Collie Police Station (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Collie Police Station (fmr), 67 Throssell Street, Collie (formerly 35) has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: • For its association with the ongoing police presence in Collie for approximately 50 years; • For its association with the Collie Arts and Crafts group which has occupied the site since the closure of the police station; and • It makes a positive contribution to the streetscape of Collie.

Physical Description

Collie Police Station (fmr), 67 Throssell Street, is a rendered brick and corrugated iron single storey building. The walls are painted rendered masonry, and the roof is hipped corrugated iron. There is a face brick chimney with brick corbels. The façade is asymmetrical; one room projects from the façade. It has a flat roof and one window, and sits on the front boundary line. There are painted concrete steps leading to the front door, with one rendered column with posts supported in the dropped porch roof. Rooms at the rear of the building have red face brick walls.

History

In January 1898, a letter to the Bunbury Herald noted that it had earlier been reported that the Commissioner of Police had appointed a police constable to the Collie station. The correspondent noted that ‘we, of the Collie, have been waiting patiently for that constable but he has not turned up yet. This is to be regretted as a constable would certainly put a check on the rowdyism that is carried on here occasionally, much to the disgust and annoyance of the residents in the vicinity’ (Bunbury Herald 25 January 1898, p3) March 1898, the town’s first police constable, Wilson Newbold, was stationed at Collie (Bunbury Herald, 15 March 1898, p3). The first police station was a weatherboard shed located where the current police station now stands in Wittenoom Street. Two years later the police quarters and lockup were constructed in Throssell Street. In July 1898 it was reported that a police station had been opened at Collie during the past year (The West Australian 14 July 1898, p3) A plan dated 1905 shows Reserve 4911, Police on Throssell Street (between Pendleton and Patterson Streets) and adjacent to the Post Office (SRO Cons 5698 Item 0390). It is thought that the Police Station was constructed sometime between 1921 and 1926. A new policy complex was constructed in Wittenoom Street in 1972 and opened on 17 November of that year. This complex was constructed on, or near, the site of the original gaol cells. Following the closure of the Throssell Street station, the place was occupied by the Collie Art Group which continues to occupy the building in 2016.

Integrity/Authenticity

Low/ Medium-High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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