Nicholson Road Reserve

Child Places

• 09180 Croquet Club Building

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value as a cohesive grouping of single storey red brick buildings within a well maintained landscaped setting.
• the place has aesthetic value as a landmark in the community due to its location on a busy intersection and for the strong visual presence of the linear tree planting
• The place has historic value for its demonstration of the provision of community sporting facilities by the City of Subiaco for its residents
• The place has social value as many members of the Subiaco community have used the facilities for sport, passive recreation, functions and in more recently as a work place.

Physical Description

The Palms consists of a complex of buildings, structures and recreational facilities set amidst a green setting with landmark palm trees. The buildings including the main Community Hall, the Pétanque Club, toilet block and play centre. To the southern extent of the site is the PCYC building that does not form part of this assessment. In addition, the pétanque pistes, tennis courts and skateboarding rink contribute to the use of the space. Well planted gardens intermingle with lawned areas to the north of the Hall which also demonstrate the change in levels between the gardens to the north-west of the site and the pétanque pistes. A small shaded patio has been constructed in the western corner of the garden to the north of the parking area with additional benches located around the perimeter of the garden. Additional trees populate the children’s play area to the eastern end by Thomas Road and around the skateboarding area.

Community Hall
The current structure is considerably larger than the original hall due to various development phases. Whilst the building has been enlarged the design and form of the current structure is reflective of the original building. The low form has been retained and the contrast of terracotta roofing tiles, face brickwork and roughcast render has been maintained throughout all building phases.

The focal point of the façade is the central projecting bay. This element was the original verandah and brick balustrade. During a subsequent development phase, the width of the main hall was increased by pushing the front elevation out to the outer extremity of the verandah whilst retaining the original verandah canopy to form the roof of the additional space, in the form of a broken pitch roof.
The central projecting bay also retains the original hipped and gablet roof and verandah columns with brick infill. The bank of five windows is off-centre, creating an uncomfortable aesthetic due to the removal of the fire place and chimney, leaving a blank section of face brickwork. The trellis between the top of the wall and eaves is reflective of the decorative treatment to the original verandah.

The entrance is to the west of the bay and incorporates the original bank of four timber and glass doors. The pilaster to the west of the entry doors is the point where the original hall ended. All work to the west of this point was constructed in subsequent building phases.

The windows are arranged in banks of four openings with two casement openings and two fixed panes to each bank. Each bank is separated by a pilaster creating bays and rhythm to the façade.

A clear break in the building is visible to the east of the last bank of four windows. The eastern section of the community centre building was constructed in the 1980s as a gymnasium and has since been converted to office use. The form and execution of the addition is similar to the original building however it does differ in execution due to the use of materials ie. face brickwork to the lower section, roughcast render to the upper section with the two treatments separated by a projecting stringcourse of header bricks.

A similar entry statement to the hall has been constructed to the east end unifying the two sections of the building. The windows to this section are high level banks of three aluminium sliding openings with an aluminium door and sidelight to the entrance. Again each set of openings is separated by a brick pilaster following the same decorative treatment as this section of the façade.
The rear (south) elevation also no longer resembles its original form however it does benefit from uniformity of presentation due to the entire range presenting in the same manner ie. face brickwork to the lower sections, roughcast render to the upper section divided by a brick header stringcourse. The windows styles correspond to those on the front elevation with high level aluminium openings to the eastern section and timber framed openings to the west.

The aesthetics of the of the rear entrance are marred by the air conditioning plant on the roof above the rear entrance together with the metal mesh enclosure and platform. A storeroom constructed at the top of the ramp by the entry doors has been treated in a similar decorative manner to the two entry statements on the front elevation. A basement exists under the western section of the building accessed by double doors in the west elevation. The south east corner of the building accommodates public toilets.

Interior
Internally the hall has lost the majority of its planform and original fabric. The hall now presents as a large open space with a series of columns supporting the former verandah roof.

The ceiling is predominantly acoustic tiled with air conditioning vents and integral downlights. The ceiling to the former verandah follows the rake of the roof and is lower than the main roof creating a shallow builk head. The walls are plastered and in parts covered with fabric padded panels. The flooring is jarrah boards.

