Road Board Office (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Social: social significance:The Road Board building represents a diversity of civic functions and responsibilities in the community development of the town and region; It represents the contribution and dedication to the community service by people in the Narembeen; The place is significant for the civic contributions to Australia at war. The place demonstrates the civic and community ethic of the Narembeen community which has continued since the inception of the town. Historical : The place is significant because it demonstrates a close association with the pioneers of Narembeen. The Road Board building was instrumental in the evolution of the town and region of Narembeen. The associations with the civic and community leaders including particular civic leaders who have been recognised by dedication of rights and privilege. The place represents functions that reflect the changing economical fortunes of the town. The Road Board building has the potential for the interpretation of the history of Narembeen Aesthetic It-environmental importance; townscape or landscape value; high degree of unity of setting. Architectural/technical accomplishment: The place contributes to a cohesive streetscape within the "civic precinct" in Latham Street. The Road Board building is an important townscape element in Narembeen, central within three of the most significant extant buildings in Narembeen. The Road Board building demonstrates the community's sense of place for its pivotal civic role. Rarity and Representativeness/scarcity value: The Road Board Building is the only example of that public architectural style in Narembeen and represents the foundation of the civic development of the town and region.

Physical Description

4. DESCRIPTION The Road Board Building was purpose built to administer the governing of the Narembeen district. The building is a brick and tile construction with a timber floor structure. Both the original 1927 building and the 1956 extension are double cavity brick construction. The red brick is laid in a stretcher bond, with a rendered string course at sill level and a rendered foundation. The original face bricks have been painted up to the string course on all sides except the rear elevation(west). The external comer quoins are rendered on all facades except the back wall. The roof is tiled with orange coloured clay tiles on a pitch of approximately 30 degrees. The domestic hip roof with gablets was balanced either end with tall chimneys prior to the extension roof which finishes in a full gable on the north end, The south end of the roof still has a gablet with an air vent fitted into the flat recessed gable infill There are no toilet facilities in the Road Board building. Public toilet facilities on the site are located on the north, laneway, boundary behind the Lesser Hall. Those toilets were constructed at the same time as the Public Hall (1940). Kitchen facilities, (a sink) has been a very recent intervention into the "Boardroom". The entry porch is recessed under the main roof with a gable detail informing of the entry to the building. The entry pillars are a continuum of the walls forming the recessed space of the entry. They are rendered and extend uninterrupted into the gable front. The year of "1927" is embossed in raised lettering. The soffit is lined in tongue and groove boards and painted white. A flag pole rises unobtrusively from the ridge of the porch gable Balanced either side of the entry are two sets of easement windows. The sets of three timber framed easement windows were originally stained jarrah but have been painted. Rendered concrete lintels form a continuum to a rendered string course at eaves height. The extension on the north side in 1956 provided a library facility and another office space adjoining the General Office. The double entry doors into the foyer have a diagonal tongue and groove panel in each door. The angle of the timber diagonals corresponds to the gable detail on the entry porch. The doors were originally varnished jarrah, they are now painted. The two original rooms either side of the entry still show evidence of their functions in their names on their respective entry doors. The words "Boardroom" and "General Office" are etched in sans serif capital print on the glass pane in the flush panel doors. The "Boardroom" door also has a -letters" opening. Carpet covers the timber floors in the two main rooms. The foyer floor is also carpeted, evidence suggests a concrete floor. The external porch has a concrete floor and steps, The walls in all the rooms are a hard plaster finish with a recessed banding at dado height and a picture rail non-continuous along each wall. Decorative air vents are situated high on the walls in each room. Fireplaces are central within the south wall of the "Boardroom" and the north wall of the "General Office", both been flush boarded over with no evidence of mantle piece. Each of the three rooms have high flat ceilings with a different finish. The "General Office" has a pressed metal ceiling with a square detailed pattern. The "Boardroom" has a plaster ceiling with a different and larger square pattern. The foyer has a pressed metal square pattern with a geometric detail. The original light fittings remains in situ in each room. Two Boardroom tables from different eras of the Narembeen Road Board administration are still in the building. A number of Board room chairs are also evident, some of which have been donated by prominent citizens. There is a foundation plaque on the front wall south side of the entry The original symmetry of the front facade was interrupted with the extension which while responsive in terms of the proportions, the classical proportion and balance is gone. The street view obscured by the trees offers the suggestion of the original symmetry of the front facade. 1- Committee

