North Fremantle Primary School (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic Value Stirling House is a fine example of a limestone building in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. The building features a unity of scale and materials, with distinctive half-timbered gables, limestone masonry with red brick dressing, and elegant chimneys with distinct cornices. (Criterion 1.1) Stirling House is one of the more visually prominent and landscaped places along that particular stretch of Stirling Highway. The place is a highly visible and attractive element on the main northern approach into North Fremantle and contributes to the area’s townscape character. (Criterion 1.4) Historic Value The construction, and continual program of additions, of the place is a reflection of the development of the North Fremantle area and the need for facilties to be provided to cope with an ever-increasing population. (Criterion 2.1) The place is a feature of the urban and industrial development of the North Fremantle area, having served as the first and main institution for public education in the district from 1894 to 1967. (Criterion 2.2) In July 1983, the place became the first Bail Hostel established in Australia. (Criterion 2.2) Stirling House has historic value for its associations with Sir Donald Bradman who, it is claimed, planted three Tuart trees on the northern end of the sports ground (two of which still exist). The place is also associated with Mr J. T. Tonkin who was a teacher at the school and later became State Minister for Education and Prenmier of Western Australia. (Criterion 2.3) Scientific Value The place has the potential through archaeological excavation to reveal information about the site’s use as the North Fremantle Convict Depot and its use as a school from 1894 to 1967. (Criterion 3.1) Social Value Stirling House is highly valued by the local community for its aesthetic, social and educational associations. These associations, along with the place’s landmark value, contribute to the local community’s sense of place. (Criteria 4.1 & 4.2) Representativeness The planning and architectural detailing of Stirling House is representative of the Public Works Department’s design for larger Government school buildings dating from the 1890s. (Criterion 6.1) Condition Stirling House is generally in good condition. Integrity The place had a moderate degree of integrity, little of its past function as a school remains. Authenticity The place has a moderate degree of authenticity. Since its closure as a school, the place has been altered primarily due to changes in its function

Physical Description

Stirling House is located at Reserve 3109 (No. 101A) Stirling Highway, North Fremantle. The Palassis Architects Conservation Plan focuses on the building, taking into account other features found on the site, such as shed and fences, playing fields, and two Tuart Trees situated at the northern boundary of the site. Stirling House addresses Stirling Highway, backing onto the Perth-Fremantle railway line. The site is wedge shaped, tapering to a point at the northern boundary which adjoins the North Fremantle railway station. Stirling House is located near the southern boundary of the site. Stirling House, the former North Fremantle Primary School, is a limestone building in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. Its form is dominated by four gables in the east and north elevations. The gables are half-timbered and cantilevered forward, some of the gables have vents. The roof is steeply pitched and clad in corrugated cement fibre sheeting. The openings and external corners are defined with red brick dressings. The windows are double-hung sash types, the windows in the east and north gable walls are shaded with awnings which are supported with brackets. Two classrooms and a laundry/bathroom area at the rear of the building are made of brick and painted in a light tone to match the paintwork of the main limestone building. The original building had a central hall with two classrooms located at the north-east and south of the hall. The building plan now consists of classrooms centred around the large hall space. The classrooms are distinct spaces with interconnecting corridors. The central hall is the size of two classrooms and has a high ceiling which is truncated and lined with softwood boarding, contrasting with the expressed hardwood trusses. Ceilings in the three north-east classrooms have been painted white but are similar in construction. The three main classrooms at the southern end of the building have low ceilings which appear to be recent. The two classrooms at the rear of the building have flat lathe and plaster ceilings. There is evidence of alteration and additions having occurred to the building over the years. Details, such as the joinery, nib walls, and arched openings, provide clues to the staged growth of the place. A courtyard has been enclosed at the front of the building, consisting of a pergola and picket fence infill. Recent work includes petitions, stud walls, new ceilings, new floor finishes, built-in furnishings, new wet areas, and fittings. The place is generally in good condition. Palassis Architects identified some problems of a minor nature. These included blistering to the external paintwork particularly at low level where downpipes discharge, peeling paint, minor paint blistering to internal walls from damp, and termites in the picket fence behind the building. It should be noted that internal partitioning could be reversed without damage to the integrity of the building fabric.

History

Assessment 1995 Construction 1894 Architect: PWD Builder: Mr L Burness During the 1830s, one of the river crossing points linked up on the North Fremantle side with what was then known as De Lisle Street (no longer extant). This became the main Perth-Fremantle road. The northern extension of De Lisle and Victoria Avenue created a wedge shaped site that contained the Convict Depot and later Stirling House. The Convict Depot was one of eight depots established in the 1850s after the introduction of convict labour, the North Fremantle convict depot was a walled structure designed by the Royal Engineers. Amongst other works, the convicts there were employed in building the Perth-Fremantle Road dating from 1860 and the construction of the Perth-Fremantle Traffic Bridge beginning in 1867. Once the direct link between Perth and the Convict Establishment in Fremantle had been established the depot was abandoned. For a time the site was used as a Poor House or Invalid House. In 1886, the Government opened a school in the Mission Rooms in North Fremantle. The accommodation provided by these rooms was soon thought to be unsuitable and, in 1888, plans for a new school building were drawn by Government Architect George Temple Poole. These plans were discarded and the construction of the building was delayed for another six years. In 1894, tenders were called for and the successful bid awarded to Mr L. Burness, Contractor, for £1,837/9/8. In 1894, the school building was erected on a portion of the Depot site. The original floor plan In 1894, the school building was erected on a portion of the Depot site. The original floor plan was a central hall with two classrooms built onto the hall, with separate lavatories and cloakrooms for boys and girls and a Master’s room. The design followed reforms in the education system at this time. These included a new mixed schools system and a central hall floor plan, around which other classrooms could be added when new accommodation was required. The first addition to North Fremantle Primary School occurred as early as 1897 when the school’s population reached 281 children and two extra classrooms were needed. In c.1934-6, a concrete cricket pitch, funded by the North Fremantle Council, was opened by West Australian cricketer Ernie H. Bromley, the State’s representative in the Australian XI. In 1933, three Tuart trees were planted at the northern end of the school grounds by Sir Donald Bradman. It was also during this time that J. T. Tonkin was a teacher at the school, he later became the Minister for Education and Premier of Western Australia. In 1967, the school moved to new buildings in John Street. This move was the result of a falling population, largely due to the relocation of industry to areas such as Kwinana and Cockburn, and also the belief that the school’s site on a busy road and parallel to the railway line was inappropriate. From 1968/9 to 1983, the school became Kui Men’s Hostel. The hostel operated as a halfway house for ex-prisoners and accommodated about twelve persons, with caretakers living in separate quarters. It was during this time that the former art room was converted to a kitchen. In 1983, the hostel became the first bail hostel in Australia. It was named Stirling House. The concept of the hostel was recommended by Under Secretary for Law, Roy Christie, as a way of reducing the numbers of those who had been remanded to jail while awaiting trial. The bail hostel eventually proved to be uneconomic as well as other forms of detention had begun to be used. In 1995, the place was handed over to the Department of Corrective Services’ Operational Training Unit and since this time has been used as a training centre for prison officers.

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