History Village Precinct, Kalamunda

Child Places

• 24852 Post Office (1921-1971)
• 24642 Kalamunda Public Library
• 24800 Kalamunda State School Building
• 24795 Ellis' Cottage
• 24781 Small Post Office (1901-1921)
• 17584 Kalamunda Railway Station
• 24778 McCullagh Cottage
• 17583 Herb Circle
• 24796 Chambers House
• 25340 Small Station Building

Statement of Significance

Kaicimunda History Village has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: . The place is a unique example of an outdoor museum developed with a representative set of relocated civic and private buildings around the district's original railway station precinct. . The Kalamunda Railway Station is a fine example of the development of timber railway station passenger buildings by the Western Australian Government Railways between 1906 - 1927 and appears to be an uncommon example of a Railway Station containing buildings dating from 1906 and 1927. . The place has social significance for Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society/ the residents of Kalamunda and the numerous children who visited the site. . The place is associated with the development of Kalamunda's early timber industry, the construction of the Upper Darling Range Railway line and the development of the Kalamunda district as an agricultural area and holiday destination. . The place is a landmark at the eastern end of Haynes Street and terminates the northern end of Kalamunda's heritage precinct. . The place has scientific value as a teaching site which disseminates information on the development of the Kalamunda district/ transport and technology. Aesthetic Value The 1927 Railway building/ with its arts and crafts chorac+eristics and lichen covered roof tiles, is of a size and form that blends ortisticaliy in the bush environment of Kalamunda History Village. KQlamunda History Village/ with the prominent row of Pinas+er pines and the dominant presence of_the Railway Station/ is a prominent landmark at the eastern end of Hayes Street and terminates the northern end of Kolamunda's Heritage Precinct. While the placement of some of the buildings within the Village have led to restricted 'street' views of the northern end of the Village, the random plantings and the similar form and scale of the relocated buildings, creates a pleasant atmosphere which is reminiscent of a small 'village' set in a bush environment. This atmosphere is further enhanced by the Railway Station Precinct and the screen provided by the Pinaster pines. The Kalamunda Railway Station buildings present as an integrated precinct even though the structures were built at different times. While the 1927 building is the larger of the pair, its scale does not completely dominate the smaller 1906 building. The buildings are given further cohesion by the presence of the platform and the G118 locomotive. Historic Value The Kalamunda Railway Precinct is an important remnant of Kalamunda's historical development. While the timber industry was the foundation for the establishment of Kalamunda/ it was not until the Upper Darling Range Railway was constructed that this industry became viable. Once the line was constructed/ it enabled the further development of agricultural industries and recreational activities which became the backbone for Kalamunda's development. The Kalamunda Railway buildings are the only substantial built structures which remain of the Upper Darling Range Railway. The 1927 Railway Station Building is a good example of the style of timber and tile station building that the Western Australian Government Railways Department was building across the state during the 1920s and 1930s. The Kalamunda Railway Precinct demonstrates the growth of Kalamunda's importance on the Upper Darling Range Railway through the construction of a larger railway station building in 1927. The retention of the earlier station building at Kalamunda also demonstrates changing building styles in the government railways' portfolio. Kalamunda History Village reflects the rising concern of some members of the Kalamunda district to conserve their heritage in the wake of modem expansion. The opening of the Village in 1971 reflects a national trend which saw the development of a number of 'pioneer villages' in the 1960s and 1970s. The present layout of Kalamunda History Village and the management plans commissioned by the Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society/ demonstrate changing practices in museum management and the growth of the Historical Society's expertise in the management of an outdoor museum. Scientific Value The collection of buildings within Kalamunda History Village/ together with the technical displays/ plays an important role in providing historical! Information on the development of the Kalamunda district to visitors of all ages, from inter-state/ intrastate and also overseas. Social Value Kalamunda History Village is highly valued by members of the Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society as it enables them to carry out part of their mission statement which is to preserve and display the history of the Kalamunda district. Through their efforts to conserve Kalamunda's history the place has become on important venue for children's learning activities. Although Kalamunda History Village has been developed through the acquisition of buildings which are not original to the site, the place has become important to residents of the Kalamunda as a repository for old buildings which may have been lost to the district if they were not relocated and also engenders a sense of place for the community at large. Rarity The retention of the 1906 WAGR portable building, together with the later 1927 station building is an uncommon example of the retention of buildings from these two different building phases. Kalamunda History Village is a unique example in Western Australia of a history village composed of relocated buildings from within the local district that have been erected around a railway station precinct. Condition All of the buildings and structures within Kalamunda History Village have been well maintained and are generally in good condition although there are some isolated problems which do not affect any of the buildings' structural integrity. For example, the timber edging to the Railway Station Platform has begun to fail/ there is evidence of water penetration in both the 1927 Railway Station building, the 1906 Railway Station Building and Chambers' House Integritv As all of the buildings within Kalamunda History Village/ with the exception of the Railway Station Buildings, have been re-located to this site/ they have lost some of the integrity associated with their original location. This integrity lies chiefly in the manner in which the building related to Its original streetscape and the surrounding topography. Internally/ all of the buildings have maintained a moderate degree of integrity of the original plan of the building is intact. In addition some integrity is further lost as the buildings are no longer used for their original purpose. All of the buildings at Kalamunda History Village have moderate integrity. Authenticity Although the majority of the buildings at Kalamunda History Village have been relocated/ they have retained a high percentage of their original materials. All of the buildings at Kalamunda History Village have retained a high degree of authenticity.

