Empire Buildings
The buildings were constructed in 1912, and once comprised a group of shops and a cinema. The buildings have elements of Federation Free Style architectural design such as asymmetry and use of two contrasting building materials of brick and cement render.
Replacing a single storied bungalow structure that faced York Street, the Empire theatre was designed by architect Tom Anthoness and was built by J. Ashman and Warner. Initially the building held a theatre and shops. The theatre was able to hold 1,000 people. The theatre cost £5,000 and was owned and operated by West's Picture Company. It boasted refreshment stalls, a winter garden for ladies and a spacious dress circle.
Features of the two storey building include a corner entrance, asymmetrical facade, parapet wall concealing roof, informal groupings of windows, gabled pediment and decorative skyline features.
In 2000 a portion of the building was converted to a nightclub. It was closed for some time and reopened to include a bar on the ground floor in 2006.
See also
References
- ^ "Empire Buildings". Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "City of Albany Municipal Heritage Inventory Review Volume III of IV" (PDF). City of Albany. 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "The Advertiser". Albany Advertiser. Vol. XXIV, no. 3097. Western Australia. 26 October 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 15 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Princess Pavilion". WA Cinemaweb. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Albany council approves nightclub re-opening". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2016.