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Stirling Towers
Located at 49-67 Smith Street in Highgate, Stirling Towers was a prominent 12-storey apartment complex built by the State Housing Commission. It represented a significant chapter in the history of Western Australia’s public housing.
At a cost of $935,000, construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The complex provided 79 residential units: 24 three-bedroom and 55 two-bedroom apartments. Construction involved using reinforced concrete panels bolted together over the first three to four months, prefabrication technology that rapid and cost-efficient construction for the Public Works Department.
The ethos of the State Housing Commission at the time was to provide accommodation for a maximum number of residents within a space-efficient area.
Post World War 2
Over a span of 25 years following the end of World War 2, the population of Western Australia experienced a rapid and sustained growth, significantly fuelled by ambitious post-war immigration policies. By 1969, the population of Western Australia had doubled, reaching the one-million mark. Immigrants from Britain, Italy and the Netherlands contributed significantly to the population increase.
Between 1947 and 1961, housing in Australia increased by 50%, outpacing the 41% increase in population for the same period. This trend continued with a 46% increase in housing between 1961 to 1976, with a rise of 33% in population.
Rapidly expanding housing options was the Housing Commission’s strategic response to addressing the demand.
Locality of Highgate
With its close proximity to key employment options such as industrial workshops and factories in the Highgate area, the suburb and surrounding areas were highly desirable amongst new migrants and refugees. The presence of established social and cultural institutions such as the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue in Bulwer Street also provided new arrivals with a sense of community and familiarity.
Until the construction of Stirling Towers, the concentrated demand of housing in Highgate led to a severe shortage, with many residents being forced to subdivide their dwellings, establish makeshift extensions or enclose their verandas to help accommodate multiple families.
The Rise of Apartments
Brownlie Towers was constructed in Bentley a year before Stirling Towers and was described at the time as the Department of Housing’s “largest and most ambitious project” to date.
Following international trends, high rise apartment complexes were seen as ideal during the 1960s and 1970s, as it meant housing conditions could be improved in overcrowded cities. Brownlie Towers was influenced by this, an effective option to providing affordable housing while preventing the continued expansion of urban areas.
Building Style
The style of the Brutalist architecture embodies “colossal concrete monoliths and big, blocky public buildings”. Whilst aesthetically described as imposing, heavy, hard and uninviting, the Western Australian Public Works Department advocated for this style as being functional and durable, certainly able to stand the test of time.
Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, popularised the urban design concept of “Towers in the Park”, an ideology that proposed high-rise “slab” buildings with the core aim of reducing urban congestion, also benefiting its residents with maximum light, air and views and creating generous open green spaces at ground level.
Ghettos
Many fondly recall a sense of community whilst living in Stirling Towers, perhaps more so in the first 15-20 years. It appears there was a steady decline in positive memories, as social issues particularly drug abuse and domestic violence mars many of those commenting online in the years later, particularly post-2000. In the years between 2011-2016, stories of hookers occupying the communal laundry as a place of business or a toilet, drug users shooting up in communal areas and bottles being thrown from higher levels onto neighbouring roofs and into their gardens seem commonplace.
Stirling Towers attracted nicknames such as “Suicide Towers”, “Hell Towers” and “Psycho Towers”, highlighting a paradox between quick-fix housing options addressing society’s urban problems which inadvertently created new social ones.
The End of the Social Experiment
Stirling Towers had clearly reached its end of life point when it was found that refurbishing the towers was far from cost effective.
The lifts of course, a familiar issue in many locations including the old Nedlands REGIS Wyvern aged care apartment complex, seemed to be more out of service than in operation. Although the lifts at Stirling Towers was also renown for the constant stench of urine.
Major plumbing issues played a big part in the demise of Stirling Towers but no doubt, asbestos in building materials, constant petty crime, drug use, violence and general antisocial behaviour also contributed.
Re-homing the tenants was the biggest task Homeswest/Housing Authority/Department of Housing (how many times do they feel they need to change their name which does little to change their reputation, whether good or bad??) have ever managed. Around 65 of the 79 tenants were relocated with the remainder vacating on their own accord by the end of 2014.
Stirling Towers
Located at 49-67 Smith Street in Highgate, Stirling Towers was a prominent 12-storey apartment complex built by the State Housing Commission. It represented a significant chapter in the history of Western Australia’s public housing.
At a cost of $935,000, construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The complex provided 79 residential units: 24 three-bedroom and 55 two-bedroom apartments. Construction involved using reinforced concrete panels bolted together over the first three to four months, prefabrication technology that rapid and cost-efficient construction for the Public Works Department.
The ethos of the State Housing Commission at the time was to provide accommodation for a maximum number of residents within a space-efficient area.
Post World War 2
Over a span of 25 years following the end of World War 2, the population of Western Australia experienced a rapid and sustained growth, significantly fuelled by ambitious post-war immigration policies. By 1969, the population of Western Australia had doubled, reaching the one-million mark. Immigrants from Britain, Italy and the Netherlands contributed significantly to the population increase.
Between 1947 and 1961, housing in Australia increased by 50%, outpacing the 41% increase in population for the same period. This trend continued with a 46% increase in housing between 1961 to 1976, with a rise of 33% in population.
Rapidly expanding housing options was the Housing Commission’s strategic response to addressing the demand.
