Aboriginal Reserve and Nissen Hut

Author

Shire of West Arthur

Place Number

18807

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Location

Coalfields Hwy Coalfields Hwy

Location Details

Location No. 187 and 133 Coalfields Hwy

Local Government

West Arthur

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1966

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
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	27 Mar 1997	Category 3	Category 3 A place of some cultural heritage significance to Shire of West Arthur. No constraints. Recommend: Encourage retention of the place, and document the place if retention is not possible.

Physical Description

Location 187 amd 133 are located on the Coalfields Highway 2 km west of the Darkan Townsite. The area comprises 3 hectares which was originally part of one block (Loc 187).

Lot 133 was truncated from the Pony Club Ground in the 1982 for use as a caravan park. A shed for ram sales was later erected.

History

Location 187, was originally vested with the Shire in 1929. It was then vested on the 3rd July 1964 as an Aboriginal Camping Ground. The Department of Native Affairs erected a few small cement houses for the Aboriginals and a Nissen Hut for recreational purposes. The exact date that these were erected is unknown but it is thought to be a few years after the vesting (1).

Previously an agreement had been reached at a public meeting that a permanent camping site should be offered by Council to the Department of Native Affairs for the Aboriginals (and those following seasonal work) camping within the town. In 1969 it was noted that between 50 and 60 Aboriginals were camped in the area.

In 1972 the Reserve was closed following the drift of residents to larger towns. The place had played a significant role as a meeting place and often housed up to fifty Aboriginals at any one time.

In 1975 the Pony Club and Girl Guides applied for and were granted use of the land and hut. The hut is significant as it was built in the style of the Nissen Hut designed to reflect shrapnel and to house bombed out victims in World War Two. It was cheap and quick to erect. It is half the size of the original design and rests on stumps rather than a concrete floor.

The Pony Club operated from 1975 and then closed its doors in the 1980’s. It recently reopened and the grounds are once again being used as a pony club.

Integrity/Authenticity

Modifications: None
Extent of original fabric: Most

Condition

Fair

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	S. Curnow,; "Personal Communication".		2008

Place Type

Other Aboriginal Site

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve

Creation Date

08 Jan 2010

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.