London Court is Perth's most iconic shopping arcade and the most long-standing, recognisable image of the Perth central business district for visitors and locals alike.

Linking the shopping precinct of central Hay Street with St Georges Terrace, London Court is known for its speciality shops, particularly those relating to tourism and souvenirs. What makes it unique among Perth's many shopping arcades is its distinctive Tudor architecture.
London Court was created during the recovery of the Western Australian economy from the Great Depression in the 1930s, which was a time when the construction of shopping arcades as a medium for north-south pedestrian movement through the city was in vogue. It was in this period, and as a direct result of the many arcades built at the time, that Hay Street began to emerge as the city's main shopping precinct.
The two storey shopping arcade and office complex was erected on land purchased, in February 1936, on the site of a collection of back alleys known as 'Gun Alley'.2 The land was purchased from TGA Molloy, by Claude A. de Bernales for the Australian Machinery and Investment Co. Ltd, for a sum of £75,000.
The idea of an arcade to provide a thoroughfare between St. George's Terrace and Hay Street, was conceived by de Bernales as an important link between Perth Railway Station in Wellington Street and the Esplanade. London Court would, via Sherwood Place to the south and through the new Plaza Arcade to the north, provide a direct north-south connection for pedestrian traffic through the city.
De Bernales established London Arcades Ltd. to manage the project and commissioned Bernard Evans of Melbourne to design the arcade in association with local consulting firms Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown, Architects, and Mr C. Steel, Engineer.
Work commenced on London Court, in August 1936, and construction was completed in 1937. The cost of the arcade was £100,000 and it comprised fifty three shops, fifty five offices and twenty-four residential flats.
London Court was designed in the Tudor Revival style with huge wrought iron gates at each entrance and half timbered walling to the arcade. The walls featured ornamentations of hand carvings, gargoyles, masks, shields, crests and wrought iron signs and brackets. The gabled roofs, weather cocks and lead lighting also contributed to the creation of a Tudor style. Terracotta tiles were laid in a crazy effect on the floor of the arcade to suggest ancient cobble stones.
A special feature of both the St. George's Terrace and Hay Street frontage were the clocks which dominate the entrances. Above the St. George's Terrace entrance was 'St. George slaying the dragon'. The dial was a reproduction of La Gross Horage of Rouen. Above the Hay Street entrance, the dial of the clock was a replica of the face of Big Ben in St. Stephen's Tower of the House of Parliament, in London. Both clocks were animated and figures moved in and out to celebrate the chiming of the quarter, half and full hour. The clocks were made by the Synachrome Company of London at a cost of £4,000 and were the only material in London Court which was not locally produced.
At the ends of the arcade, facing the interior space, are statues of Dick Whittington and his cat (northern end) and of Sir Walter Raleigh (south end) in bastion towers.
London Court was opened, on the 29 July 1937, by the Lieutenant Governor, Sir James Mitchell. After an inspection of the arcade, the official party and ninety guests assembled at a luncheon held in the basement restaurant of the Arcade. This restaurant resembled an old English tavern with huge wooden pillars and adzed roof supports.
The opening of London Court was celebrated with a three day 'Ye Olde English Fayre' which was held in conjunction with the official opening which raised £2,000 for the Perth Hospital. The West Australian newspaper reported that the event attracted thousands of visitors who were treated to the sight of volunteers and helpers dressed in Elizabethan style costumes. The 'fayre' was followed by evening dramatic programmes and musical items, including excerpts from Twelfth Night, madrigals and folk songs.
London Court originally had fifty-three shops, fifty-five offices and twenty-four flats. The only current residential function is that of the caretaker, all other residences have been converted to offices. The restaurant is now used by a health club.
London Court is still very popular as a shopping arcade and is an important tourist site, and is depicted on promotional materials and postcards of Perth. The clocks, with their animated figures marking the changing of the hour, are still an attraction for tourists and families alike.
Heritage listing

View Larger Map