Parkerville Hall

Statement of Significance

The Parkerville Hall has high aesthetic, historic, social and townscape significance. It is a rare example in the Shire of its style and is a prominent focus in the townscape. The Hall was built by community support in 1922 and has continued to play a very important role in the life of the community.

Physical Description

The tall red brick hall, with butressed side walls and gable end front wall prominently addresses the street corner and provides an important townscape element on the main intersection of the townsite. The front wall is high out of the ground as the site slopes down towards the intersection, A rendered band halfway up the walls, rendered buttress cappings, parapets and lintel over the entry door give the hall a simplified 'blood and bandage' Federation Free Style c 1890-1915 (see Apperly ibid, pp 136-139, note: the dates for styles are broad and often are a little later ocurring in WA) character of which their are not many example in the Shire. The front wall has eight steps sweeping up to the original double, ledge and braced entry doors. The gable end wall above the doors is dominated by both a rendered inscription proclaiming "Parkerville Hall 1922" and a large louvered vent high in the wall ventilating the ceiling space inside. The doors have a shallow arched lintel over them as do the windows running down the sides of the hall in between the stepped brick buttresses. The front gable wall has a stone footing and lower wall up to the height of the floor level but there is brickwork right down to the ground level along the sides of the building. The roof of the original hall is corrugated iron. The gutters have been replaced in recent times with square profiled gutters instead of an "ogee" type. A new entry has been added to the side/rear together with toilets, kitchen and meeting room facilities in the late 1960's and early 1970's. These additions have not been given much thought towards integrating with the original structure, in particular the roof form. The interior of the original hall is fairly simple being large and open with a timber floor, stage and surrounds a the opposite end to the front entry. The ceiling slopes up to follow the roof line most of the way but flattens out to below the apex. Steel tie rods are exposed across the lower ceiling and the ceiling lining appears to be a later addition than the original of there was any at all. External landscaping around the hall is non-existent and the bitumen and gravel car-park provides a very stark and harsh setting to the frontages of the Hall.

History

The existing Parkerville Hall, sited on a former gravel pit is the third one in the locality. The first, which doubled as the first school, was made of fluted iron (mini orb) and was built in 1897. In c.1909, it was replaced by a timber weatherboard and iron building on another site at lot 72 Riley Road. Between 1917 and 1921, the local residents, supported by MLA, Mr S Sampson, lobbied for a new hall on a more prominent site. To finance it's construction all residents pledged 5 pounds and storekeeper Charles Young guaranteed a 200 pound loan.The hall was opened by the Premier James Mitchell on Saturday 30th September 1922. Since then, in c. 1960's an addition in the south and east sides of the hall has increased it's facilities.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High - original structure intact internally and externally. Modifications: new Entry, toilets, kitchen and meeting room added to the side & rear c.1960's.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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