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Desborough House
Desborough House, 51 Havelock Street, West Perth, corner of Hay Street, is one of Austin Bastow's greatest designs. Built for real estate agent Henry Laslett in 1903, by the 1920s it was used as a boarding house. It was later converted to offices (with an air-conditioner in each window). In 2002, it is for sale as a 'prime development site', and is not heritage listed by the State Heritage Office or any other body.
Museum of Perth:
DESBOROUGH HOUSE: Another day - another demolition. This time the 123 year old Desborough House, Hay Street West Perth is due to be demolished... and apparently the State Government's Heritage Council and Minister David Templeman MLA do not believe the property warrants assessment - let alone protection. Don't believe us? Read for yourself.
The destruction never seems to end in this City.
New residences erected on the corner of Hay Street and Havelock Street in West Perth circa 1903. This building was erected by Henry Laslett, designed by architect Austin Bastow and built by Henry Bentley. Each residence contained nine living rooms, conveniences, and stabling. The drawing room and dining room were connected by folding doors so that they could be opened to create one large room. The tower on the corner stands 52 feet above the footpath and was designed to "afford coolness and ventilation." "From the spacious balconies, more particularly that of the corner house which is returned round the Havelock-street frontage, a charming view is obtainable of the west of the city, the river Swan, the distant hills of the Darling Range forming a delightful picture." This building (located at 1161 Hay Street is still standing today (minus the balconies). Western Mail; 30 May 1903; Page 28."
Cheryl Fletcher:
In 1916 there was a magnificent two level verandah, stretching around this building, and the whole building was natural brick. The verandah matched the front walls, very elaborate. The front garden wall was still natural brick in 1982 and is now white in 2014 also there was a tiled awning over the lower windows, Hay st, side, which has now been removed. (In 1921 "William" the Galah was lost from Desborough House.) It was run as a Lodging House 1921-1949 by Miss J. Taylor.
Subiaco Post:
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References and Links
Budiharjo, Nadia, 2022, 'Wrecking ball looms for West Perth landmark', Business News. "A mystery proposal has emerged to demolish the 123-year-old house in West Perth, which the Heritage Council claims does not warrant protection."
Carew-Reid, Andrew 1976. 'Many changes for old home', The West Australian, North Suburban news, 8 Dec. 1978, p. 4, newspaper on microfilm, Battye Library, .b19080050. Sketch, photograph and brief history of Desborough House, corner of Hay and Havelock Streets, West Perth.
Heritage Council page: "does not warrant assessment".
This page incorporates material from Garry Gillard's Freotopia website, that he started in 2014 and the contents of which he donated to Wikimedia Australia in 2024. The content was originally hosted at freotopia.org/buildings/desborough.html, and has been edited since it was imported here (see page history). The donated data is also preserved in the Internet Archive's collection.