The western end of the hall accommodates toilets, bar and the kitchen. The bar is located in a former storeroom and now is open to the eastern end with a bar bench extending across the full width of the opening. The kitchen is accessed directly from the hall and also has an interconnecting door with the bar. The kitchen is fitted out with a standard commercial kitchen and finishes. The toilets are also standard fit-out with tiled floors, plastered and plasterboard walls, partitioned cubicles, white sanitary ware, high level windows to the cubicles and extractor fans in the ceiling.

The east end of the hall contains a storeroom in part of the original verandah area and the entry into the addition via a flush panelled door.

The central hallway/void between to the two sections of the building is effectively dead space containing additional toilet facilities and a sloped access into the eastern section. The walls to this section are plastered and painted, the ceiling is acoustic tiles and the concrete floor is carpeted. The door into the adjoining offices is an over-height door extending the full height from ground to ceiling level.

The offices in the eastern section occupy the former gymnasium and have recently been upgraded providing additional City of Subiaco offices. The walls are a combination of plasterboard and painted brickwork with demountable internal partitioning erected to form separate offices. The ceiling is acoustic tiled with air conditioning units and panel lighting. The floor is carpeted concrete slab. The office space incorporates a small kitchen/staff area in the south west corner of the space.
Toilet Block
The toilet block is sandwiched between the main community hall building and the Pétanque Club. The building form is a regular rectangular shape with male and female facilities at opposite ends of the block. The toilets were formed by the adaptation of a former workshop. The interior was completely remodelled to create the toilets and necessitated the structure being extended to accommodate the new facilities but utilised the existing fabric and form of the building in the extended section. Windows were inserted into all but the east elevation. The original door entry in the west wall was blocked up with new entrances and screen walls constructed on the north and south walls. The original internal wall dividing the workshop from the original toilet facilities was retained and used as the dividing wall between the male and female facilities.
The Pétanque Club
The Pétanque Club is located in the former croquet/bowling club building, a single storey building of brick and tile construction that has been little altered since its original construction. The roof is hipped clad with terracotta tiles and terracotta finials at the apex of the ridge. A lower level hipped roof following the same form and pitch extends to the east above the kitchen element. The eaves are open around the entire perimeter of the building. The building sits on a limestone base.

Although the plan form of the building is asymmetric due to the smaller kitchen section at the east end of the building, the main façade does present with symmetrical features. The central French doors which are similar to the original multi-paned French doors are flanked by windows to the hall. Originally these windows were multi-paned timber casement openings but have subsequently been replaced with single pane openings with angled brick sills. The verandah has also been modified with the solid brick piers being replaced with dwarf brick pier with fluted Doric style columns above.

To the east of the main part of the building is a small kitchen, set back from the main façade and the roof line below the main roof line, extending out from the main hip. A flat cantilevered canopy extends out above the kitchen door. The door is the original timber panelled door. The original multi-paned timber framed window remains in the east wall. A brick chimney projects through the eastern end of the roof although the original stove/fire has been removed internally.

The rear elevation is essentially a blank brick elevation with a central three sectioned timber framed window in the main elevation. The kitchen section is also stepped in from the main rear elevation.

The west elevation also presents as a blank elevation enlivened only by a timber framed multi-paned casement opening and an air conditioning unit plumbed into the wall.
Interior
Internally the hall has altered little. The timber floor is extant with the low level timber lockers extending across the rear wall. There are only two rooms to the clubhouse: the main hall and the kitchen with the original planform remaining extant. The fibre cement sheet ceiling to the hall has been replaced with plasterboard but the original panelled ceiling remains extant in the kitchen and is at a lower level than the main ceiling. The walls to the hall have lost the timber panelling to the lower section of the walling and are now flush plaster board walls.

Viewing shelter
The viewing shelter is located on the northern side of the Pétanque pistes. The simple shelter is of timber frame construction with weatherboard cladding to the lower sections of the external elevation and lattice cladding to the upper sections creating airflow and visibility through the structure. Internally the lower sections are clad with timber panels. The roof is a small hipped form with twin finials on the short ridge, clad in terracotta tiles and is open to the underside with the roof timbers being a feature of the internal space and has deep open eaves to all sides of the structure. Although in good condition, the weatherboard and timber panelling has been stained by bore water.

