Hale School (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The site is significant as being part of the early development of the "High School" as a non­ secular secondary education system in the State. Hale School or The High School as it was originally known was the foundation in the development of the private school education system in the state of Western Australia.

The School Buildings designed by the Public Works Department in 1913/ 1914 and the subsequent Memorial wing designed by Herbert Parry are significant for their architectural style in the scholastic Gothic mould. The style of the buildings is unique in Perth comparing only with two other buildings, Perth Modem School and The Perth Technical School designed by the Public Works Department at about the same period.
• The boarding house building is significant as an example of 1920's "Inter war Romanesque" , with references to the "Californian Bungalow" type, designed by Herbert Parry, architect, and displays economical yet imprec;sive design.

• The buildings and site have close association with Parliament House and The Old Observatory and form an integral part of the Parliamentary Precinct comprising these buildings and sites.

• The buildings are significant because of their intactness in overall form and general detail.
• The social history of the buildings and the site as The High School and subsequently Hale School and its association with the development of Perth and some of the leading figures in Perth and the Association with Bishop Hale.

• The buildings demonstrate a process of education system which is now past. They demonstrate the environs for the teaching methods and accommodation of student boarders operating in the early 20th Century.

• The site and buildings have high townscape values because of their form and location. This is emphasised by the nature of the openness of the site in relation to the density of the surrounding locality of West Perth.(General)

Physical Description

Early circa 1910 building has a steep duo pitch tile roof, possibly originally slate, a combination of brick and limestone walls with sandstone arches and columns. Gables feature pattern brickwork , windows are timber framed with small glazed openings and arched doorways. Internally, the building layout is dominated by a central passageway running east west with rooms branching off either side. A large assembly hall with high decorative plaster ceiling is located in the centre of the building. Interior features high moulded skirting, architraves and panelled doors.

The later 1920s building is a mixture of building periods and form. The building has a steep duo pitch clay tiled roof and face brick walls. Pattern brick panels emulate the details of the earlier circa 1910 building. The building form has been heavily disguised with the enclosure of most of the verandahs. Internally the original layout has been altered with new partition walls and modern ceilings. Windows are either timber or original steel framed and paned.

History

Assessment 1996
Construction :
1913 - 14 Original School Building (Extant)
1915 - 16 Gymnasium (Large timber structure to south west of site. Demolished early
1960s).
1916 - 17 Science Building. (Large timber structure to rear of main building. Demolished 1983)
1920 - 21Memorial Wing. ( Altered after demolishing of science building in 1983)
1944 Pavilion classroom (extant)
1946 Annory . (Timber framed building located between Gymnasium and Pavilion Classroom. Demolished post 1961.)
Ablution Block. (Timber framed structure on south side of Science Building. Demolished post 1961.)
other works: Addition of transportable building into rear courtyard.
Addition of brick transformer building on boundary with Observatory access drive.
Numerous other minor changes have been executed and are described in the Conservation Plan, Former Hale School Buildings, Havelock Street, West Perth, Palassis Architects and Oline Richards, April 1993 for the Building Management Authority.

The site defined as Perth Town Lot H138 was set aside in October 1900. The site is bounded by Havelock street, Parliament place and Havelock street. Buildings of significance adjoining the school site are the Old Observatory, Dumas House and the State Parliament building on the east side of Harvest Terrace.

• From the time of settlement in 1829 until the arrival of Bishop Hale in 1858 there was no secondary school in the Swan River Colony. The school was founded on the basic principles of morality and religious instruction. The emphasis on sport was to be passed on as a cornerstone of the educational philosophy of the High School and in tum led to the formation of the Public Schools Associations. In 1865 the name of the Institution became the Church of England Collegiate School. The church school closed due to lack of funds in 1872 but under Colonel Hayes the school continued on as a private venture until 1875.

In 1876 the Government recognising the need for secondary education in Western Australia introduced the High School Act. The High School officially opened it's doors in March 1878. The High School occupied various premises in the city including the Cloisters, rooms in the Pensioner Barracks and the former Mili tary Hospital at the comer of St Georges Terrace and George Street. The High School battled to maintain numbers at the tum of the century.

• The establishment of Modem School in 1911 and the University of Western Australia with its requirement of secondary education as a minimum condition of entry boosted secondary school enrolments. The development of The High School was a foundation in the development of the private school education system in the State. The High School moved to the West Perth Site in September 1914 with the establishment of the classrooms and assembly hall. Major additions to the school building built circa. 1920 included the Gymnasium 191511916, the Science Block 1916/1917 and the Memorial Wing 1920/l921 .

The School buildings were developed as a single storey complex built in stages over a num ber of years. The original concept, based on the traditional collegiate model with rooms grouped around a cloistered quadrangle, was never completed. The classrooms are grouped along a central passage which abuts the main assembly hall at the rear of the building. The majority of the original buildings remain relatively intact although the Gymnasium and Science Block have been demolished . A number of other isolated buildings adjoin the original school building.
• The building of the Boarding House in 1925/26 saw the schools teaching and residential facilities being brought together.

The Boarding House consists of a two storey building and basement, in the "Inter War Romanesque" style, with references to the "Californian Bungalow" type. The building was arranged in a traditional manner with dining and communal rooms on the ground floor and dormitory, infirmary and accommodation on the first floor. The layout allowed for supervision and control of the students, particularly during out of school hours.
The building has been modified over the years (particularly in the 1960's and 1970's) with the change of use from Boarding House to offices for the Education Department. Some of the original external detail has been altered or removed but essentially the original fabric of the building is retained. Various additions and alterations have impacted on the building mainly to the south and eastern sides of the building. In 1938/39, 200 acres were purchased in Wembley Downs. This was in response for a move away from the city centre and the distractions and temptations this created for the students and to provide for a large site to cater for the sporting activities of the school. In 1961 The High School , or Hale School as it had become known by then, relocated to Wembley Downs.

• The grounds have remained generally unaltered in topography and form from the period of school use. The effects of neglect and no apparent plan for the development of the grounds has resulted in the deterioration of the landscape in detail and overall character. Similarly fences and other landscape elements have been allowed to deteriorate or be removed . The large lawn area in front of the school building is currently used for car parking purposes.

• The Education Department occupied the buildings as its main headquarters from 1963 until 1983 when it was occupied by the Distance Education Centre. The school has been identified with many of the personalities of note including, businessmen, academics and sportsmen. Hillson Beasley and Herbert Parry the key Architects associated with the buildings were notable contributors to the early 20th Century buildings or the State. The school has high value in terms of location in relation to Parliament House

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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.