Jitarning Hall

Statement of Significance

The Jitarning Hall is significant for its integral role within the initial developing phase of the town of Jitarning, and continues to be significant for the descendants of the pioneers and the more recent community of Jitarning. It is significant in demonstrating a way of life that is no longer practiced. In the absence of a church in the town, the religious significance of the place is demonstrated. The Hall evokes a sense of place created by the memories of the events that have occurred in the place, and varying degrees of historic importance to individuals, the community and the town of Jitarning. Historical Historical significance of development of cultural phases; B association with important figures. The Jitarning Hall is significant for the close association with the pioneers of Jitarning. Aesthetic *environmental importance; townscape or landscape value; high degree of unity of setting. *architectural/technical accomplishment The Jitaming Hall is integral within the "townscape" of Jitarning town, and together with the remaining buildings in Jitarning, forms a fine example of a "country town" streetscape. Rarity and Representativeness "scarcity value; a particularly fine (or unique) example. The Jitarning Hall is representative of a typical country town hall of which very few examples are still in existance in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.

Physical Description

The Jitarning Hall is situated in a "town precinct" on the main road. It is officially in Curran Street Jitarning, but the townsite is not physically identifiable except for the buildings facing the main road. The buildings are located a distance of approximately 50 metres back from the main road with a stretch of gravel roadway in between. On the opposite side(east) of the main road is the railway iine and wheat storage bin, The Jitarning Hall is the southern most building of a precinct of three remaining structures which constitute the town of Jitaming, together with a cottage which is located to the rear of the hall on the west. Originally the Hall was completely clad with weatherboards, but interventions in the 1970s reclad two of the exterior walls with fibro-cement sheeting. The interior walls were originally unlined, but were lined in 1950 with caneite sheets. The hail ceiling is unlined The hall floor of tongue and groove jarrah floor boards was extended in 1924. It is in very good condition The stage and ante-rooms raised above the floor level of the hall proper were added to the hall in 1924, together with the kitchen. The kitchen, or supper room, is a lean-to facility which has no water service, but does have a copper for boiling water, a Metters wood stove and a d 950 electric stove. The roof is gabled at both ends. The comjgated iron roof sheeting is in reasonable condition Outbuitdings consist of the wooden tank stand and corrugated iron water tank. At the rear of the property are two corrugatecf iron structures which are the toilet facilities.

