Building & Architecture
This guide is intended to show starting points for research into buildings and structures and to help formulate a search strategy. It will outline material available in the Battye Library and the State Records Office on this subject.
Published Information
Published items may be found by using our catalogues and indexes. Suggested subject headings are:
- Architecture
- Architect's name
- Place name – Name of building
- Place name – Name of street
- Historic sites – Place name
- Types of buildings eg schools
- National Trust of Australia
- Heritage Council of Western Australia
Also try local histories or general books about architecture.
Plans
In general, very few plans of private dwellings have survived. However, plans of the building you are researching or a similar building may be found using the following:
- Online Catalogue – see heading ARCHITECTURAL PLANS for a list of headings used to indicate plans in this catalogue.
- Cartographic Notes (CN) – lists of maps in series. See the index under ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND DRAWINGS.
- Real Estate Plans (CN 1,2,3,60,142,156) – lists of real estate plans which may include pictures and plans of houses and details of fixtures on the block. Helpful for a ‘representative’ house of an area.
- Local Government Records* - see indexes to Archive Notes, the Series Registration System or the AEON database for listings of records held by the State Records Office. These records may include original plans and/or plans of alterations as well as rate books. Apply to the appropriate local government authority for records not held. Public Works Dept. Card Index of Plans* – for plans of public buildings. Search under PLACE NAME – Name of Building, and under subjects eg HOUSING.
- Water Authority Plans (AN134, WAA8*) - for sewerage plans showing details of the site.
- Railway Plan Card Index, (AN260, WAA7*) - for plans of railway structures including houses, bridges and stations.
- War Service Land Settlement (AN3/WAR/1-2*)
- Homeswest (State Housing Commission) (AN150)* - for construction files and site plans.
- Workers Home Board (AN150/2*)
- Education Dept (AN45, WAA12, Schools Index - microfiche)* - for buildings and works files on schools. Some ‘assisted schools’ files include site plans which accurately show the position of houses in the vicinity.
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Dates
In the absence of a dated plan try:
- Rates books *(original and microfilm) of the local government authority
- Post Office Directories Town Section 1893-1949.
- Building and construction 1927-1978 (690 BUI) lists dates and details of applications for building permits.
- Government Gazettes give details of government tenders.
- The Development of Western Australian Houses, 1829-1980 (PR 10126/6) may help you approximate date by the style of the building.
Use the photograph indexes and the online catalogue to locate photographs of a building. Suggested subject headings:
- Place name – Name of building
- Place name – Name of street
- Personal names (The building may be in the background)
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Land
See our information guide: Land.
Other General References
Books
- Western heritage: a study of colonial architecture of Perth Ray and John Oldham (Q720.9 OLD)
- Looking around Perth: a guide to the architecture of Perth and surrounding towns Ian Molyneux (Q720.9941 MOL)
- Western towns and buildings (720.9941 WES)
Serials
- The Architect 1939- (720.9941 ARC)
- Building and Construction 1927-1978 (690 BUI)
Please note:
Material marked with an *asterisk is available in the State Records Office Search Room on the ground floor of the Alexander Library Building.
Page last updated: Thursday 1 September 2011
