Parkerville Tavern

Statement of Significance

The Parkerville Tavern has very high aesthetic significance for the style, scale and landmark value the building has which are both rare in the Townsite and the Shire generally. The Tavern also has high social significance for the role and focus the place has provided, and should continue to provide for Parkerville's community.

Physical Description

The Parkerville Tavern is a very elegant brick, two storey, former hotel, sitting close to the road overlooking the Jane Brook and associated park. It has large verandas and balustrades on both floors across most of the south facing frontage, and on the western end, and which contribute significantly to the building's impact on its setting. Its elegant but simple detailing suggests the character of Federation Free Style or Arts and Crafts c 1890 - c 1915 (see Apperly pp. 136-143). Assuming the references to major additions in 1926 refers to the two storey additions to the front, the expectation might be for a style of building more from the inter war period rather than the character of the earlier period expressed in the building. The timber veranda detailing (to ground and first floor), whilst some may not be original can be presumed to closely resemble the original with its arched underside of veranda beams together with unflamboyant ladder friezes; the dominant projecting roof gables over the front veranda; the token inclusion (or remnant) of rough cast render combined with brickwork on the chimney are of a later 'Bungalow' style, whilst the rendered bands of brickwork, rendered sills and lintels, the double hung timber windows, Georgian mullioned in the top sash and the odd surviving elements of stained glass all express the building's character from the earlier period.
The single storey building attached behind the two storey frontage, and which presumably formed part of the original Inn, gives the impression of having been a simple rectangular building covered by four, small hipped roofs connected by box gutters in the valleys between them. The original associated residence was described as being built of timber and would not appear to have survived.

History

In 1902, widow Alice Ottey obtained a wine and beer licence for her timber weatherboard and iron-roofed house which had been constructed sometime after she joined her husband Joseph in Parkerville in c. 1897. The house was reputed to be the second one built in Parkerville. The premises were known as the Railway Hotel. Soon after her daughter Catherine's marriage in May 1902, Alice rented the hotel to W. W. Bramwell and subsequently to retired surveyor W.H. Angove. Sometime between November 1905, and September 1906, Angove made substantial additions to the place and received a full public house licence. In February 1921, judging by an advertisement in The Motorist & Wheelman, the Railway Hotel, as it was still known, was a single storey building. At that time the proprietor was R.J. Congdon. Subsequent owners such as Eileen Smith have altered the building and today it bears little resemblance to the original building.
In 1995, approximately a quarter of what was the original 22 acre block owned by Joe and Alice Ottey, behind what is now the Parkerville Hotel was named the Alice Hebb Reserve. After Joe's death in December 1900, Alice had married Charles (Paddy) Hebb, and according to his memoirs, this reserve was originally given to the Mundaring Road Board for a recreation ground.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High- most of the original fabric intact for rear and to storey addition.
Modifications: Two storey addition at front 1926 (?)

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.