Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium is a heritage-listed building on Avon Terrace in York, Western Australia, constructed by a former mayor.
In 1885 bootmaker William Dinsdale engaged architect James William Wright of Wright & Paterson to design a two-storey building with shops below and residences above.The Eastern Districts Chronicle, 2 January 1886, p.2. The building was constructed in 1887 by contractors Thorn, Bower and Stewart.
The building was used as a boot, shoe and saddle store and factory.The West Australian 11 November 1887, p. 3; Postal Directory 1897. Lettering from Dinsdale's original wall banner is still visible at the front of the store. The store also has its original 1887 shop counter.
In 1888, Dinsdale travelled throughout Australia to secure new machinery for his business, which was expanded to include saddles and harnesses.The Eastern Districts Chronicle, 17 March 1888, p.6
Part of the building or the rear building was being used as the Shire Council Office in 1892.From drawing on loose-leaf advertising spread from Eastern Districts Chronicle, 1892, provided by the Residency Museum.
The building is in Victorian Free Classical style. The building has alternating pediments.
Dinsdale was Mayor of York from 3 December 1896The Inquirer and Commercial News, 4 December 1896, p.4 to November 1898,The Inquirer and Commercial News, 25 November 1898, p.14 and again from 20 November 1901The Northam Advertiser, 23 November 1901, p.3 to 1907.Western Mail, 30 November 1907 p.19 He became insolvent in 1908 and the property was transferred to his brother Alfred.The Eastern Districts Chronicle, 23 May 1908, p.2Certificate of Title, Vol 423, folio 181, 29 June 1908. Landgate
The building was leased to Charlotte Pyke, who opened a lodging house known as the Temperance Hotel.The Eastern Districts Chronicle, 22 May 1909, p. 2. Photographs of the building from this time show a two-storeyed verandah.Photographs from the Residency Museum
The building is listed on the Shire municipal inventory (31 December 1995), classified by the National Trust of Australia (1 April 1984) and on the Register of the National Estate (21 March 1978). The façade of the building was restored in 2017.
References