History

Assessment 1995 Construction: 1927 Alterations/addition: 1956 architect W J Thorn Builder: W Adams the pastoral history of the settlement of the Narembeen district, the Greenhifls Road Board issued rate notices lo the settlers. Settlers in the remote eastern region of the Greenhills jurisdiction wanted a Road Board of their own, and in 1913 a new Road Board called the East Avon Road Board was created. One year later the East Avon Road Board was divided into four wards, the east ward covered the areas of Emu Hill and Kumminin and was represented by two members. At the elections in June 1914 Charles George Latham and Gerald Snook were voted in to represent the East Ward. In 1918 the East Avon Road Board became the Bruce Rock Road Board, no other changes other than the name were instigated. During the period from 1913 to 1924, when the Narembeen Road Board was established, the East and South Kumminin Districts (now part of Narembeen Shire) were represented by notable Narembeen pioneers including Charles Latham, WJ Brennan, A Burgin, J Cairns, J Currall, W Fricker, C Northmore and G Snook. With the development of the Emu Hill district with soldier settlements after World War One, the scattered population was becoming increasingly difficult to administer and it was thought appropriate by the eastern population of the Bruce Rock Road Board that a specific Road Board should sen/e their district. After Connolly and Hale purchased 30 acres of Tom Savage's land al the railhead in 1922,and gained a hotel license, the town of Narembeen was created. In July that year the farmers from within the Narembeen area formed a Progress Association one of the aims of which was to establish a Narembeen Roads Board. Progress Associations were also formed in the other districts (around the sidings??) and they supported the Narembeen Progress Associations aim. The inaugural meeting of the Narembeen Progress Association, in the Hall, on the same lot as where the Road Board building now stands, was attended by the chairman of the Bruce Rock Road Board who supported the establishment of a Narembeen Road Board. The decision was made at that meeting which determined the establishment of the Narembeen Road Board in 1924. As the predecessor to the Narembeen Road Board, the Narembeen Progress Society was proactive in developing the facilities and infrastructure of the new "private" town of Narembeen. Committees were established with specific responsibilities, the extension of the railway northwards to connect to Merredin in 1925 was one of the initiatives of the Association. The foundations of the local Government centre were being established by the Narembeen Progress Association in the initial formative years in the history of Narembeen. In May 1923 with support from Progress Associations at Wadderin, Emu Hill, Central Kumminin and South Kumminin, the Narembeen Progress Association formally notified the Bruce Rock Road Board of the intention to establish a Narembeen Road Board. In June 1924 the Narembeen Road Board was formally proclaimed. The new Road Board comprised a large area of land from the Bruce Rock Road Board District. The Narembeen Progress Association, having achieved what it set out to do, disappeared. The other progress associations retained the representation of their areas for a number of years. At the Narembeen Road Board elections on the 23 August 1924, seven board members were elected from the ten nominations. The foundation members of the Narembeen Road Board were; Central ward: Edward Bailey, Charles Latham, Bertram Long North Ward: Joseph Currall, Henry Rothbaum South Ward: Richard Wakeman. Richard Cheetham Charles Latham was elected as the first chairperson of the Narembeen Road Board and remained in that position until 1926, During that time he was a member for York in the Legislative assembly, a position he held from 1921 until 1942 when he was appointed to the Senate. Latham's knowledge of governmental procedures, his leadership abilities and his enthusiasm for the Narembeen district forged a progressive beginning in local government. All the board members were pioneers of the area, and equally committed to the prosperous development of Narembeen. Having proven their ability to survive the land, they gave of their precious time to establish the Road Board. The foundations established in the Normative years of the district were essential to the development of the district. The business of the Road Board was initially conducted in Mr R P Brown's Churchill Street rooms. The land on which the hall was situated had been donated by Connelly and Hale for civic purposes. In 1926 Mr W Adams, a local builder, and the undertaker, won the tender to construct the new Road Board office and Boardroom. The building was completed in 1927 and officially opened by Mr Charles G Latham on the 13th August. The councillors and chairpersons gave an honorary service to their community. A secretary was employed to conduct the business. Mr S C Longhurst held that position from 1924, through the depression and World War Two, until 1946. In 1928 Longhurst had an office assistant appointed to assist him. It wasn't until 1947 that a junior assistant was appointed. and the staff numbered three. From the very beginning there was agitation from the south ward for greater representation. In 1926, the south gained two representatives.making the board a nine member board. In 