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Savoy Hotel Perth
The Savoy Hotel, located in Hay Street, is one of the Perth’s most recognisable heritage buildings. It was designed by the well-known architect Talbot Hobbs of Hobbs, Smith & Forbes and built by C. W. Arnott in 1914 at a cost of £48,787, (around $6.7 million today). The hotel was considered luxurious for its time and replaced the earlier Shamrock Hotel, which had stood on the site since the 1840s.
The Savoy Hotel was built in the Federation Free Classical style (also known as Federation Queen Anne style), making it a striking example of early 20th-century architecture in the Perth CBD. Its distinctive features included a grand sandstone façade, ornate iron balconies, arched windows and decorative dormer windows set within a mansard roof. The hotel was designed with richly decorated interiors, including elegant dining areas, a ballroom and well-appointed guest rooms that reflected the high standards of accommodation of the period.
Beyond accommodation, the Savoy became a vibrant part of Perth’s social scene. In 1916, it was promoted as the “Ritz of Australia”, highlighting its status among Perth’s upper class. Over the decades, it hosted countless social events, balls and special functions. During World War II, the building was taken over by the government and used as an officers’ club, housing nearly 100 army officers. In the 1930s, parts of the ground floor were leased for commercial use, including a long-term lease to Betts & Betts shoe store, which operated there for many years.
In the 1950s, the basement was converted into the Savoy Theatrette, a small cinema that screened newsreels and short films before becoming known for screening adult films during the 1970s and 1980s, adding another colourful layer to its history. The cinema operated until 1991, after which it closed alongside the hotel. By this time, the Savoy had largely fallen out of favour, as newer hotels and entertainment venues took over Perth’s hospitality scene.
The building has gone through several phases of renovation. In the late 1990s, it was deemed unsafe, with structural concerns surrounding the upper levels. Restoration work, mainly focused on preserving the façade, took place in the early 2000s. While the ground floor was repurposed for retail use, the upper floors have remained largely vacant and unused since the hotel’s closure.
The Savoy Hotel is listed on the State Register of Heritage Places, classified by the National Trust and recognised on the City of Perth’s Municipal Inventory. Its architectural features, historical role in Perth’s social life and connections to Talbot Hobbs, have cemented its heritage importance. A conservation plan exists to guide any future redevelopment, with restoration efforts focused on maintaining the building’s prominent street presence along Hay Street Mall.
In 2009, the property was sold to a Singapore company as part of a package deal that included neighbouring retail properties. Reports suggested the sale was driven by shifts in the local economy and the value of consolidating CBD land holdings, with the new owners eyeing future redevelopment opportunities. While there were early discussions in 2014 about possibly converting the upper floors into boutique hotel accommodation, no formal redevelopment has proceeded.
The Savoy has also been associated with several notable events. A fire broke out from the dental clinic on the ground floor in 1916, a kitchen fire caused significant damage in 1930 and a sitting Member of Parliament tragically passed away during a card game on site in 1933.
Today, the Savoy Hotel building stands as a reminder of Perth’s grand early 20th-century hotels, reflecting the city’s growth during the gold rush era and subsequent development. While the ground floor remains active with commercial tenants, the upper floors serve as a silent monument to Perth’s social history, awaiting a new chapter that respects its heritage while contributing to the city’s modern landscape.
July 2020
