Bruce Rock District Co-op Store

Author

Shire of Bruce Rock

Place Number

00322

Location

Johnson St Bruce Rock

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Site of Duggan's Store
Site of first Post Office

Local Government

Bruce Rock

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1929

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 11 Sep 1997 Category 3

Statement of Significance

The site demonstrates associations with the beginnings of commerce and communication in the town of Bruce Rock. The site and place demonstrate associations with pioneers of the district. The place represents associations with the Co-op concept and the community of Bruce Rock. It represents a way of life no longer practised. The place is a fine example of the period by an architect of repute. It makes a significant contribution to the streetscape of the main street and the townscape character of Bruce Rock.

Physical Description

The brick rendered construction with a gable corrugated roof comprises three separate shop fronts. The facde above the canopy is a stepped parapet with geometric decorative detail and the Co-op name embossed in the render. Many internal alterations have taken place, including the removal of walls between the three shops. The shop fronts have been refurbished with aluminium framed glazing and doors.

History

WH Duggan ran the original store and Post Office on this site. It was the first store in Bruce Rock. The Post Office operated from a small weatherboard room on the southern side of the store. Duggan ran the POst Office and HJ Barry, a sixteen year old postal assistant, came from Doodlakine fortnightly to sort the Bruce Rock mail. Pritchard had the contract to deliver mail which he did in his Model T Ford. In 1917 WN Hedges established a private phone line from his Koolberin Homestead to the Bruce Rock Railway Station and then connecting to the then unofficial post office at Duggan's store. The official post office commenced on 31st October 1919 in Bruce Rock, operated by Claude Thompson, in the room on the side of Duggan's store. The Bruce Rock Post Office operated from that site until a purpose built Post Office opened in 1922. The Bruce Rock District Famer's Co-operative took over Duggan's store. In February 1928, a fire destroyed the Co-op and 2 other shops. A new building was constructed, replacing the 3 former stores on that site adn business continued. Later the business became insolvent and Fuchsbichler, a farmer, took over the property. Three separate businesses currently operate from the shops.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact or Redeemable Authenticity: Medium Degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
A Lovell;"Bruce Rock, A Revised History". Shire of Bruce Rock 1993
JK Ewers;"Bruce Rock, The story of a District". Bruce Rock Roads Board 1959

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
11716 Let our Co-operative spirit stand: A centenary history of resilience and adaptation in the Co-operative Federation of Western Australia 1919 - 2019 Book 2019

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use Transport\Communications Comms: Post or Telegraph Office
Present Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}
Original Use COMMERCIAL Shop\Retail Store {single}

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall RENDER Cement Dressed
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron

Historic Themes

General Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS Mail services
OCCUPATIONS Commercial & service industries

Creation Date

15 Jul 1988

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.