Iconic building to get new life
The Cronshaw family has begun restoration work on the heritage-listed Cronshaws building in Victoria Street, hoping to see it used one day as modern offices or apartments.
Sarah Cronshaw, who is managing the project on behalf of the family, said the decision to restore the building was made after initially putting it up for sale.
“We realised it was a wonderful opportunity for our family to restore this heritage building and breathe new life into it for another century, ” Mrs Cronshaw said.
Originally known as the Smith’s Building, Cronshaws was designed by O.V. ‘Ossie’ Chisholm and built in the Inter-War Functionalist style in 1938.
The Cronshaw family purchased the building in 1966 to start their manchester department store, Cronshaw’s Manchester House.
“Cronshaw’s has employed a huge number of people in Bunbury, ” Mrs Cronshaw said.
“Many people remember the little elephant ride we had in the corner — we used to have five cent coins on the counter to keep children entertained.”
The Art Deco building was permanently listed on the State Heritage Register in 1997 as an example of creative excellence and innovation at the time it was designed.
Mrs Cronshaw said one of the most challenging parts of the project was finding a team with the skills and knowledge required to complete the restoration.
“The council has no records of the original building so we had to find builders that were passionate about their work, ” she said.
Bunbury builders Paul Godsell and Phillip Best are working on the project and have previously restored such heritage landmarks as the Picton Inn, Lotteries House and the Paisley Centre.
“We realised it was a wonderful opportunity for our family to restore this heritage building and breathe new life into it for another century”— Sarah Cronshaw
