Hackett Memorial Buildings (University of Western Australia, UWA)

Child Places

• 19952 Sunken Garden, University of Western Australia, UWA

Statement of Significance

The individual buildings are planned as an integrated piece of civic design which set the standard for the rest of the campus; the design of the buildings had a profound influence on Western Australian architecture in the 1930s. The place has a long association with tertiary education in Western Australia, and close association with prominent figures in the development of the institution. The place is held in high esteem by the University and the wider community. Winthrop Hall continues to play the traditional role as the ceremonial hall and, with the Tower, remains the focal point and symbol of the University. The Sunken Garden (1930), although not part of the original design of the place, is historically linked to its construction. It has significance as part of the University grounds. The Bookshop (1962) has moderate significance as a building designed by Marshall Clifton to blend with Hackett Memorial Buildings. However, in the contribution it makes to the north-east continuation and definition of Whitfeld Court, it has a high degree of significance.

Physical Description

Hackett Hall is a single storey building enclosing Whitfield Court on the east and is linked by archways to Winthrop Hall. Winthrop Hall is on a central axis of the group and uses materials but on a monumental scale to dominate the composition. The tower is a landmark on the campus and is seen from Stirling Highway. The walls are a composite construction of limestone facing over brick. The base of the walls consist of sawn ashlar stone with channelled joints. The tops are rusticated and picked and laid in square, course and specked rubble.

History

A government decision in favour of a university for Western Australia was made in 1901, however a shortage of funds prevented it being established until 1913. The University Endowment Bill in 1903 allowed for land to be set aside for the future. The first location was a temporary one in Irwin Street, Perth, in a weatherboard building. The first Chancellor was John Winthrop Hackett. In 1921 Crawley was chosen as the permanent site for UWA. The Irwin Street building was relocated there in 1932. The foundation stone for the Hackett Memorial Buildings was laid in 1929. They form the focal point and symbolic landmark of UWA. Hackett Hall was designed for the use of the student body. It was conceived as a two-storey building to balance the composition around the central court but the ground floor was built and completed in 1931. The original accommodation comprised a billiard room, games room and men's common room in the south-west wing adjoining Winthrop Hall. The central wing, behind the arcading, contained to the south: a shop; Principal and secretary's offices; boardroom; women's reading and writing rooms; and, to the north, the women's common room, locker room and lavatories. To the north, the dining rooms were divided in two by accordion doors, with duplicate men's and women's cafeteria and general servery and kitchen backing them up. Further north, there was a kitchen yard, stores room and staff cloak rooms. In 1946, minor alterations to the kitchen and servery were carried out and in 1961, a new wing designed by Marshall Clifton was erected to the east to create a central courtyard. The 1961/62 extensions are easily identifiable and respect the building line and colour and texture. Until the mid-1970s the arrangement of the original rooms was substantially intact, with similar uses but, since this time, a number of changes have been made to meet the changing requirements of the Student Guild. Hackett Hall is still used by the student body, and the dining room is still in use, although no longer segregated.

Integrity/Authenticity

High level of integrity. High level of authenticity.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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