The Fitzgerald Hotel closed in 1984 after a long and sometimes troubled life with high and low points.

It was originally known as the Clarendon Hotel and began life in 1885 as a small modest structure to cater to the needs of the young and expanding Perth City, which was moving north wards to Woodvale (current day North Perth) and Leeder (current day Leederville).

The current structure which sits proudly on the corner Fitzgerald and John Street, Northbridge dates from the middle of the 1920’s and is an example of pre World War Two architecture which is common in Perth.

In the mid 1980’s, the building was earmarked for demolition so as to accommodate the widening of Fitzgerald Street, which had become a major traffic artery to and from the city. However, the demolish did not occur promptly and the building lay abandoned and derelict for a 4 year period, before it was eventually sold to new owners, the Fini Group who had also purchased the Old City of Perth – maintenance stores across the road, which became St James Estate.

The new owners enlisted the support of the Heritage Council of Western Australia and others to have the demolish order removed, so as to conserve and redevelop the existing building. Lengthy and sometimes heated negotiations took place between many parties but ultimately the negotiations resulted in the building being saved.

What remains on the corner of John and Fitzgerald Street is a building with the majority of its external façade and main interior spaces intact. Since renovation, the building has been used primarily as office space and design studios for a number of boutique companies.

Further Read [The Heritage Report]