Drew Robinson & Company building

Dylan's on the Terrace 2016
Drew Robinson & Co building and the White Star Hotel

Drew Robinson & Company building, also known as the Albany Light Opera Company building and Dylan's on the Terrace, is a heritage listed building located on Stirling Terrace overlooking Princess Royal Harbour in Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

The building was constructed in 1880 and was originally owned by the McKail family.[1] John McKail, a merchant and consul of the German Empire had operated from a warehouse and woolstore on the site until his death in 1871. His family, trading as John McKail & Co., has the current building erected in 1880.[2]

McKail also built a wool store behind the building facing the opposite direction with the frontage along Frederick Street.[3] In 1888, following McKail's death, the business and building were acquired by Charles Drew and John Robinson who had recently formed Drew, Robinson & Co.[4]

By 1902 the building was being used to house a cafe, the Central Coffee Palace.[2] A fire, which resulted in damage estimated at £6,000, occurred later the same year. It was occupied by John Zervoothakis who was not injured. The neighbouring building, the White Star Hotel, was preserved only by the constant application of wet blankets to the woodwork.[5] The fire gutted the building leaving only the facade and the side walls standing. It was rebuilt in 1903 and was used as a tobacconist, hairdresser, hostel and cafe.[2]

Thomas Wardle, owner of Tom the Cheap grocery chain, acquired the building in 1968 along with other with plans to demolish them and build a shopping complex.[2] The building was also being used by the Albany Light Opera Company was housed in the building in the late 1970s[1] before the building became empty and derelict.

Acquired in 1980 by Gwen and Morris Blake the building was extensively restored and opened as a bookshop. The building was converted for use as a restaurant in 1987, initially known as Dylan's on the Terrace and now called Dylan's Cafe and Restaurant.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Drew Robinson & Co (fmr)". InHerit. Heritage Council of Western Australia. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dylan's historic building". Dylans Resaurant and Cafe. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "An Old Photograph". Albany Advertiser. 8, (874). Western Australia. 21 March 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "News of the day". The Inquirer And Commercial News. LXVIII, (3047). Western Australia. 9 May 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Fire at Albany.". The West Australian (5,192). Western Australia. 29 October 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 18 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

Coordinates: 35°01′36″S 117°53′09″E / 35.0268°S 117.8857°E / -35.0268; 117.8857

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