The Retreat

Child Places

• 00388 House

Statement of Significance

• This former residence has heritage value as an good and largley intact example of the Federation Italiante style expressed in brick and iron.
• The place is a landmark in the streetscape as a prominent building in a highly visible location.
• This former residence has historic value for its association with the Barnard family who were leading members of the Busselton and wider regional community in the late 19th and early 20th century.
• The place has historic value as a demonstration of the type of large home built for professional men and their families.
• The place has social value for the Busselton community as it has been present in the streetscape since the late 19th century and contributes to the community sense of place.

Physical Description

The Retreat is a stucco masonry and corrugated metal sheet roof Victorian Regency style residence, converted for commercial use. It is symmetrically arranged with gabled bay windows to the east and west of the centrally located front entrance. The roof is steeply pitched and articulated with gables, finials and chimneys with corniced chimney caps. A verandah extends around the building with timber posts and a St. Andrew’s cross balustrade.

History

Previous research has proposed that the residence was built c1893 for the Byfield, Allpike and Ashton families as a holiday home although the Guerin family are also reputed to have been one of the original owners. The building has some stylistic similarities to No 58 West Street which suggest it may have been built and designed by the same team. In 1903, George William Barnard (1873-1941) and his wife Eliza Jane Bovell (1880-1951) moved into the house after the birth of their son Alan Barnard in May 1903. Mrs Maryllia Anne Ryan (nee Barnard) (1905-1984) lived in the house until she was married at 25 years of age. Mrs. Ryan in an interview (1977) ‘we used to have a lot of land around the
house down to Prince Street and across to Queen St.’ George William Barnard Jnr who lived at this residence was elected the Member for Sussex between 1924 and 1933
and like his father George William Barnard Snr was Mayor of Busselton for some years. The family was active in all aspects of the Busselton community from the Road Board to sporting groups and the Church. When Mrs. Ryan died she was the last of the Barnard family children who lived at the Retreat. The retreat remained in the hands of the Barnard family for 63 years until it was sold to the Paradise Motel in 1966 when it was considered
for demolition to expand the existing Motel located on the other side of Albert Street.
The Retreat was then sold to Woolworths Pty Ltd who purchased the land for a possible development as a supermarket, however Coles established a supermarket in 1975 and the development was put on hold. The retreat was purchased in 1975 by Dr Robert Jarvis and at this time the building underwent extensive renovations to cater for doctors’ surgeries and professional rooms. In 1977 the building housed an accountant’s office, a branch of the Busselton Health Centre and a clinical laboratory. Dr Jarvis sold to Keith Howard, car dealer who bought it as an investment property. The property continues to be used as medical rooms and was extended in 2003 resulting in the removal of several
palm trees.

Integrity/Authenticity

High/Moderate

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.