1938 a Town Ward was established, and the south lost one of its members. The nine member board has been in place ever since. Interestingly, the establishment of the Town Ward and the post depression prosperity coincided, and the Narembeen Road Board set out to implement large scale civic planning. The new Public Hall was built in 1939, the State School was upgraded to become an area school, new staff quarters were constructed at the Narembeen Hospital, an automatic telephone exchange was installed at the Post Office and a District Library was established in the Road Board Building. The advent of World War Two changed the focus of the Road Board activity; "Narembeen Road Board was the convenor of most of the wartime organisations, and in addition assumed duties connected with rationing." The release of extensive areas of land in the eastern sector of the Narembeen Shire in the late 1940s, and the settlement of a new generation of soldier settlers gave a new impetus to the Narembeen Road Board. Infrastructure and community facilities were required. The Road Board operations expanded considerably, and by 1956 it was necessary to extend the burgeoning Road Board Office. A library and extra office were added to the existing building. In 1961 legislation changed the name of the local governing bodies from Road Boards to Shire Council. From then on the Narembeen Shire Council occupied the Roads Board building. The 1960s was a time of prosperity, the Narembeen School was elevated to the Junior High School in 1962 and the swimming pool was constructed in 1963. In 1964 the Anglican Congregation constructed a new parish church. The newly formed Narembeen Historical Society persuaded the Shire to purchase the property for use as a Museum. In 1970 the Museum opened. The Shire had notions of a new civic facility, but the general community services development was a greater priority, the airfield site was resumed in 1967, a drive-in theatre was built in 1968. The Narembeen Shire Council carried on the tradition and the social, cultural and welfare facilities they provided in the community and are ever responsive to the progress of Narembeen. When the Shire did have new premises built in Longhurst Street in 1975, the Library moved too, and the Roads Board Building was vacated. Once again the Historical Society approached the Shire. The Narembeen Historical Society had established a separate organisation to deal with Tourism. This enabled them to qualify for funding programs and grants. The shire agreed to the Historical Society using part of the building for museum and tourist purposes. Iris Bristow made the suggestion of a Modern Day display being established and the Shire agreed. The Narembeen District Permanent Display Centre was established and the Governor Sir Wallace Kyle officiated at the opening on the 7th September 1 979. The other section of the Road Board Building, the Boardroom was for the use of another community function, the community newspaper "The Fencepost". Associated People: One of the original pioneers of the district, Charles Latham settled the land along side his friend and partner Thomas Savage. Charles Latham was a member of the Bruce Rock Road Board from its inception, he was the foundation Chairman. He was the Minister of Lands and Health in the Mitchell Government (1930-1933) He led the Country Party between 1930 and 1942 as a member of the Legislative Assembly for York. In 1946 he was elected to the Legislative council as a member for Central Province. In 1948 he was knighted. He was President of the Legislative Council for two years until 1 960. All the Shire Councillors who served their community on an honorary basis. The Chairmen of the Road Board and Council Presidents who gave direction in the progress of the Narembeen community. Particular mention to those who gave exceptional service and received the Local Government certificate for 15 years or more sen/ice. Mr AW La1ham(35 years). A Roach (31 years), R Cheetham(26 years), M Sloss(24 years), W Currie(22 years) and Richard K Cheetham Mr A W Latham and Mr Richard (Bob) K Cheetham both have the privileged distinction of having been made "Freemen" of Narembeen in recognition of their significant contributions to the town of Narembeen. Richard (Bob) K Cheetham was a local government member for 27 years and served as the Shire President from 1973 to 1980. He represented the Great Eastern ward on the Executive of Local Government for ten years. His father, R Cheetham was one of the foundation members of the Narembeen road Board and a significant figure in the development of Narembeen as well. In 1981 Arthur William Latham received the Australia medal in recognition of his civic work. During his 35 consecutive years on the Narembeen Council from 1938, 16 years were spent as Chairman or President. He was also a director of Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd, and an office bearer of the Council of Grain Pool of WA. He was associated with the numerous cultural and civic projects in Narembeen including the Historical Society, the Hospital Board, the Anglican Church, and was the association President or patron of most of the sporting clubs in the district. Reference: Narembeen Historical Society's publication on Local Government (1973) and the Narembeen Golden Jubilee booklet (1979), both compiled by Iris Bristow.

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