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Rechabite Hall

Author

City of Perth

Place Number

02155
There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

224 William St Perth

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Commonwealth Trading Bank Store
Independent Order of Rechabites Hall (fmr)

Local Government

Perth

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1924

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents More information
Heritage List Adopted 06 May 2022
Heritage List Adopted 09 Jan 2004
Heritage List Adopted 20 Dec 1985
Heritage Agreement YES 19 Mar 2018 Text of the Heritage Agreement
Heritage Council
State Register Registered 20 Dec 2002 Register Entry
Assessment Documentation
Heritage Council

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management More information
Category Description
Local Heritage Survey Adopted 28 Mar 2023 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Local Heritage Survey Completed\Draft Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Municipal Inventory Adopted 13 Mar 2001 Category 1

Category 1

Exceptional significance - Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.

Classified by the National Trust Recorded 07 Mar 1978

Heritage Council
Perth Draft Inventory 99-01 YES 31 Dec 1999

Heritage Council

Statement of Significance

The place is a local landmark as a key component of the eastern streetscape of William Street between Roe and Newcastle Street. It is an intact example of an Inter-War Classical style building and it’s markedly different from its neighbours in scale and design.
The place reflects a secondary development boom which occurred in the area in the 1920’s and played an important role in the development of the Independent Order of Rechabites in Western Australia.
The place continues to play a significant role in the social life of the Northbridge/Perth Cultural Centre vicinity. Its long-term association with entertainment and cultural functions contributes to the community’s sense of place.
The place is the only remaining Friendly Society building of four contemporaries that existed in the immediate area and is one of the few remaining major buildings designed by architect Edwin Summerhayes.
The place is representative of the predominance of temperance and friendly societies in the 1920’s and 1930’s in Western Australia.

Physical Description

Rechabite Hall is a two-storey commercial building, previously currently occupied by the ‘Rechabites’ Hall Theatre’. The main building and two ground floor tenancies are currently vacant.
At street level the William Street façade has a cement rendered plinth which extends across the width of the building and a recessed central entrance to the hall with double leaf, panelled timber doors. To each side of the entrance is a retail tenancy with a glazed shopfront. The glazing above door head height is divided into square panes with metal framing. Above the awning the façade has a symmetrical composition of classical components and a prominent raised rectangular pediment in the centre of the parapet. The composition is broken into three
bays with pilasters featuring Ionic Order capitals. The central bay over the main entrance has a large blocked arched over the window opening. The glazing at the upper level comprises small square panes of glazing in metal framing.

History

During the 1890’s, the gold-rushes had a profound impact on the state’s economy. Commercial and residential development was rapid in all parts of the town and land became a sought after commodity. Hutt Street (renamed William Street in 1897/98) underwent massive changes during this period with Perth Town Lot Y34, being the land on Hutt Street between Francis and James streets, first subdivided in 1896. The northern portion of the block was divided into six portions. Most of the southern portion of Y34 was transferred to Claude Edward Crocker, and in 1917 was sub-divided into four lots.
Following its construction in 1924 Rechabite Hall became headquarters for the Rechabite Society in Perth and used as a meeting place for annual conferences and for social events. The hall and clubrooms were also hired to outside organisations. The land was transferred to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 1947 and converted to banking chambers. The bank transferred to new premises in 1978 after which Multiplex Constructions occupied the building for a period until1986 during which the hall and ground floor were severely damaged by fire. The place was restored and re-opened as a performing arts venue in 1998.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity.
Medium level of authenticity as it is intact, has had internal modifications.

Condition

Very Good

Associations

Name Type Year From Year To
Edwin Summerhayes Architect - -

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
William Street Conservation Plan by the Building Management Authority 1995
Central Perth Heritage Inventory MRA 2016
1.30/224 Heritage Place File City of Perth

Other Keywords

Local Heritage List - Normalisation effective from 6 May 2022 upon the gazettal of City Planning Scheme No. 2 Amendment No. 46 and Local Planning Scheme No. 26 (Normalised Redevelopment Areas) Amendment No. 4 (refer to Council Ordinary Meeting held on 31 August 2021)

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
282 Rechabite Hall : restoration and redevelopment feasibility study. Heritage Study {Other} 1992
3359 Resurrecting Rechabite Hall : a conservation study. Heritage Study {Other} 1990
9385 William Street Implementation Works - Photographic Archive Record Archival Record 2009
6780 Independent Order of Rechabites Hall, 224 William Street, Northbridge : conservation plan. Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 1994
5829 Rechabite Hall, 224 William Street, Northbridge, WA : future use study, Stage 1 report. Heritage Study {Other} 1998
9560 Rechabite Hall, 224 William St, Northbridge: conservation plan. Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} 2009

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Other Community Hall\Centre
Original Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Other Community Hall\Centre

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Classical

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Rendered Brick
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Institutions
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Sport, recreation & entertainment
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

05 Aug 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.