Mill Workers' Hall

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Historic, Rarity, Representativeness and Social

Physical Description

The Mill Workers’ Hall is a single storey, timber framed building, containing a main hall and a lesser hall. It is located on the south-west side of Brockman Street, south of the railway line and north of Swimming Pool Road. It is one of a group of significant heritage buildings in Brockman Street. The Hall is characteristic of the town of Pemberton, and generally conforms to the jarrah timber vernacular used in the townsite. The Hall consists of a gabled main hall, aligned at right angles to the street, so that the long axis runs north-west to south-east. The hall is about 10 metres wide and 22 metres long, not counting the timber stage, which is about 740mm higher than the floor level of the main hall. The hall has a timber floor and the walls consist of timber panelling to a height of 1.5 metres above floor level, over which are plaster on lathe walls. The entrance to the hall is via a small vestibule. Leading off the main hall is a small kitchen with a servery. Toilets to the north-west corner and adjacent to a storeroom (on the other side of the vestibule) are accessed from the main hall. At the opposite end of the main hall is a stage, beyond which is a backstage area and a toilet. Timber steps in the corners of the main hall, lead up to the stage. To the rear of the main hall is the lesser hall which was added later. Access is by means of double doors located near the stage. At the rear is a veranda which was common to the lesser hall and part of the backstage area. Part of this has been enclosed and converted into a rear toilet and a small room leading onto the veranda.

History

European settlement in the Pemberton region began when Pemberton Wallcott took up grazing land in the area know as ‘Big Brook’ in 1862. Prior to 1910 the area between Pemberton and the coast was occupied by some of the early grazing families who began to establish farms for cattle and horses. Pemberton townsite was settled in 1912 after the establishment of the State Saw Mill No 3. The sawmills were to supply the sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway. The timber industry which grew up provided extensive employment and accommodation was built for the workers and their families in Pemberton in the years that followed. The Mill Workers’ Hall was built around 1913. Originally erected to function as a town hall, the building was erected on land donated by the State Sawmill. It was constructed by volunteer labour using donations of prime jarrah timber. When the land was later sold to private enterprise, the hallsite was protected by a 999 year lease. By July 1914 the hall was also used as a schoolroom with 31 students. A replacement two roomed school was built close by in 1919. (A Heritage Council Assessment for the Mill Workers Cottage Precinct dates the opening of the school as 1922). The Mill Workers Hall was a major community facility, and was the venue for concerts, plays, dances, wedding receptions and meetings. It also functioned as the Red Cross blood bank. It was also the venue for the local cinema. As early as 1911 film exhibitions were brought into the rural regions of WA, and operators such as Jack Bignell, Allen Jones and Paddy Barker travelled around showing films in temporary venues, like the Mill Workers Hall. A dispute between Allen Jones and the Mill Hall Management Committee resulted in some picture shows being cancelled. Jones then decided to build the Pemberton Picture Theatre as a solution to the dispute. Ownership of the hall changed in 1961 when the Sate Saw Mill at Pemberton was sold to Hawker Siddeley Ltd. Nine years later Bunnings bought the mill complex. By 1993 the condition of the hall had deteriorated markedly. Local people rallied to raise funds and the Pemberton Mill Hall Restoration Fund was established. There was a dispute over ownership and responsibility for the upkeep of the hall, which was resolved in 1995. Bunnings gave up ownership of the hall, and promised $30,000 towards the hall restoration. The land is now under the control of the Crown. A Management Plan has been prepared, and the site is vested in the Pemberton Progress Association. Refer to 16.6 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Good Authenticity: Good

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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