Artillery Drill Hall (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Artillery Drill Hall, Fremantle (ADHF) comprising a drill hall built in 1895, office building constructed in 1940 and gun room constructed in 1940, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:  The place is aesthetically significant and stands as a landmark in central Fremantle;  The buildings are located on the original 1857 convict grant and have a long association with law, order and defence, contributing to the development of this field;  The place was the first military drill hall built in Western Australia;  The place marks a phase in the history of the country when defence forces depended on local volunteers. 2 Artillery Drill Hall, Fremantle  The curved roof of the Drill Hall was a rare structure in the late 19th century, it represented a new, daring design and innovative technological achievement of the time;  The place is one of only two drill halls in Western Australia, with a wide, single span curved roof.  The 1940s office building is a fine example of a military building constructed in the Inter-War Functionalist style.  The place, through archaeological excavations has been identified as the venue for some of the earliest games of badminton in Australia.  The place has social importance for members of the defence forces who used the place as a drill hall, and for many people who visited the place as a music venue from the 1980's C.1 Aesthetic value The main building (1895) with its unusual curved roof, and the attached 1940s brick and tile building, built in the Inter-War Functionalist style, have aesthetic significance for the community. (C.1.1) The structural innovation of the curved roof of the main hall is creative and exceptional design of that period. (C.1.2) ADHF is an important landmark in the centre of Fremantle. (C.1.3) C.2 Historic value ADHF is constructed on the site of the original 1850 convict grant, which included Warders’ Cottages, Sappers’ and Miners’ Barracks (now demolished), and gardens associated with the convict establishment. (C.2.1) The surrounding area has been used continuously for police, court and army purposes. The Drill Hall (1895) and the 1940 office building represent the development of military facilities locally, regionally and nationally during their continuous use for 90 years (1896-1986). (C.2.2) The main hall was the first military building (and the first drill hall) in Western Australia. The attached 1940 office was built during a phase in history when the government upgraded the military facilities in the lead up for World War II. (C.2.2) The roof of the main hall is an early and rare example of the use of curved roofs with iron and timber structures, a significant achievement by the Public Works Department in Western Australia in that period. (C.2.4) C.3 Scientific value ADHF was built on the original convict grant which used for law and order purposes and defence from that time, therefore it provides opportunities for archaeological works and further studies regarding the first settlement in the site, and the history of law and order and defence in the state. (C.3.1 and C.3.2) C.4 Social Significance ADHF represents the period of WA history when defence forces depended on the volunteers. The hall was not just a place for drills by the defence forces, it was also used for many social and educational activities. After ceasing to be used by the military in 1986, its use changed to a musicians’ club in which people attended many concerts and events for more than twenty five years. (C.4.1) ADHF is important for the people of Western Australia as an historic place representing the colonial and defence history of the state. (C.4.1) ADHF contributes to the sense of place for the community who value the place for its former military role and for its later use as a music venue. (C.4.2) C.5 Rarity ADHF is rare because it is one of only two curved roofed drill halls in Australia, designed by the Public Works Department of WA and constructed in the 1890s. (C.5.1) C.6 Representativeness ADHF was the first drill hall built in Western Australia in 1895 and is representative of the design style used for drill halls during the late nineteenth century. (C.6.1) ADHF represent the mutual relation between the armed forces and community. Prior to the construction of the Drill Hall, the volunteer forces used to drill in public and community spaces. (C.6.2) Condition The fabric of ADHF is in fair condition in general, although there are many elements and parts that require conservation. A maintenance plan also needs to be implemented for the site. Integrity The place has moderate integrity as its main entrance has been changed, it is no longer suitable to use for military purposes but use of it as an entertainment venue is related to its original secondary function. The other small modifications are reversible and don’t affect its sustainability. Authenticity ADHF has high authenticity. The majority of buildings’ fabric and spaces are original with very little modification.

Physical Description

The site is located in central Fremantle, at the intersection of Queen and Holdsworth Streets. The original yard area was to the east of the drill hall, but was removed when Parry Street was extended, this resulted in the removal of old sheds and outbuildings. The whole of the justice precinct area is contained within limestone walls of various dates of construction. Some date from the nineteenth century while others were reconstructed and altered as part of the redevelopment of the police facility in 1978. The Drill Hall is a complex structure comprising:  The original 1895 drill hall, a timber and iron framed structure that forms an open hall (approximately 30.5m x 18.3m) with walls 3.5m high. The roof is a curved form and exposed inside the hall. It consists of corrugated galvanised iron sheets secured to eight, evenly spaced curved laminated jarrah ribs supported by curved iron T-sections and a complex structural system of hollow tubes and tension rods.  The hall has banks of louvres on the northern and southern elevations and restored windows on the southern elevation.  There are five original rooms along the eastern side with cross bracing in the walls to provide a buttressing effect, the current entrance is through one of these rooms. On the northern side a timber framed skillion roofed addition constructed in 1900 contains four rooms and a male toilet.  Two-storey brick and tile office building constructed on the western side in 1940 after the demolition of a series of rooms which were similar to the eastern ones. This building was designed in the Inter-War Functionalist style with elements of Georgian architecture in its simple symmetrical façade, its plan is rectangular with a central entrance and staircase. The entrance has a porch with a concrete awning over the doorway. Windows are double hung sash with horizontal mullions. The brickwork includes some decorative elements. 1940 brick and iron toilet block (for women) added to the eastern elevation in the north corner. Access from the hall is via a doorway in the north-east corner.  1940 fibrous cement clad, gabled roofed gun room added to the southern elevation in the west corner.

