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Chipper Funerals - Elysian Subiaco
Donald J. Chipper & Son (later Chipper Funerals) was one of Western Australia’s oldest funeral-directing families. Originally located at 1023-1025 Hay Street East Perth, the Chipper firm relocated to Subiaco during the 1960s, to make way for the construction of the new Mitchell Freeway.
It was at 385 Rokeby Road where the family business established a landmark funeral parlour and it remained a local fixture for decades. The business was run by successive generations of the Chipper family and in later years, merged with Purslowe to become Purslowe & Chipper.
Whilst still remaining in Subiaco, they've since relocated to 33 Townshend Road, although they have eight other locations around the Perth metro area.
Donald John Chipper
Born in 1868, Chipper (grandson of John, one of the first settlers in the Swan River colony) received his education at the Old Perth Boys’ School before beginning an apprenticeship with John Summers in 1884 which combined coach-building, wheelwrighting and undertaking. By 1889, he had established his own business on Murray Street, offering all three trades under one roof. In 1892, the enterprise shifted its focus exclusively to funerals and five years later, a purpose-built premises was opened on Hay Street. The company’s growth continued with new branches established in Claremont and Subiaco, with plans for further branches in Leederville and Victoria Park.
Donald J. Chipper quickly earned a reputation for setting some of the highest standards in the industry. His careful attention to detail, professional conduct and personal approach to every client were frequently praised and it’s little surprise his business went on to thrive.
Chipper married Florence Edith Lima Maude in a ceremony at St Georges Cathedral on 25 September 1889. They would go on to have four children, including son Donald John Jnr, who didn’t take responsibility for his father’s funeral businesses until years after his death.
Whilst onboard the steamer Katoomba on 13 March 1917, Chipper, who’d been travelling with Florence enroute from Albany to Fremantle, passed away. Aged 49, his death was described as sudden but due to natural causes, although he hadn’t been well for some time.
September 2021
Continuing the Chipper Business
Florence continued to run the Chipper business for the next ten years with her son-in-law, Stanley Johnstone. The move to 1023–1025 Hay Street, on the corner of George Street in Subiaco, took place in early August 1929 with the opening of a newly constructed Modern Funeral Home. Designed to reflect the highest standards of the time, it featured the latest equipment, a spacious chapel which could seat up to 100 people and dedicated preparation rooms. The facilities were described as immaculately maintained, with a level of cleanliness likened to that of a modern hospital.
Relocating Chipper Funerals
Chipper’s were forced to relocate sometime around 1965, to make way for the construction of the Mitchell Freeway. Their funeral home stood directly in the path of the proposed route and was resumed as part of the freeway acquisition corridor.
October 2021
Elysian Residences
In 2020, 385 Rokeby Road was sold to Celsius Property Group (with JV partner Windsor Knight) for their proposed boutique apartment project called Elysian Subiaco. Celsius’s managing director, Richard Pappas, later stated that securing planning approval had been unusually difficult. The proposal encountered significant community scrutiny and design review issues.
The project was mired in planning difficulties from the start and only succeeded through the state’s new development pathway. During the COVID era, Part 17 Significant Development Pathway was established to handle large projects and Elysian was approved under that state-level process. Without the State development approval pathway, the project would not exist today.
Additionally, with rising construction costs, Pappas was forced to return to buyers and request an extra 10% on top of the price they had already agreed to.
November 2021
Constructing the Elysian
The existing structures at 385 Rokeby Road were demolished in July 2022, with piling works starting the following month. A piling drill is brought in to create deep foundations that hold everything in place, from the new buildings to the tower crane, if one is installed during the works. The drill bores holes deep into the ground, sometimes tens of metres, until it reaches solid ground. These shafts are then filled with steel cages and concrete, forming piles that act like long underground columns to spread the weight of whatever is built above. Once the piles are complete, they’re tied together with a thick slab of reinforced concrete, known as a pile cap.
November 2022
The pile cap process is especially important for tower cranes. A crane not only carries massive loads but also has to withstand strong winds and the force of swinging heavy objects. Its base is anchored securely to the pile cap, so it remains completely stable. On some sites, cranes are placed on a massive concrete pad instead of piles, such as the 18t Comansa crane used to demolish PMH. However, in most city projects piling is preferred, as it provides the extra stability required, as seen with the works at Elysian Subiaco.
The pile cap for Elysian Subiaco's tower crane was completed with heavy steel anchor bolts cast into the concrete as it was poured, positioned precisely to align with the crane’s base frame. On 11 January 2023, a K6 tower steel crane base was installed to a depth of 1400 mm, bolted securely to the anchors and locked firmly into the pile cap.
January 2023
Using a 300t mobile crane, a Potain MC310K12 tower crane was installed to a height of 40 metres with a jib length (the horizontal arm of a tower crane that extends from the mast and carries the load) of 45 metres on 19 January 2023.
Atlas/BGC then proceeded to construct the five-storey building over the following 2.5 years. Upon completion, Celsius even moved its own office into one of the new ground-floor tenancies, continuing its policy of operating out of its own developments.
February 2023
Design and Architecture
Elysian Subiaco was designed by MJA Studio and constructed by BGC/Atlas Building. It’s a 5-storey, mixed-use building with two levels of underground parking. The architectural concept references Subiaco’s heritage character and a muted palette of classic materials (polished plaster, stone and metal) is used so the building will “age gracefully” alongside nearby older buildings.
Key project features include external planted arches at ground level, spacious balconies and a rich facade articulation (vertical ribs dividing the building into bays). The high-end internal fitout sees apartments constructed with timber joinery, fluted glass doors, engineered oak floors and custom light fixtures.
Lower floors also provide common amenities such as a lounge for residents, dining room and a landscaped frontage. The rooftop terrace, a highlight of the project, boasts outdoor dining and lounge areas framed by mature greenery.
© Celsius Property Group
Sustainability Features
From the start, sustainability was a selling point for Elysian. The building was designed to achieve an average 8‑Star NatHERS energy rating, meaning very low heating/cooling needs and would employ a 30 kW solar photovoltaic array on the roof. All apartments have provision for electric-vehicle charging. Additional green features include a high-efficiency heat-pump hot water system and LED lighting. These measures collectively allow Elysian to offer “100% Greenpower” and minimize its carbon footprint, aligning with modern sustainability standards.
Celebrated Success
Celsius Property Group won the Apartments (Mid-Rise) category for Elysian Subiaco at the 2025 UDIA WA Awards for Excellence.
