CONNECTED BUILDINGS

 As we toured through Perth on our Boorloo walks, we found buildings that still have a family connection, even though their original purpose may have changed.

Alan worked in what used to be the Treasury Buildings and after being left derelict  for 20 years, it's now called the State Buildings and offers a combination of cafes and bars. During the time of emptiness, it was used for an inversive work in a Perth Festival. I'm not a believer in ghosts but during eeire experience at one point sheets of paper floated from above and I'll swear Alan was there, somewhere, with his green auditor's pen. 

Old Treasury Building

Another building he worked in is Council House. It was built in 1963 in the modernist style and has changed its colour over time. Normally, I dislike this particuar architectural style but for some unaccountable reason, this one appeals. 

At one point, the Perth City Library was on the ground floor of this building. I suspect this is a very rare occurence, even for teenagers today, but Alan used to bring home library books for the young me from the Adult Section. How did he know my tastes so well? For example, he introduced me to one of my (still) favourite historical fiction writers, Dorothy Dunnett.

I also had experiences with him at the top of the building. When he was Audtor General, he was often invited to Council functions and Betty, either because she was working or because she found the events tedious, usually refused to go. I would occasionally pop on the bus from the University of WA and join him. My main memories of these events are of somewhat drunken men. There were bottles of whiskey and brandy on the table as well as the local Swan Beer so the atmosphere was unsurprisingly alcoholic. Remind me to tell you about the drunk Deputy Commissioner of Police and the two-up story.

Council House, day and night

Betty also worked in the city, first at the Post Office, and years later at Perth Building Society where I had my first paid gig as under-age filing clerk. The former building, as it is in Melbourne, now houses H&M and the latter was demolished years ago. Another place were I worked was Aherns Department store and that's also disappeared when the company was bought out by David Jones in 1999.

Although many places in the city that I remember have long gone such as the Picadilly and Plaza art deco cinemas, there are still places which resonate such as London Court and Trinity Arcade. It still feels like a city I know.

London Court