Industrial School (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places.

Physical Description

The former Industrial School (1896) is a good example of the Federation Romanesque revival style, with a large central arched entrance between domed turrets under a stone pediment. For more detail refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places. (Ref: HCWA & AHC assessment documentation.)

History

The former Industrial School (1896) was a reformatory for delinquent and destitute children, designed by Robert Haddon (later prominent in Melbourne) under George Temple Poole, PWD Chief Architect. Additions were carried out in 1898, 1901and 1913. It was converted to become the State's first public maternity hospital, KEMH, in 1916, after much public campaigning. Edith Cowan (1861-1932) was a leading member of the committee to establish the hospital. When the Main Entry Block was built (1939) the fmr Industrial School became the Ante-natal clinic. In 1949 it was renamed Harvey House, in honour of a fmr matron. Since 1988 it has been a Medical Museum. For more detail refer to HCWA's Assessment Documentation of Places for Entry in the Register of Heritage Places. (Ref: HCWA & AHC assessment documentation.) The area of West Subiaco developed primarily as residential from the early 1900s. Most of the main roads were gazetted by 1883, but were unsealed until the 1900s. Derby Road was named after Lord Derby, Secretary for Colonies. Hensman Road was named after Mr A P Hensman, Judge and Attorney General. The first houses were established in streets closest to the commercial area along Hay Street and Rokeby Road, and the area west of the civic square, including Barker, Bagot, Hensman, Douglas, Lawler, Loretto, Raphael, Denis and Rowland Streets. Another early subdivision was located along Rokeby Road, and included Rawson, Campbell, Coolgardie, Duke, and Union Streets. Most of the West Subiaco precinct was developed by 1915, with the most recent houses to be built by c1925 in the south west corner. Two land releases, called Redfern Estates No. 1 and No. 2, were situated along the railway line opposite the new suburb of Daglish. Early public buildings in the West Subiaco precinct included the Industrial School on Barker Road (1897), later converted into King Edward Memorial Hospital in 1916. (Sources: Wise's Post Office Directory 1905-1925; Real Estate Maps, Battye Library Collection; Spillman, Ken, Identity Prized: A History of Subiaco, City of Subiaco, UWA Press, 1985; Chate, A, H., History of Subiaco, c1952.)

Uses

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update