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Moppett's Bus Lines

Author

Shire of Narembeen

Place Number

05865
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

30 Churchill St Narembeen

Location Details

Local Government

Narembeen

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1955, Constructed from 1952

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Municipal Inventory Adopted 31 Jul 1996 Category 2

Category 2

A place of considerable cultural heritage significance; provide an appropriate level of recognition and protection. Recommend that maximum encouragement is provided to the owner to conserve the significance of the place. Nomination to the National Trust Classified List is recommended, to afford protection by means of moral persuasion. (TPS procedure also relevant)

Statement of Significance

Moppett's Bus Service was initiated in 1939, with one bus. Pinker had a bus which Baden Moppett took over in 1940. With the advent of World War Two, manpower was a problem, so, in 1943, 16 year old Ivan Moppett was granted a special licence to drive the school buses. During the war-time fuel rationing, charcoal burning gas producers were fitted to the buses, to provided valuable transport for not only school, but important community and social interaction. In 1945 two new buses, Miss Wadderin and Miss Kumminin, replaced the original buses. In 1947 Miss Narembeen joined the fleet. By 1949, two more buses were purchased, and finding a premises to park and maintain the buses was a problem. Various sites in Narembeen were used for varying periods of time, with Moppett establishing a number of agencies at what is now the Aquip site in the early 1940s.
In 1949 Moppett acquired the site of the former first school in the Narembeen town, where he subsequently constructed his premises. Post war shortages of building materials were still apparent in Narembeen, and approval was necessary to purchase bricks and cement. In 1952 the steel framework and iron cladding for the 100 feet long garage and annexes was constructed. On each side of the 40 feet wide garage was a 16 foot annexe. The office on the west side, and a brick rendered facade on the east side annexe, concealed them from the Churchill Street facade. Moppett was an agent for Attwood Motors, Vauxhalls and Chamberlain Tractors, and when Bert Beatty retired in 1952, Moppett also took over the agency for International tractors, and Caltex
fuel. The premises was also a garage and workshop. Charlie A'vard took over Beatty's store, and managed the Attwood and Chamberlain agencies for Moppett. In 1962 Baden Moppett retired, his son Ivan carried on the business, and acquired 6 new International buses from Victoria. In 1968 Gregory Moppett joined the company and now owns it. In 1970 Moppetts were requested by the Education Department to set up a bus service in Port Hedland, later they assisted in Kalgoorlie and Kambalda, and Agnew. During the rural population decline in the 1980s the bus-line has responded appropriately and has a fleet of Coasters and Hi-aces.

Physical Description

garage & workshop, bus parking & office Current Use: as for original Description: The original office is a cement block and rendered structure with a parapet facade concealing the roof. The corner of the office is rounded. A concrete "eyebrow" extends the length of the frontage, and grooved horizontal banding accentuates the streamline curves of the building. The style shows an influence from the Narembeen Public Hall. The adjoining garage workshop is a functional steel framed structure.

History

Moppett's Bus Service was initiated in 1939, with one bus. Pinker had a bus which Baden Moppett took over in 1940. With the advent of World War Two, manpower was a problem, so, in 1943, 16 year old Ivan Moppett was granted a special licence to drive the school buses. During the war-time fuel rationing, charcoal burning gas producers were fitted to the buses, to provided valuable transport for not only school, but important community and social interaction. In 1945 two new buses, Miss Wadderin and Miss Kumminin, replaced the original buses. In 1947 Miss Narembeen joined the fleet. By 1949, two more buses were purchased, and finding a premises to park and maintain the buses was a problem. Various sites in Narembeen were used for varying periods of time, with Moppett establishing a number of agencies at what is now the Aquip site in the early 1940s.
In 1949 Moppett acquired the site of the former first school in the Narembeen town, where he subsequently constructed his premises. Post war shortages of building materials were still apparent in Narembeen, and approval was necessary to purchase bricks and cement. In 1952 the steel framework and iron cladding for the 100 feet long garage and annexes was constructed. On each side of the 40 feet wide garage was a 16 foot annexe. The office on the west side, and a brick rendered facade on the east side annexe, concealed them from the Churchill Street facade. Moppett was an agent for Attwood Motors, Vauxhalls and Chamberlain Tractors, and when Bert Beatty retired in 1952, Moppett also took over the agency for International tractors, and Caltex
fuel. The premises was also a garage and workshop. Charlie A'vard took over Beatty's store, and managed the Attwood and Chamberlain agencies for Moppett. In 1962 Baden Moppett retired, his son Ivan carried on the business, and acquired 6 new International buses from Victoria. In 1968 Gregory Moppett joined the company and now owns it. In 1970 Moppetts were requested by the Education Department to set up a bus service in Port Hedland, later they assisted in Kalgoorlie and Kambalda, and Agnew. During the rural population decline in the 1980s the bus-line has responded appropriately and has a fleet of Coasters and Hi-aces.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact/redeemable
Authenticity: Medium degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
Bristow I; "Seedtime & Harvest A History of the Narembeen District 1888-1988". Shire of Narembeen 1988
Bristow I; "Moppett's Bus Lines Narembeen School Bus History Spanning 50 Years 1938-1988". Moppett's Bus Lines 1988

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use Transport\Communications Road: Other
Original Use Transport\Communications Road: Other

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall CONCRETE Concrete Block
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS Road transport

Creation Date

16 May 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

31 Dec 2016

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.