Pétanque Pistes
The pistes have been constructed in the same location as the earlier bowling greens and croquet lawns. The four pistes are approximately the same dimensions and are surfaced with loose gravel.

Play Group
The play group building is of similar presentation and form to the Pétanque Club being a single storey brick range with hipped terracotta tiled roof, open eaves, multi-paned timber framed casement windows and is of simple rectangular shape. The main entrance is on the west elevation via timber and glass double doors with a shallow canopy projecting over the door which is the continuation of the main roof.

The east elevation is the main face of the building and faces away from the complex of other buildings in The Palms and away from the main gardens/former bowling green area and looks out towards Thomas Road. The original timber framed multi-paned casement openings to the east elevation have been replaced with aluminium sliding openings and the two sets of French doors have been replaced by aluminium sliding doors. The verandah canopy is a continuation of the main roof, supported on timber columns and open to all sides with concrete deck.

The north elevation is dominated by a four section timber framed multi-paned window arrangement which is the only feature to this elevation. A high level air conditioning unit has been added. The south elevation is not the original south wall, with an addition to form toilet and storage facilities being constructed in the 1980s. Sections of the original south wall were retained and adapted to accommodate the new door openings into the additional space. The roof line was extended with the new section of roof to match the original. Although the brick work has been laid utilising the same bond as the original structure, the difference in brick colour is discernible.
Interior
Internally the space is open plan with a large play area, kitchenette at the north end of the room; toilet and storage facilities at the southern end. The floor is concrete with vinyl covering. The walls and ceiling are plastered and painted, with a shallow cornice and skirting extending around the room. The toilets are standard finish with tiled walls and floor, plastered ceiling with simple cornice and high level windows in each of the two cubicles and one in the central area.

Skateboard Park
The skateboard park is located on the Thomas Street edge of The Palms, under the shelter of trees with ramps and bowls constructed from concrete.

Tennis Courts
The tennis courts are located on the Rokeby Road frontage, below the car park. Two hard courts enclosed with high metal mesh fencing with a Balinese cabana providing seating and shade to the north of the courts.

History

The land on which The Palms Community Centre is located was designated as a Municipal Reserve in 1902. (Figure 1) Since that time the Nicholson Road Reserve, as it was commonly known, has been associated with community and sporting clubs.

Subiaco developed rapidly throughout the 1890s and the Municipality of Subiaco was proclaimed in 1897. Tram services had been operating along Rokeby Road from Hay Street to the gates of Kings Park from 1900.

The reserve was slowly developed through the 1910s and 1920s and in 1928 the Subiaco Council allocated a sum of £1000 to improvements of the reserve and the construction of a ‘pavilion of a neat design’ presumably for the Subiaco Croquet Club. (Figure 2) The Subiaco Croquet Club had previously been located at what is currently known as Rankin Gardens. It is possible that the club rooms were not built at this time as a later newspaper article indicates that the Rankin Gardens club rooms were relocated to the Nicholson Road Reserve.

Throughout 1928, the Nicholson Road reserve underwent improvements including the preparation of tennis courts, fencing and improvements to the gardens. The tennis courts have been a feature of the reserve since then. Originally grassed the courts were resurfaced with bitumen in 1981 and have since been laid with an artificial hard court surface. The associated fencing, seating and more recent gazebo have been added to and modified since the creation of the reserve.