Physical Description

Kalamunda History Village is in Kalamunda approximately 25 Km east of Perth. It occupies what was once the station yard on the former Upper Darling Range Railway Line. There is a driveway entrance off William Street and the main pedestrian entrance is via Railway Road. The site slopes down toward the west but has been levelled for the placement of the buildings. It is enclosed by a 2.8 metre high cyclone mesh fence topped by three strands of barbed wire. Opened in 1971 as the Kalamunda Historical Society's Museum/ it contains buildings and artefacts relevant to the history of Kalamunda. Original to the site are the 1903 platform and the 1906 and 1927 Station Buildings. Relocated on to the site are the Kalamunda State School (1905 - 1970), G Class locomotive (1897), Kalamunda Post Office (1921 - 1972), McCullagh Cottage 1898), Shop [first Kalamunda Post Office 1901 - 1921), windmill and water tank stand (c. 1908), Chamber's House (c. 1921), blacksmith's shop (c.1921), dunny, and Ellis Cottage (1909). Structures built on the site are the timber arch (1973), Les Neave Memorial Gates (1974), reconstructed sawpit (1978), orchard and carriage sheds and entrance pavilion (1988). Buildings and artefoc+s are arranged to offer glimpses of street scopes and examples of how various stages of Kalamunda 's history developed. They indicate the role and importance of the railway and timber industry/ development of community with schools and postal services, popularity as a holiday and tourist location and the ongoing sense of pride the community retains in its history and development. See national Trust record for detailed (10 page) descritpion of all buildings at date of assessment.

History

Assessment 2009 Construction: April 18th 1971 the Museum was officially opened. Original to site: 903 Platform 906 Station Building 927 Station Building Alteration/Additions Date: Kalamunda State School (1905-1970) – relocated to site 1970 G Class Locomotive (1 897) - relocated to site 1971 Timber Arch-built 1973 Les Neave Memorial Gates - installed 1974 Kalamunda Post Office (1921 -1972) – relocated to site 1975 Reconstructed Sawpif- built 1978 McCullagh Cottage (1898) -relocated to site 1980 Shop (first Kalomunda Post Office 1901 - 1921) - relocated to site 1980 Windmill and Water Tank Stand (c.1908) - relocated to site 1987 Orchard Shed-built 1988 Carriage Shed-built 1988 Entrance Pavilion - built 1988 Chamber's House (c.1921) relocated on site 1991 Dunny (unknown date) relocated on site 1991 Blacksmith's Shed (c. 1921) - relocated to site 1991 Ellis Cottage (1909) -relocated to site 1993 Workshop/Garage - built 1996 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Settlement of the Kalamunda region began in the 1860s. In 1864 Benjamin Mason established a timber mill at Carmel. To ease transport of the logs, he partnered with Francis Bird to commence the Mason Bird and Company's Tramway. Financial difficulty led to Bird withdrawing in 1877, and the Company being declared bankrupt in 1882. Edward Keane purchased the Company's timber licence in 1889 and began constructing a railway from Midland Junction to his sow mills at Canning Mills. He transferred the timber licence to Edward Noyes/ who transferred it to the Canning Jarrah Timber Company Limited. The government gave permission for the rail line in 1891, requiring a passenger service to be operated. As the district grew, the government opened the Government Provisional School Gooseberry Hill in 1895, on Railway Road. It was renamed the State School Kalamunda in 1902. In 1905 this was demolished and replaced with a new single room classroom, a second room being added later. By 1924 a larger site was required and the school buildings were moved to Heath Road. The Darling Range Roads Board (precursor to Shire of Kalamunda) was proclaimed in 1897. Settlers successfully petitioned the government to Kalamunda History Village, proclaim the townsite of Calamunnda (later changed to Kalamunda) in 1901. Complaints about the rail service were increasing and in 1902 the government bought the line and on 1st July 1903 the Upper Darling Range Line was opened. 1906 saw a small station building erected/ with a larger in 1927. The first Post Office was operated by Mr Hugh McCullogh and his wife from 1901 and in 1907 a telephone exchange was added. In 1921 Miss Ethel Chambers became Postmistress at the new Post Office/ which operated until 1972. her father built and settled the rest of the family in Kalamunda to join her. Binns and Kostero started the first bus service in 1924, with Charles Kostera taking over in 1925. Kostero's Kalamunda Bus Service operated until 1958, when the government took over. The rail service declined and in 1958 the Metropolitan bus Service took over the railway station site as their depot. The Kalamunda and District Historical Society was formed on 17th April 1969 to establish a museum. The Shire took over the old railway station site in 1973 and the Historical Society took over management. With the support of the Shire and the community the Historical Society developed the site/ opening the History Village in 1975. Continued support from the Society/ the Shire and the community has seen it grow; acquiring old and building new structures to create what is now the Kalamunda History Village.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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