Perth is well known for its interesting small shops, many of which feature very important examples of historic signage, mosaics, cast ironwork, glazing and joinery in their shop fronts. Perth City Heritage Fund can assist local businesses in repairing these historic shop fronts or, where they have been removed, putting back more appropriate traditional frontages. Some examples are below.
Oxfam Books and Music, South Street
A grant was given to Oxfam Books and Music to replace their fully glazed 1970’s shop front with a traditional design which is in keeping with the age of the building.
“We upgraded our historic shopfront in 2014 with the help of a grant from the Perth City Heritage Fund. Now we can put a proper display of books in the window and are always getting compliments about the shop’s new appearance. We’ve had nothing but good comments.” – Walter Lindsay, Manager, Oxfam Books and Music
The Courier, 27 George Street
George Street is one of Perth’s top shopping streets and has a high number of listed buildings with many original shop fronts. PCHF heard that the local office of the Courier newspaper was proposing to re-locate to a relatively undistinguished shop unit in George Street and approached their architects to encourage a reinstatement and uncovering of the original Victorian shopfront and fascia. Following the works the frontage now has its door in the centre and a decent plain timber fascia and thus sits far more comfortably with its neighbours.