Shortly after the establishment of the Croquet Club at the reserve the Subiaco Council decided to relocate the Subiaco Bowling Club to this location. The bowling club had also been located within Rankin Gardens. At the end of January 1929 the Subiaco Municipal Council’s works committee recommended that the Subiaco Bowling Club be given notice:
… that the present green at the gardens will not be available for them after this season, but that an 8-rink green will be made available if required at the Nicholson-road reserve.
Tenders were called for the construction of the new bowling club pavilion at the reserve and by mid-February a tender of £1,086 from W.H. Ralph & Son had been accepted for the construction of this building. The bowling club moved to the Nicholson Road Reserve in September 1929. (Figure 3):
The annual meeting of the Subiaco Bowling Club will be held in the new clubrooms on Monday night next. The club has just moved from the old green to the new green at the corner of Nicholson and Rokeby roads, where an increased number of rinks has been provided. A new brick pavilion and clubroom has been erected by the Subiaco Municipal Council, and every convenience provided for bowlers.
The construction of the new club house was reported as follows:
A club house has been erected at the bowling green at the Thomas-street reserve, for the Subiaco Municipal Council, at a cost of about £1,100. The building consists of a club room (12 feet by 12 feet), a visitors' room (12 feet by 12 feet), a kitchenette, tea room (24 feet by 32 feet) and a locker room (12 feet by 21 feet). It is built of brick, with a tiled roof, and all the necessary conveniences are installed. The club house, which was erected as part of the improvements being carried out by the Subiaco Council at the reserve, is situated in the centre of the ground, and commands a splendid view of the bowling green on the north, and of the tennis courts on the south. Mr. H. [Herbert] Parry was the architect.
George Herbert Parry (1882-1951) was a well-respected architect in Western Australia. He was a son of the Church of England Bishop of Perth and received his early education at the High School in Perth, completing his scholastic studies at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury, England. Subsequently Parry was articled to the profession of architecture with Mervyn Macartney in London, also gaining experience in the office of Ernest Newton. Returning to Western Australia in 1907, Herbert joined the Public Works Department. Parry resigned from government service in 1908 to join in a successful partnership with brothers M.F. and J.C. Cavanagh. Parry was admitted as an Associate of the West Australian Institute of Architects in March 1909, and by April 1911 had established himself in practice on his own account at Perth.
With the strong connection to the Church of England through his father, Parry’s business development at least partly resulted from the design of a large number of Anglican Church buildings. It is not surprising that Parry was honorary architect to St George’s Cathedral for many years, Parry was joined in practice by another highly talented West Australian architect, Marshall Clifton (1903–1975), in 1929 and again from 1933 to June 1937, and some of Clifton’s influence can be seen in the designs from this period. Active in professional matters, Parry was President of the Royal Institute of Architects of Western Australia (RIAWA) during the war years of 1940-1941. Herbert Parry appears to have continued to practice right up until his death at Subiaco on 12 February 1951, aged 68 years.

The two clubs and the tennis courts were used throughout the 1930s. In 1933, a report on ‘fifty years of progress’ in Subiaco included the following description:
Eight years ago the triangular block of land bounded by Thomas-street, Nicholson-road and Rokeby-road was nothing but an eyesore. To the great credit of the municipal council, this has been turned into a most attractive public reserve, and is justly claimed to be one of the best small parks in the metropolitan area. At this reserve are the grounds of the Subiaco Bowling Club and the Subiaco Croquet Club, together with the Subiaco municipal tennis courts, the whole surrounded by pretty gardens.
The Croquet pavilion had deteriorated by the mid 1930s and the Subiaco Council decided to construct a new brick building, designed by architect, Harold Krantz, (Figure 4), and the club rooms were officially opened in April 1938, (Figure 5):
A brick pavilion for the use of the Subiaco Croquet Club, facing its green in Nicholson-road, Subiaco, was opened yesterday afternoon by the Mayor (Mr. W. Richardson). It replaces a wooden structure which had served the club since its erection in the Municipal Gardens 30 years ago. Having a tiled roof, the building is approached direct from the green by a concrete-floored verandah 34ft. by 12ft., the roof of which is supported by massive square brick piers. It contains a hall 34ft. by 16ft., with a kitchen at the eastern end 8ft. by 16ft. The walls are tinted to blend with the colour scheme of the soft furnishings, which are in maroon and gold-the colours of the club. Along the rear wall is a seat formed of lockers. A server window and door give access to the kitchen, which contains plenty of cupboards, a copper, sink and draining board, and which opens on to a concrete landing. The building, which is well lit and generally attractive, cost about £500.
Harold Krantz (1906-1999) was born in Adelaide in 1906 and moved to Perth in 1927 to work with his uncle Harold Boas with the firm Oldham Boas Ednie-Brown. Although registering as an architect in 1929, Krantz operated a commercial art business from 1929 to 1931. While operating this business Krantz honed the principles of economy through mass production. Krantz returned to architecture in 1931 with simple designs that strove for cost efficiency. He described his philosophy in relation to architecture as follows:
And so when I got back into architecture I started off with the design. It had to be as functional as possible with no frills, no decoration, the use of colour and materials, good planning, no waste of space, no passages and no breaks and funny shapes. The objective was to study every element in the building from the skirting, from the foundations, up to the top of the roof. Is there a better way of doing it for the same money, or a better job for less, or just as good a job for less money.
In the mid to late 1930s, after a number of small projects such as the Subiaco Croquet Club, Krantz, together with associate architects Margaret Pit Morison and John Oldham, began to design small blocks of flats and flat conversions. It was these flat projects for which Krantz is most commonly known.