History

Assessment 1995 Construction 1918 Alterations/additions: 1924, 1950, c1970 Builder: Fred Lingard Michael Brown was the first settler, of sorts, in Jitarning. Since 1905 he had held pastoral leases over land which included what was to become the Jitarning townsite. His property named "Geetarning" is reputed to have given the town its name. Later, in 1911 he built a cottage which he used as a base for his farming activities. In his later years, he lived on his "Geetarning" property for a number of years while his family lived in Narrogin. Brown left the property shortly before his death in 1980. Michael Brown encouraged and assisted new settlers in the Jitarning area, and by 1912 there was a Progress Association. Jitarning siding building and railway fixtures were constructed in 1913 ahead of the railway line which was opened in 1914. Tennis courts were built and a "sly grog" shop operated i in 1914 in Jitarning. The progressive little settlement of Jitarning was proclaimed a town in 1917.5 The survey of the town allocated Lot 11 King Street as the site of the Agricultural Hall, and this was confirmed as reserve 16704. In October 1917, the Jitarning residents approached the Lands Department with regard to changing the hall site from the allocated site to another site. The residents wanted the hall to be on the main street opposite the Railway Station at Lot 3 Curran Street. The Surveyor General replied; "as no lots have been sold in the town hence, it will be an easy matter to meet the wishes of the people" Lot 11 King Street was cancelled and Lot 3 Curran Street was declared the hall site. Even before the new site was confirmed, the Jitarning community had met and informed the secretary of the Jitarning Progress Association to proceed with obtaining plans and specifications with the intention of erecting the hall as soon as possible. An application for funding for the Hall had been unsuccessful. The Jitarning community was not deterred, they formed the Jitarning Hall Committee to raise the necessary funds for their hall. By February 1918, the hall plans were approved and sufficient funds had been gathered to commence construction of the hall. A busy bee was held to clear the site. During the construction of the hall the secretary of the Jitarning Hall Committee, Jack Kirby, requested that the Government vest the hall in three trustee, all of whom were members of the Jitarning Hall Committee. The government agreed to the request. and on the 16th October 1918, Lennard Rigoll, Frank Poole and Arthur Sloggett were vested as trustees of the Jitarning Hall site. The hall was built by Mr Lingard and was completed at a cost of £240, of which £100 had already been subscribed. The committee was hoping that the opening festivities would reduce the debt. The hall opening on the 5th October 1918 was a great day in the history of Jitarning. Special guests included Michael Brown, Mr EB Johnston the member for the district, Mr J Grieg MLC and about 400 people including guests from Perth. The chairman of the Reception Committee, Mr AT Joynes declared it was a proud day for the people of Jitarning "because it was the consummation of a long felt want - a hall in which they could meet to conduct their business and for social purposes". Until then meetings had been held under the shade of the gum trees. A sports day, tea and dance were organised with the Ladies providing a sumptuous luncheon for the opening festivities. The hall was built in time to welcome home the returned soldiers from the First World War. The hall was used for dances, (boasting a magnificent floor), Christmas Trees, politicians, travelling entertainers, the Red Cross, the CWA, School concerts and community and sporting functions. Jitarning town boasted its own tennis, football and cricket clubs. Sports days and cricket matches were held in front of the hall, and high tea served at the hall. The annual race days and sports days were popular occasions in the district. All the social and sporting events and race meetings ended in the hall with a dance and supper. The hotel was built in 1923 by Michael Brown, but failed to get a license, and in 1924 it became a hostel for the itinerant workers, wheat lumpers and the school teacher. As a consequence of Kulin's hotel gaining a license, Kulin town developed and Jitarning failed to develop any further as a commercial or residential centre. Mrs Randall taught music to the people of the district conducting the lessons in the hall on the Hall piano, a steel framed Australian made Beale, which she lovingly cared for her entire time she was in Jitarning. Mrs Randall also took care of the hall. Mrs Randall taught Sunday School in the hall and organised regular church services, Baptisms and confirmations took place in the hail. A memorial service was held in the hall for four year old James Randall who was tragically killed in the railway yard in 1924. The casket was made next to the hall by the builder who was doing extensions and improvements to the hall at the time. Mr Dawson from Narrogin. built a supper room, stage and extended the dance floor. In 1936, £80 was still owing on the hall. The Jitarning Hall Committee decided to hold a function to raise the money. They launched a popular Girl competition, and the Final of the contest was a dance held at the hall. Miss Patty Rigoll and Miss Greta Tyson were the finalists. Their efforts together with the hall committee raised £40 24 CWA Branch at Jitarning was active throughout the 1930s with a number of functions and meetings taking place in the hall. During 1938 while the Jitarning State School was being extended, and the Jitarning Hall was used for the school accommodation. The hall was a receival point for materials and money raising efforts during the World War Two. Although the town population diminished over the years as farms became more mechanised, the Jitarning community always rallied to the repair and retain the hall. When the school closed in 1950, a Grand Finale concert was held in the Jitarning Hall with Mrs Dorothy Randall at the piano. The hall was still being used to the extent that community decided it was necessary to effect some alterations. Mr Grosland, at the cost of £400 and with help from the committee, put a new floor in the hall and lined the inside, which until then had been unlined. In 1968 when the Kulin Shire provided a number of facilities in Kulin town, the ratepayers in the Jitarning and Dundinin Ward sent a deputation to the council to request an alteration funds allocations. Dundinin subsequently received funding for a Public Hall. Jitarning seems not to have received any benefits. In the early 1970s the south side of the hall was reclad and new windows were put in by the committee men with the help of the Kulin Lions Club. In 1975 an special Easter Function was held in the Hall proving the old spirit still remained in the community and the hall. There have been several updates and improvements in the kitchen area over the life of the hall. In 1979 the State Electricity Service was connected to the Hall, prior to that 32 volt power had been run from the local store, and before that wizzard gas lights and kerosene lamps. In 1980/81 over $2000 worth of maintenance and repair work was carried out on the hall. In the late 1980s the hail came under the threat of demolition and a request was made to DOLA by the Jitarning Hall Committee, to be able to remove the hall. The original trustees were long since dead, and it was considered by the Committee that the hall was in a dangerous condition. DOLA responded to the effect that the Committee could proceed to remove the building. In 1989 the Jitarning Hall Committee disbanded and declared they accepted no further responsibility for the place. Shortly after the above-mentioned events, discussion between the Lands Department and the Kulin Shire resulted in the demolition plans being put "on hold". In 1991 the local residents and descendants of the pioneers began to rally to save the hall. A meeting at the hall was attended by nineteen people who resolved to explore the future possibilities of the hall as a public building. The resurge of interest in the hall and the Jitarning townsite in general resulted in saving the large gum trees which border the road in that vicinity. They were about to be destroyed for road widening. Subsequent to the meeting of March 1991, a tender was accepted for restumping the floor and refixing the roof of the hall. The cost of this work was achieved by voluntary labour and donations. In 1994 a questionnaire was distributed to all Jitarning Ward ratepayers, from the Kulin Shire, informing them of the status and condition of the Jitarning Hall and requesting their comments. At a public meeting on the 30th April at the Jitarning Hall, 35 people attended, The results of the survey were presented by David Kirby 31 responses were received from 61 questionaries, and although the responses regarding participation and financial responsibility were negative, the overwhelming majority suggested the hall should remain in DOLA control and be demolished. Despite the outcome of the questionnaire, the meeting formed a committee, with the view to becoming an incorporated body, to take control of the hall. The Jitarning Hall Investigative Committee was formed, Mr Keven Giles was elected the President, and ten committee members were also elected. The hail is the centre of the Jitarning district community and represents the ongoing spirit of the community and its forefathers.

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