Talk:Padbury Buildings

Suitability as an article

This article is not about a specific building, it's about a multitude of different buildings sharing the same name. Possibly all named after the same person or family but the the article does not say so explicitly. Possibly that person/family is Walter Padbury, but again the article doesn't say so.

Thus the article looks much like a list article, but I think it fails the criteria of WP:LISTCRITERIA, WP:CSC and WP:NOTESAL. If we tried to turn it into a disambiguation page, most entries would probably fail WP:DDD (no article, no other links to article).

I'm tempted to WP:PROD it, but perhaps local WA editors with historical knowledge can help save it before the rest of the world gets a chance to !vote it away. Mitch Ames (talk) 02:18, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

I agree, this is currently a bit of a mess. So, with a bit of research: the three buildings are the three former stores of Guildford merchant William Padbury's business, Padbury's Stores (which I think took over Walter Padbury's business?). As for notable subjects here: firstly, the Guildford building is listed on the State Heritage Register and seems to be subject to controversial redevelopment plans (judging from a quick Google) and is pretty clearly notable on its own. I also feel like William Padbury might get over the line as a businessman and pastoralist, in which case the content could go there. I'm less certain about Padbury's Stores: they seem like a potentially notable early business chain (being that they had a department store in Forrest Place), but I keep finding conflicting sources: many just refer to stores in Perth, Bassendean and Guildford but I'm also finding occasional sources suggesting stores as far away as Toodyay and Moora. It looks like they were the oldest operating firm in Western Australia when they went bust in 1932 and had been listed on the Stock Exchange. The Drover's Wife (talk) 03:11, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

Prod - with respect - there is always a mess when trying to glean information from trove over an ambiguous name such as 'padbury buildings' - and Walter Padbury has an adb entry http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/padbury-walter-4355 - and a careful read of the adb article shows where the article(s) might benefit - well over the line in my opinion as well as potential spin off articles.

There are multiple locations which otherwise might not get stand alone articles. Notable complex of named buildings throughout the state, as pointed out by Drover's Wife thanks for the links - thanks JarrahTree 04:17, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

As for your addition about the Colonial Stores - as far as I can tell, Padbury's Stores seems to have operated from some different sites in each of the localities they operated in, and either leased out former premises to other parties at times or had leased someone else's existing premises. That might be clearer if you worked out the history of the Guildford presence - I seemed to find some sources that they had two - a Guildford and an East Guildford store - at one stage. The Drover's Wife (talk) 11:30, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

Correct - you have got it - nothing straight forward - thanks for your clarification - maybe...

the actual guildford location may well have been the one and same as east guildford (currently being re-developed) (I can remember going in in the very early 1970s and the name/proprietor was very different but the building was full of junk and was very close to condemmable in its state... ) what it requires is some patient tracking of wise street directories and the ads in them in the 1900s... JarrahTree 11:38, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

See for example here for reference to stores in both places. The Drover's Wife (talk) 12:17, 18 November 2017 (UTC)

Thank you very much for that - a sort of parallel universe between swan express (always great for detail) and wise directory style - what is good about your noting that one is the presence of a padbury store in midland at the same time - it makes sense JarrahTree 12:27, 18 November 2017 (UTC)