I have had The Pacific Motel in Harold Street Highgate in my own photo waiting list for a long time, but since Poor Lisa also went out and shot it, I’ll use hers. She sent me this quite a while ago, and I had to avert my eyes a little from my inbox, as I still have submissions from months ago to put up.
Normally I don’t much care for the ultra naff Wanjina graffiti, (No hokusan, it doesn’t rhyme with v*gina) but this one does add something to this crap place, soon to be another vanished worst. Poorlisa says…
This is one of my favourite Hollywood Gothic sights, in Harold St Highgate, and what a perfect day to get some pictures. It looks like it’s just waiting for the day one of those soft on crime Perth judges releases Norman Bates early for good behaviour.
The Worst of Perth 
I can hardly believe that such a stylish and well executed hotel as this could need to be knocked down. I mean they have a palm tree logo, they are called Pacific, the incredible architecture – man, they had everything and yet somehow, somehow, it just didn’t work.
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As they say in the classics: “chicken wire?”
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They had it all, just like Bogey and Bacall.
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I rode my bike home from work a few weeks and went passed this place & there was a light on inside the buildings so looks like someone is living in this paradise.
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They were all at sea.
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King of Bayswater? Is that you Adam Spagnolo?
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I think the challenge needs to now go out for someone to eat at the restaurant.
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Is there any architectural feature that looks seedier than a broken, plastic, illuminated sign?
BTW, you may have to add the faceless lion to Vanished Worst. I passed the restaurant the other day and only one lion was in evidence, lying on its side some distance from its plinth, so I don’t see it lasting much longer. Mind you, I thought that 10 years ago when I first saw the place.
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[King of Bayswater? Is that you Adam Spagnolo?]
Nah, it’s Lou Magro who has strangely quit the ALP and pre-selection for Morley, which paves the way for John D’Orazio to quit again and run as an independent.
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No that’s a different lion. The faceless one on the header is at The Ming Dynasty across from Galleria. Still seems to be going strong.
The one you are talking about is The Jumbo, which yes will soon be demolished.
The second lion has been stolen, but the one you speak of is still stuck to the base, so is probably too heavy to steal without some chiselling.
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wonder what’ll take it’s place…
LA – very impressive in depth knowledge of vandalised lions of the metropolis
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“The one you are talking about is The Jumbo, which yes will soon be demolished.
https://theworstofperth.com/2007/11/02/labrador-nominees/ ”
Ops, my mistake. I thought it didn’t look quite right but thought it must just be my faulty memory.
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when are they knocking it down? I’d like to try to salvage that cactus
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Didn’t this used to be a High School?
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There was a catholic school just up the street. Can’t remember its name, Our Lady of Retribution, or something. The bloke I shared a house with taught science there.
I stayed at the Pacific for three successive Country Week crickets in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
The signs were intact then, no graffiti, and there was no obvious chicken wire around the building. Nice place, if you knew when to sidestep the spew. (Long story.)
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Yes there’s a school just behind the Queens Hotel and an English school St Marks around the corner.
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What is up with the wanjina graffiti everywhere? I started noticing it about two or three years ago
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Someone really got into this place – check out the pool and other great interiors.
Also some excellent abandoned warehouse/campus features on this blog.
http://perth6000.blogspot.com/2009/05/perths-abandoned-buildings-part-2.html
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That was awesome. Thanks poor lisa.
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Indeed, Bento, and I thought Funland was bad.
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It’s a really awesome blog. Love the carine tafe.
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Hi, thanks for the comments on my blog.
Last month, I offered TWOP to use any of my photos. He never replied. I especially thought the blodd covered artwork might be appropriate.
I reckon he used to date a girl named Sue.
Prove me wrong.
Nate.
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I’m gettting to replies. Many older emails are yet to be replied to. I get a lot.
Yes I did. Do i know you 6000?
Your stuff is great, awesome fantastic, but most of the time I would only use never before published, So i’m more likely to link if it’s a related topic.
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Hello TWOP – I used to go to University with Sue. I am fairly sure we have met once or twice through other circles, some time back. Small city indeed.
Bento, thank you so much for the comments. Comments like that are the reason I do the blog – to show people the amazing architecture and design we have right here in Perth.
TWOP, I will email you some never before seen stuff.
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By other circles I assume you mean The Maddington Swingers Club? Happy days eh?
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So you DO remember me!
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Nate, your beautiful photography would be inconsistent with the ‘shaky camera phone’ aesthetic prevailing on TWOP (for which I am in part to blame).
I had no idea there were so many fantastic brutalist buildings in Perth – you’ve given me a whole new appreciation for our local architecture. Well, some of it, anyway.
Don’t worry LA – I still prefer bitching and criticising to praising, so my allegiance is not in question.
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Wow – I used to live in Mount Lawley. Here’s a photo of the building that I took in September 2004, partly because of a sign that went up outside advertising its forthcoming redevelopment or something.
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Walked past it this morning & it was still standing.
Drove past it in the arvo and its gone ! Demolished in one day can youi believe?!
I wanted it returned to its sleazy former glory but have been denied :(
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Ironically, with Perth’s hotel room shortage, it would have been booked solid for the last 3 years.
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