only it was still there!

Perth has lost many of its old hotels, including; the Shenton Park Hotel (now a Retirement Home), the Coronado Hotel (now a medical centre), the Mosman Park Hotel (now apartments), the Rose Hotel (now apartments and a medical centre), the Globe Hotel (now a back packers hostel), the Fitzgerald Hotel (now professional offices), the Federal Hotel, and the North Perth Hotel (now a petrol station).

From the State Heritage WA website; Architects Marshall Clifton and Reginald Summerhayes, working in association, designed the Swanbourne Hotel, The Civic in Inglewood, and the Coronado Hotel in Claremont, all completed in 1940.

The three buildings reveal particular variations within the Inter-War Functionalist style. This can be attributed to the design preferences of the architects, and the fact that they were designed at the very end of the decade. The design of horizontal and vertical forms reflects the increasing influence of European examples such as the work of French architect Le Corbusier, the German Bauhaus and Dutch Cubism. All three hotels were built along traditional lines, with pitched tiled roofs partially hidden behind a modern parapet wall.

What amazes me is the complete lack of any reference to the fact that this hotel previously existed at that site. The design of the new development on that site paid no respect to the location or history of the area, choosing instead to imitate an overgrown ‘federation’ house.

Let’s not make this same mistake again. The historic location of the existing ‘Swanbourne Village’ bridge needs to continue to have relevance. Do not allow MRWA to sweep away these connections from our heritage with their proposals to demolish the existing bridge.

Photos from State Library WA, The Grove Library and the Daily News 12 Nov 1940 (at the time the hotel was opened).

Go back to the The Future of Swanbourne Village

The Bridging Communities Series