Morawa Shire Office & Town Hall

Child Places

• 24868 Morawa Shire Offices
• 24873 Morawa Town Hall & Lesser Hall

Statement of Significance

This impressive and architecturally distinctive build ing in Art Deco st) le is a significant landmark expressive of the importance of the town and represents the progress which took place in Morawa during the depression. The hall was used for many years as a community centre and is of major social and civic importance to the people of Morawa. Together with the adjoining Council Offices, St. David's Church and Old Police Station opposite, this section of Prater Street could be considered as a heritage precinct with all four buildings constructed in the 1930s. The impressive facade of this building is of significance to the local community for its aesthetic expression of the importance of the town as a regional centre. It is also of significance for its general design characteristics; the clean lines and solid mass of its design in the Art Deco style representing the impact of modernism in country areas. * Because of its position and scale the building is a significant landmark creating a major civic focus for the community. It is the largest and most prominent building in Morawa . * The place is significant through association with many of the social, cultural and community functions of the region and is a major cultural and social centre highly valued by the local community. * This building is of historic value for the many events of local importance that have taken place within it and for being a representative example of the forward looking progress that took place in Morawa during the depression years. The place is also significant in the evolutional development of modern architecture in Western Australia and is significant in demonstrating the way that modernism was practised in relatively remote rural areas of the State. * Together with the adjoining Council Offices, St. David's Church and the Old Police Station opposite, this section of Prater Street could be regarded as a heritage precinct containing buildings of different architectural styles and all constructed in the 1930s. * The place is significant in demonstrating the characteristics of a class of cultural places or environments in the State. * The building is well maintained and in good condition. As to integrity and authenticity, the facade is in its original state and the likely long-term viability of the place is high. There have been modifications, alterations and additions to the rear and the interior has been much altered. As a result of cyclone damage the hall has been re-roofed .

History

Assessment 2000 Construction 1939 Alteration/Additions Date: Early addition of bio-box for (external) picture gardens; 1960s rear of main building extended; 1980 Jarrah panelling around stage removed, ceiling lowered and metal perforated tiles installed; 1992/3 new front doors installed, men's toilets removed, lesser hall remodelled internally with metal ceiling and carpet. Hall re-roofed as a result of cyclone damage. Architect/Designer: Eales Cohen & Fitzhardinge Builder : Hugh Knight Morawa is a wheat and wool producing town situated 370 km north of Perth and I 80 km south east of Geraldton. The area began its history when assistant surveyor and explorer A.C. Gregory travelled through in 1846 and the district has been open for selection since 1909. The railway from Mullewa came through to Morawa and was completed in 1914. For eight years after 1966, iron ore was mined in the Koolanooka Hills near Morawa and was the first iron ore exported from Australia. There is gold to the east and talc reserves to the west of Morawa. In the early days of local government several districts would be controlled by one Roads Board and early settlement in Morawa was under the Perenjori Roads Board. It was not until 21st August 1928 that the Morawa Roads Board became a separate entity and had its first official meeting. A Roads Board office was opened on 8th February 1930. The first Town Hall was built in 1924 /25 where the present Post Office is located and was extended three times.. According to Roads Board minutes it was decided to build the present Town Hall in 1939 from a design by Eales Cohen & Fitzhardinge.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update