Locality of Highgate
With its close proximity to key employment options such as industrial workshops and factories in the Highgate area, the suburb and surrounding areas were highly desirable amongst new migrants and refugees. The presence of established social and cultural institutions such as the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue in Bulwer Street also provided new arrivals with a sense of community and familiarity.
Until the construction of Stirling Towers, the concentrated demand of housing in Highgate led to a severe shortage, with many residents being forced to subdivide their dwellings, establish makeshift extensions or enclose their verandas to help accommodate multiple families.
The Rise of Apartments
Brownlie Towers was constructed in Bentley a year before Stirling Towers and was described at the time as the Department of Housing’s “largest and most ambitious project” to date.
Following international trends, high rise apartment complexes were seen as ideal during the 1960s and 1970s, as it meant housing conditions could be improved in overcrowded cities. Brownlie Towers was influenced by this, an effective option to providing affordable housing while preventing the continued expansion of urban areas.
Stirling Towers
Located at 49-67 Smith Street in Highgate, Stirling Towers was a prominent 12-storey apartment complex built by the State Housing Commission. It represented a significant chapter in the history of Western Australia’s public housing.
At a cost of $935,000, construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The complex provided 79 residential units: 24 three-bedroom and 55 two-bedroom apartments. Construction involved using reinforced concrete panels bolted together over the first three to four months, prefabrication technology that rapid and cost-efficient construction for the Public Works Department.
The ethos of the State Housing Commission at the time was to provide accommodation for a maximum number of residents within a space-efficient area.
Post World War 2
Over a span of 25 years following the end of World War 2, the population of Western Australia experienced a rapid and sustained growth, significantly fuelled by ambitious post-war immigration policies. By 1969, the population of Western Australia had doubled, reaching the one-million mark. Immigrants from Britain, Italy and the Netherlands contributed significantly to the population increase.
Between 1947 and 1961, housing in Australia increased by 50%, outpacing the 41% increase in population for the same period. This trend continued with a 46% increase in housing between 1961 to 1976, with a rise of 33% in population.
Rapidly expanding housing options was the Housing Commission’s strategic response to addressing the demand.
Locality of Highgate
With its close proximity to key employment options such as industrial workshops and factories in the Highgate area, the suburb and surrounding areas were highly desirable amongst new migrants and refugees. The presence of established social and cultural institutions such as the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue in Bulwer Street also provided new arrivals with a sense of community and familiarity.
Until the construction of Stirling Towers, the concentrated demand of housing in Highgate led to a severe shortage, with many residents being forced to subdivide their dwellings, establish makeshift extensions or enclose their verandas to help accommodate multiple families.
The Rise of Apartments
Brownlie Towers was constructed in Bentley a year before Stirling Towers and was described at the time as the Department of Housing’s “largest and most ambitious project” to date.
Following international trends, high rise apartment complexes were seen as ideal during the 1960s and 1970s, as it meant housing conditions could be improved in overcrowded cities. Brownlie Towers was influenced by this, an effective option to providing affordable housing while preventing the continued expansion of urban areas.
Stirling Towers
Located at 49-67 Smith Street in Highgate, Stirling Towers was a prominent 12-storey apartment complex built by the State Housing Commission. It represented a significant chapter in the history of Western Australia’s public housing.
At a cost of $935,000, construction began in 1970 and was completed in 1971. The complex provided 79 residential units: 24 three-bedroom and 55 two-bedroom apartments. Construction involved using reinforced concrete panels bolted together over the first three to four months, prefabrication technology that rapid and cost-efficient construction for the Public Works Department.
The ethos of the State Housing Commission at the time was to provide accommodation for a maximum number of residents within a space-efficient area.
Post World War 2
Over a span of 25 years following the end of World War 2, the population of Western Australia experienced a rapid and sustained growth, significantly fuelled by ambitious post-war immigration policies. By 1969, the population of Western Australia had doubled, reaching the one-million mark. Immigrants from Britain, Italy and the Netherlands contributed significantly to the population increase.
Between 1947 and 1961, housing in Australia increased by 50%, outpacing the 41% increase in population for the same period. This trend continued with a 46% increase in housing between 1961 to 1976, with a rise of 33% in population.
Rapidly expanding housing options was the Housing Commission’s strategic response to addressing the demand.
Locality of Highgate
With its close proximity to key employment options such as industrial workshops and factories in the Highgate area, the suburb and surrounding areas were highly desirable amongst new migrants and refugees. The presence of established social and cultural institutions such as the Jewish Orthodox Synagogue in Bulwer Street also provided new arrivals with a sense of community and familiarity.
Until the construction of Stirling Towers, the concentrated demand of housing in Highgate led to a severe shortage, with many residents being forced to subdivide their dwellings, establish makeshift extensions or enclose their verandas to help accommodate multiple families.
The Rise of Apartments
Brownlie Towers was constructed in Bentley a year before Stirling Towers and was described at the time as the Department of Housing’s “largest and most ambitious project” to date.
Following international trends, high rise apartment complexes were seen as ideal during the 1960s and 1970s, as it meant housing conditions could be improved in overcrowded cities. Brownlie Towers was influenced by this, an effective option to providing affordable housing while preventing the continued expansion of urban areas.