The building that now houses the Subiaco Museum at 239 Rokeby Road is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year.
The building was originally erected in 1923 to house the No. 2 Substation for the Subiaco Municipal Electric Light Supply as well as the offices of the Engineer Electric Light Supply, Walter Reynolds Groom, who managed the electricity supply from the building until his retirement in 1939.
Subiaco had three electricity sub-stations in the early 1900s, distributing power for lighting which was purchased in bulk from the East Perth Power Station.
The No. 2 Substation operated until 1949 when the State Government began directly distributing power to all Perth suburbs.
Architectural remnants of the building’s former life can still be seen today, including three insulated power points on the front of the building and a sign that reads ‘DANGER 6000 volts’.
The largest room has air vents in the ceiling and a concrete floor now covered by recycled jarrah laid on joists. Concrete blocks also remain in the museum’s office floor.
From the 1950s until the 1970s, the building served various ways including storage and as a community meeting place before the Subiaco Historical Society was given permission in 1975 to use it to establish a museum.
The museum was officially opened on 2 November 1975 by Miss Chugg and Miss Daglish – descendants of two of Subiaco’s pioneering families and founding members of the local historical society.
The City of Subiaco took over custodianship of the museum and its collection in 1995 and still uses it today to display its unique and vast collection that explores, celebrates and records the area’s history.
Find out about visiting the museum.