Drill Hall, Bayswater (fmr)

Statement of Significance

This place has significance for its civic and social associations, having initially been constructed to house the Roads Board. The place has historic value for its use in war effort activities. The place also has historic value for its association with Gold Estates, one of the most prominent land developers within Bayswater at the time.

Physical Description

The original building was constructed of brick with buttressed side walls and a hipped corrugated iron roof with ventilated ends to the ridge. There is a separate front section and a lean-to roof section at the rear. A second hall of similar construction has been built alongside the original and additional link areas have been recently added with entrance gables supported on clusters of four timber posts on top of low brick pillars.

History

The building has great significance in Bayswater's History. The land on which it was constructed was purchased to house the Roads Board (established in 1897). The property was acquired in 1905 from Gold Estates and it was situated in the new Oakleigh Park Estate. It was the second administrative building in the district, the first being a small wooden building next to the Baptist Church on Guildford Road, which has since been demolished. The Hall was associated with a particularly successful period of Roads Board administration, and was designed by the Board's Secretary-Engineer WFSE Buchan, who was a proficient and popular administrator. The building of the Hall was part of the same project as the opening of the Recreation Ground, also acquired from Gold Estates, the two being officially opened together. Both were signs of civic progress and some of the larger projects being attempted by Roads Boards at that time. They also signified a close relationship between the Roads Board and Gold Estates, a company which had just acquired a large amount of land in Bayswater and was to acquire considerably more. The Hall became the centre of a lively social life, was the administrative centre for the Roads Board and also the scene of many spirited public meetings concerning local issues. But it had been built under some financial constraints and, by 1913, a larger building was considered necessary. Accordingly, the hall was sold to the Commonwealth Government and was used for army drilling purpose during the Great War. Hence its present day name. During the Second World War, the Hall entered another interesting and important part of its history when the Army's signalling corps moved into Bayswater in May 1942. It became the administrative headquarters for the corps, which was conducting signalling operations from a worker's cottage in Coode Street. After the War, the Army had less use for the hall and finally put it up for tender in 1961. The Roads Board successfully tendered for it and it then became the venue for a number of activities, especially those related to youth. In particular, it was the home of the Girls and Boys Gym Club, the netball club, the Girl Guides and many shows and exhibitions. To a great degree, it replaced the Bayswater Community Hall, across the road, which was a somewhat makeshift structure that was demolished about this time. In recent times the hall was extensively renovated in a style in keeping with its original architecture.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - High Authenticity - Moderate (some additions in keeping with original)

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update