A brief history of the Art Deco and Modernist Society of Western Australia
Post-Depression economic recovery and the gold mining boom in 1930s Western Australia saw significant art deco construction. With virtually no building during WW2 except for military purposes, the built environment remained unchanged into the Post War era, defining 1950s Perth. The 1960s brought a demolition blitz on St George’s Terrace due to a mining boom and preference for modern office spaces, leading to the loss of cinemas and other buildings. Over the next two decades, nothing on St George’s Terrace was safe.
By 1987, awareness of Perth’s art deco heritage grew, spurred by Vyonne Geneve. Her dedication and serendipitous life events led to the formation of an art deco society in Western Australia to prevent further destruction. The Society played an important role in the passage of WA’s first Heritage Legislation in the 1990s and hosted the World Congress on Art Deco in 1991, solidifying its place as a significant voice in heritage conservation in Australia and around the world.
The Society is a founding member of the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS) that provides worldwide support for the protection of Art Deco heritage.
In partnership with the National Trust, the Society undertook an extensive inventory of surviving art deco structures in WA. Many were given heritage recognition by being listed by the National Trust as significant heritage places, and many of these were afforded statutory heritage protection under Western Australia’s heritage act.
Despite the heritage legislation, the Society has had to campaign to save important places. It successfully ran community campaigns to save important 1930s hotels, including Raffles, Cottesloe, Coronado, and Swanbourne. The Society continues to work to raise awareness, knowledge, and commitment to conserving cultural heritage values, and most recently is leading the fight to save the Windsor Cinema in Nedlands.
In 2014, the Society expanded its focus to include modernism, reflecting a broader interest in preserving 20th-century architectural heritage.
In 2016, as a key part of the Society’s mission to raise awareness and knowledge about Art Deco, “Picture Palaces of the Golden West” was published by the National Trust. The book is the culmination of a decade of dedicated work by the Society’s President, Vyonne Geneve, and Vice President, Ron Facius. It explores the golden era of movie theatres in Western Australia and brings to life Ms. Geneve’s seminal research into the picture theatres of the Art Deco era.
The Art Deco and Modernist Society is an incorporated association and is registered as a charity with the Australian Charity and Not-for-Profits Commission. The Society’s work includes public awareness campaigns, a popular program of talks, discovery walks, enjoyable social events, and an informative bi-monthly electronic newsletter, “Dear Decophile.”
The Society continues to work to raise awareness, knowledge, and commitment to conserving cultural heritage values, and most recently is leading the fight to save the Windsor Cinema in Nedlands.
GOVERANCE
The Art Deco and Modernist Society of Western Australia is an incorporated association and registered charity. The Society is a membership-based organisation managed by an elected management committee, with support from several working groups—all made up of dedicated and passionate volunteers.
CONTACT
[email protected]