Raine Square redevelopment to include cinemas, hotel and new retail and dining precinct

THERE is a good chance Mary Raine stood under this doorway at some stage in her life.

Perth’s first female property tycoon bought The Wentworth Hotel, which became The Boheme, on the corner of Murray and William streets in the 1920s and was later the namesake of what is now known as Raine Square.

The story of the businesswoman, who died in 1960, will be interpreted in art and landscaping in the new Raine Square redevelopment that will include retail, Palace Cinemas, a dining precinct, plaza and The Royal hotel.

Demolition on the site, owned by Charter Hall, started about three months ago and the development should be open in late 2018.

Charter Hall Development manager Patrick Hollingworth said parts of The Wentworth such as the staircase and archways were heritage listed so would be retained along with the Royal Hotel, which was also heritage listed.

Mr Hollingworth said The Wentworth’s dining room was heritage listed so had been dismantled and would be reinstated as part of the retail space at the site.

Charter Hall has a heritage conservation plan for the site that includes some historic details about Mrs Raine but Mr Hollingworth said they had learnt a lot more about her life through the Raine Medical Research Foundation she founded 60 years ago.

“As we went through planning for design we got involved with the Rain Foundation and they have given us infinite information about her history,” he said.

Mrs Raine launched the UWA-based foundation soon after her husband died saying, “The net income of the Fund shall be applied towards seeking, diagnosing and investigating the nature, origin and causes of diseases in human beings, with the initial emphasis on arteriosclerosis and allied diseases, and the prevention, cure, alleviation and combating of such diseases.”

To celebrate the foundation’s 60th anniversary, there will be a free exhibition and talks about Mrs Raine’s life as part of Perth Heritage Days on October 14 and 15 with the exhibition at Bankwest Place continuing until October 27 . To book, visit www.heritageperth.com.

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