The timber viewing shelter which is currently located north of the Pétanque pistes is presumed to be built for the croquet club when the club was established on the reserve or shortly thereafter. The shelter is in evidence in 1948 (Figure 26) close to the croquet lawns and its style is consistent with this period. The shelter may have been relocated from the original club venue in the Rankin Gardens but no evidence has been found to support this supposition.

The 1940s and 1950s appear to have been a period of popularity and success for the Subiaco Bowling Club with several individuals and teams achieving success in state competitions. Photographs from this period show the detail of the exterior of the clubrooms. (See Figure 6, Figure 11 and Figure 12)The Municipality of Subiaco became the City of Subiaco in 1952.

In 1955, plans were prepared for the extension of the Subiaco Bowling Club pavilion to the west by architect Leo Cuthbert Clark (1913-1999). Clark had more than a professional interest in the club as he was a regular member of the Subiaco Bowling Club and achieved some success as a player. (Figure 7 and Figure 8) The addition doubled the size of the building and consisted of a new recreation hall, extension to the kitchen and a new secretary’s room. No further information relating to this architect has been found in this research.

In 1958, an existing brick shed between the bowling club and the croquet club was converted to a toilet block to be used by the bowling and croquet clubs. (Figure 10)

In 1965, alterations to the kitchen, female toilets and coolroom of the Bowling Clubrooms were undertaken to designs prepared by architects Parry, Rosenthal and Associates. At the same time the brick steps on the southern side of the clubhouse were removed and replaced with a ramp.

In 1973, plans were prepared by the Subiaco Council officers for the enclosure of the Bowling Club Rooms verandah. (Figure 13)

In 1974, the Subiaco Police and Citizens Youth Club relocated to the south west corner of the site in a purpose built building resulting in the demolition of the tram stop on the southern corner of the reserve. The Subiaco Police and Citizen’s Youth Club was one of the five original clubs commenced in Western Australia in 1941. They originally occupied premises in Hay Street and then Raphael Street, Subiaco, and in 1971, began negotiations with the City of Subiaco to occupy portion of the Nicholson Road Reserve. Architects W.G. Bennett, Allen and Allen prepared plans for the new club rooms in 1973 and the building was completed in 1974. The new building was paid for through funds raised by the Club and by a loan provided by the City of Subiaco.

William Garnsworthy Bennett (1896-1977) was born near Ballarat Victoria and in 1910 Bennett came to Western Australia. After a brief period as an apprentice to a coach builder Bennett attended the Perth Technical School, studying architectural drafting and allied subjects. In April 1919, Bennett achieved honours in his studies and was first articled to Francis James Coote and later to Eales & Cohen.
In July 1924, he became the first locally trained architect to pass the examination of the Architects Board of Western Australia. By 1930 he was a partner in the firm Eales, Cohen & Bennett (ECB). He left the partnership and formed his own firm at the end of June 1935. During the mid to late 1930s William Bennett was responsible for the renovation of a number of existing hotels and the building of new hotels in the modern styles fashionable at the time. After a prolonged break for service in the Second World War Bennett returned to practice and in 1949 joined with Nancy Lorne Allen who had worked for Bennett from 1935, becoming a partner along with her brother Douglas in 1949. Bennett formed a short lived alliance with Robert Blatchford and James W. Johnson as Bennett, Blatchford, Allen & Johnson. The firm was designated W.G. Bennett, Allen & Allen by 1962. From this time the practice undertook domestic and commercial commissions as well as projects for local councils. The Subiaco Police and Citizens Boys Club was one of these projects and may have been one of the last projects with some involvement by Bennett before his death in 1977.

