Octagon Theatre

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

04573

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Location

Off Hackett Dv, University of Western Australia Crawley

Location Details

Other Name(s)

University of Western Australia
UWA

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1968

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - Assessed - Deferred	Current	10 Oct 2003

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Local Heritage Survey	Adopted	28 Mar 2023	Category 2	Category 2 Considerable significance - Very important to the heritage of the locality.
Local Heritage Survey	Completed\Draft		Category 2	Category 2 Considerable significance - Very important to the heritage of the locality.
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	24 Sep 2002
Survey of 20th Ctry Architecture	Completed	01 Mar 1988			Heritage Council
Register of the National Estate	Indicative Place				Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

As part of UWA, the place has historic significance representing development, settlement and the provision of higher education in the State.
It has social significance to the local and State-wide community, in particular the past and present students and staff.
The building was awarded the RAIA (WA) Bronze Medal Citation in 1969.

Physical Description

External walls are buff coloured concrete. Marseilles pattern terracotta tiles with sheet zinc on the lantern. Interior walls timber facing on insulation batts on concrete blocks. 36m in diameter, seats 750 people, all seats no more than 14m from the stage. Steeply terraced fan shaped auditorium, apron stage and orchestra pit. (For more detail Ref: AHC documentation)

History

A government decision in favour of a university for Western Australia was made in 1901, however a shortage of funds prevented it being established until 1913. The University Endowment Bill in 1903 allowed for land to be set aside for the future. The first location was a temporary one in Irwin Street, Perth, in a weatherboard building. The first Chancellor was John Winthrop Hackett.
In 1921 Crawley was chosen as the permanent site for UWA. The Irwin Street building was relocated there in 1932.The foundation stone for the Hackett Memorial Buildings was laid in 1929. They form the focal point and symbolic landmark of UWA.
First 'thrust' stage built in Australia, to a design by eminent British Shakespearean producer Sir Tyrone Guthrie. The partnership of Hill and Parkinson was awarded the RAIA (WA) Bronze Medal Citation in 1969 for the place.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
High level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
Hill and Parkinson	Architect	-	-

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	AHC Documentation

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Theatre or Cinema
Present Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Theatre or Cinema

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	CONCRETE	Concrete Block
Roof	TILE	Cement Tile

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Sport, recreation & entertainment

Creation Date

19 Jan 1996

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

23 Jul 2024

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.