Mundaring Shire Office

Statement of Significance

The council officers of the Shire of Mundaring at Great eastern Highway, Mundaring have high aesthetic, historic and social significance for the people of the Shire as the centre of Local Government since 1926. Aesthetically they provide a very good example of late twentieth century architecture from the "WA School".

Physical Description

The original Mann Street Shire Offices on the site fronting Great Eastern Highway, had been added to several times and the verandahs enclosed before being demolished in 1982, to make way for the new offices. The old Shire Secretary's House, built 1947, remains and exhibits minor elements of Art Deco which were common in the post war period. The old house is now an annexe to the new building, providing office accommodation for community recreation staff. The new Shire Offices, built in 1982 and officially opened in February 1983, are a good example of the Late twentieth Century Perth Regional or "WA School" style of RJ Ferguson & Associates: Architects. The extensive single storey building has a strong horizontal profile with a large roof encompassing wide verandahs. It uses natural looking materials to acknowledge the local environment and climate which is indicative of the philosophy of the "WA School", which sought to identify a vernacular style.

History

Between 1906 and 1925, the original Greenmount Road Board administrative building was located in Mt Helena, then known as Lion Mill. In February 1926, with the emergence of Mundaring as the main centre of the district, a new building was opened in what was then Mann Street. The Swan Express described it's exterior as having a verandah, and the interior as being painted white. The interior space, which seems to have served as both office and boardroom, had a strong room located in one corner. The room had two doors, two windows, wall ventilators and a fire place. Soon after the Greenmount Road District changed to the Mundaring Road District on 29th March 1934, work began on improvements and alterations to the administrative building. The improvements, which may have included demolishing the older room, were officially opened on 7th February 1935, by Mr R Rattray. Photographs in the possession of the shire indicate that a post WWII civic rose garden was planted on the Great Eastern Highway frontage. The last substantial alterations to this building took place in 1965, and were opened by the then Premier David Brand in 14th December 1965. In January 1961, the Mundaring Road District became the Shier of Mundaring. By the late 1970's, it became obvious that the ad hoc additions to the shire's administrative building were inadequate to meet the needs of an expanding population base. The third and current building was designed by RJ Ferguson and Associates and was opened on 12th February 1983, by the State Governor Sir Richard Trowbridge KCVO. KSTJ. Those present included the Shire President Tom Broz and the Shire Clerk, now General Manager, Max Williams.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Very High Modifications: Various extensions to the old office.

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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