During the 1970s the Subiaco Bowling club experienced a decline in membership which resulted in financial difficulties. A suggested resolution to this problem was an amalgamation with the Western Suburbs Rugby Club. This amalgamation in 1976 resulted in the formation of the Subiaco Sporting Club. In 1978, a new patio cover was installed over the original entrance to the Bowling Club. (Figure 14)

In 1982, a portion of the reserve was dedicated to create a play group centre for the Subiaco community. A plan for a simple centre was prepared by the City of Subiaco officers in May 1982 in a style which was consistent the form and detail of the former bowling and croquet clubrooms. The centre was immediately popular and an additional toilet and storeroom were constructed in 1986. (Figure 15 and Figure 18)

In 1983, as a result of the formation of the Subiaco Sporting Club a new gymnasium was added onto the eastern side of the former bowling club building. It was stipulated by the council that the additions should retain the same exterior finish as the original portion of the club house. (Figure 16 and Figure 17)

Despite the new facilities the Subiaco Bowling Club continued to decline in membership and a proposal was put forward to amalgamate the Subiaco Sporting Club with the Celtic Club. Plans were prepared by architects, Parry and Rosenthal to accommodate this new purpose but the amalgamation did not go ahead. (Figure 19) In 1987, the Subiaco Sporting Club was disbanded and in 1988 the remaining members of the Subiaco Bowling Club joined with the Hollywood Bowling Club.

In 1993, the Subiaco Croquet Club was disbanded and the clubroom and greens were adopted by the Subiaco Pétanque Club c1996. The Pétanque Club removed the grass lawn and replaced it with the hard dirt and gravel for their game. This club continues [2013] to use the reserve and former Croquet clubrooms.

In 1999, the City of Subiaco undertook to develop the former Bowling Club Building as a community centre and engaged architects Hames Sharley to prepare plans for the refurbishment of the building for this purpose. (See Figure 20 and Figure 21) These additions consisted of opening up the interior of the existing space to create one large space primarily through the removal of the bar in the centre of the room. In 2000, ‘The Palms Community Centre’ was officially reopened on 13 October 2000 by the Mayor of Subiaco, Tony Costa.

As a continuation of this community function a skate park was constructed to the rear of the PCYC building c2000. The skate park was upgraded in 2013 and the original designers of the park ‘Convic’ were engaged to increase the size of the facilities. A free event was held on 21 September 2013 to mark the opening of the facility and funding of the upgrade was made possible with a grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation.

In 2007, the former gymnasium was converted to use as a clubrooms and was used for some years by the Marathon Club of WA. In 2013, these rooms were refurbished for occupancy by officers from the City of Subiaco.

In 2013, the place continues to be used for community and private functions.

A feature of the reserve is the well maintained gardens which have been the responsibility of the City of Subiaco since the creation of the reserve in 1902. The instigation for naming the community centre ‘The Palms’ are the perimeter planting of palm trees Phoenix Canariensis. From the evidence of aerial photographs it seems that the palms were in evidence in 1948 and the Ficus Hilli, Fig trees were in evidence on Thomas Street boundary.
Further research of the City of Subiaco records may reveal when the trees were planted however it seems that a programme of street planting was well underway in Subiaco in the 1930s. This had begun with the appointment of a ‘skilled gardener’ in 1924. The gardener was employed;
To take charge of the various parks, gardens and recreation grounds and under his direction a great improvement in the condition of those areas has taken place. He has formed a nursery with palm house and propagating establishment complete, in which he raises all the trees, shrubs and flowers required and as a result the council will effect a considerable saving while maintaining the gardens in a satisfactory condition.
A photograph of a view down Thomas Street in 1928 whilst not conclusive indicates that there was some planting of trees on the reserve at this time. (Figure 24) A photograph of the southern corner of the reserve in 1958 shows that the growth of the palm trees on Rokeby Road had progressed uniformly. This photograph also shows the tram stop which was formerly located on this corner. (Figure 25)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High
Authenticity - Moderate
Rarity/Representativeness - The place is a good representative example of a well maintained municipal garden. The collection of buildings demonstrates evolution in styles and community use throughout the 20th century.

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.