History

Assessment 2019 Construction 1895/6 Additions/alterations: Late 1890s, 1900, 1904, 1914, 1940 Architect/designer: 1895: Public Works Department of Western Australia (PWD), 1940: Perth office of the Commonwealth Department of Works under the supervision of then Principal Architect M. Finlayson. Fremantle was established by Captain Charles Fremantle in 1829, when the first settlers arrived in Western Australia to establish the Swan River Colony. Due to its location it soon became the main port to the capital city of Perth. The first shipment of convicts arrived at Fremantle in June 1850 and over the following years, the government built a convict establishment and law and order precinct in the area located to the east of the town site (between the current Henderson St and the prison). In subsequent years, this area was known as Gardens, and additional buildings were constructed during the second half of 19th century such as Warders’ Cottages (1852), the first stage of the Prison (1857), Sappers’ and Miners’ Barracks (1870), Constables’ Cottages (1888), the Artillery Drill Hall (1895), Police Station and the Courthouse (1897)1. In 1859, the British Government announced its intention to remove all troops from the Australian colonies. This decision meant that each colony must establish its own forces. As a result, the Volunteer Military Force in Western Australia was established in 1861 and the Perth Volunteer Rifles and Fremantle Volunteer Rifles were both formed in August 1862, with the last British troops leaving the Swan River on the 8th March 18632. The first attempt to establish the Fremantle forces was unsuccessful as there were fewer volunteers than the 100 required.3 The second rifles were established in 1884, although the Naval Artillery Volunteers were formed in 1879. In 1888 the volunteers were redesignated under the name Fremantle Artillery Volunteers and in 1892 became the No. 2 Battery, Field Artillery. Later in 1900, all the rifle volunteers in Western Australia (Perth, Guilford and Fremantle) became the 1st Infantry Volunteer Regiment and the companies of Fremantle were called C and D, with the latter third company called F and later named the 2nd Battalion, Western Australian Infantry Brigade4. Until the mid-1890s, training included military drill and gun practice and was implemented in different places such as the Goal (Round House) in the Arthur Head area, Barrack’s Field on the site of Fremantle Oval and in Fremantle Park5. On the 8th May 1895 the construction of the Drill Hall commenced at the cost of £1,024/9/2, the builders Holman and Couston took four months to complete the building however approximately three months in, they also began the construction of the Drill Hall in Perth.6 Plans of both buildings are identical and were designed by the Public Works Department of Western Australia (PWD), the plan was a simple rectangular structure with timber walls covered by a curved roof of corrugated iron based on a structural framing of curved laminated jarrah ribs, which were supported by curved iron T sections and a series of tie rods. Inside the building, on both the east and west sides there are a series of rooms with low skillion roofs. Outside the building there is a parade ground, toilet, stone fence and gate.Neither of the buildings were completed by the proposed date. The iron T sections were imported from England and on arrival it was discovered that they were bent the wrong way and needed to be rectified on site8 and, as the tenderers for both sites were the same builder, the construction of both was delayed. The Drill Hall finally opened in 1896, with some slight additions and repairs taking place during the second half of 1890s9. The Hall was used for drill training three nights per week, as well as for social functions for the benefit of the Volunteer members10. In 1904 a series of rooms were built along the north elevation11. In the period before World War One, another drill hall was built on Burt Street in 1913. After the end of the war, the need for drill halls diminished and the Defence Department started to lease the halls for community activities12. During the Second World War, Fremantle became the largest submarine base in the southern hemisphere for the allies’ forces13, and the government started to improve and modernize the military buildings. During this time a new addition to the Drill Hall was implemented, a two story brick and tile building along the north elevation following the demolition of the original northern rooms. The building was designed by the Perth office of the Commonwealth Department of Works under the supervision of then Principal Architect M. Finlayson. It was executed by Perth’s General Constructions Company in late 1939, the same company who carried out two other projects on the site: the gun room adjoining the southern elevation in March 1940 at a cost of £779, as well as alterations and repairs to the existing hall such as new doors, new asbestos roof and two lavatories at a cost of £4,62514. By 1948 the Drill Hall had become known as the Fremantle Training Depot, and was used by different forces. In 1962, the grounded Vampire Aircraft was relocated to the Drill Hall site for use as an instructional aid. It became a prominent local landmark, together with the curved roof structure of the hall, the place was generally believed to have been an air hangar15. In 1984/85, the building was evacuated of all military forces in preparation to develop the traffic system in the area, this development threatened the site but finally it was decided to keep the building (the hall, the gun room and the 1940 lavatory block) and to realign the streets of the area. In preparation for the 1987 America’s Cup, it was suggested that the building be used for community events and as such some repairs and renovation works were undertaken. From February 1987, the building was leased to the Fly by Night Musicians Club who operated at the site until 2014 when it was leased to Sunset Events, with a view to developing a multiple use facility. In September 2000, a Management Order was issued to the National Trust of Australia (WA). In June 2005 an Interpretation Plan was completed for the National Trust by Mulloway Studio and Paul Kloeden, as well as a Conservation Plan, which was prepared by Heritage and Conservation Professionals. Between December 2016 and June 2017 a number of construction and restoration works were undertaken whilst the building was leased to Sunset Events. The archaeological evidence that was recovered from the underfloor space was significant in that it covered all eras of occupation including the pre-construction period when it was used as part of the Fremantle Prison’s convict garden.16 In addition, materials found from the period in which the drill hall was in operation, suggests that it was used as the venue for the earliest games of badminton in Australia. While a rattan and cork shuttlecock were found at the site17, it is further supported by an article from 1930 which outlines the early days on badminton in Western Australia, stating that prior to 1911 the hall was used as the main location for this activity.18 As of 2018 conservation and acoustic works are ongoing in preparation for Sunset Events to open the building as a music venue with an attached food and beverage offering. Builder: Holman and Couston

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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