Woodanilling Shire Council Offices

Statement of Significance

The site is important for its association with local government in the shire.

Physical Description

The brick and tile tuscan style building adjoins the existing hall/offices structure. The
entrance is on the west corner facing Robinson Road. A reception area leads to the office
area on the south side of the building and the council chambers on the north east with a
small kitchen area at the rear (SE corner).

A doorway was made to connect the reception area with the original hall/offices.

History

The Woodanilling Road Board was formed in 1906. This gave local independence to a
small community which for many years had small pockets of European settlement
established on its perimeter. The townsite of Woodanilling had been gazetted in 1892,
several years after the completion of the Great Southern Railway. The 'iron horse' now
linked the colony's main port, Albany in the south with its commercial centre and capital,
Perth.

The present Woodanilling Shire area was included in the Kojonup Road Districts by the
Act in 1871. Following the creation of further road boards in 1887 and 1892, the
Kojonup boundaries were again altered. In 1887, the Arthur Road Board was gazetted
with the areas due north of a line passing through the 147 mile post being excised from
the Kojonup board. This placed much of the Woodanilling area in the Arthur Road Board
until 1892 when the Katanning Road Board was formed. The new 'Katanning Board'
northern boundary went from the 147 mile post on the Albany Road east to Boyerine Pool
and Woolkabunning Waterhole and was bound on the west by the Albany Road. This
meant a considerable portion of the present Woodanilling Shire remained in the Arthur
Road Board until the Wagin Road Board was excised from the Arthur in 1896.

The initial meetings of the Board were held in the Agricultural Hall until the office was
uilt. When Elijah Bell built the new hotel a new site had to be found for the office and it
was relocated on Robinson Road near where the Co-op was later built.

The offices at the hall entrance continued to be used for this purpose until the
construction of the new office faculties adjoining in 1976. The offices then were used as
a library and in recent years as a landcare office.

Integrity/Authenticity

Orignal Materials: MOst
Modofocations: Few

Condition

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.