Claremont Municipal Heritage Area

Child Places

• 26802 Commercial Buildings

Statement of Significance

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE The demonstrated continuity of local government association with this site over what is now a considerable period is marked to some extent by this building ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE; LANDSCAPE VALUE The site is at an important junction midway between Fremantle & Perth, where the most direct road and railway links come together. Today this acts as a constriction which arrests the flow of people, giving Claremont much of its dynamics. The Municipal Chambers and Claremont Park are located at this point. The important streetfront of the design can best be enjoyed in close proximity to the building at which point the visual qualities become significant. SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE The Town of Claremont has a great deal of heritage asset although widely dispersed. This significant building is an important, and to be hoped visible marker of Claremont’s heritage. The development of Stirling Highway and one of the important components of social interaction in the western suburbs. SCARCITY VALUE As a design entity the building is a very fine example of its type, the major internal layout having remained virtually intact since the 1935 rebuild.

Physical Description

The Art Deco style Claremont Town Council Building is situated near the corner of Stirling Highway and Bay View Terrace in Claremont on the North West Corner of Claremont Park with the bowling greens to the south. The building is a typical expression of its period and a good example of the decorative style of architecture which was popular in the mid 1930’s. The 1935 design paid homage to the original building by the inclusion of a fleche and weathercock possibly from the earlier building. This is situated on the ridge of this brick and tiled two storey building, the lower floor probably surviving from the original structure. The street façade is symmetrical about the central axis and is in the modern stepped design with the town hall clock over the door centrally marking the entrance to the building. The rendered façade is punctuated at both ends with twin flagpoles and demonstrates many of the decorative icons common in the mid 1930’s before the streamline style reached WA. Some of these elements are expressed in the stepped façade which is articulated with a horizontal band of fluting. Underneath, two and half pillars and two pilasters define the axially located recessed entrance which in turn is flanked by two windows, also recessed, repeating the horizontal counter theme. A flowered motif arranged in horizontal bands across the capitals adds a decorative note to the street frontage, and together with the welcoming serpentine wing wall draws the visitor to the main entrance. The setting of the building is unusual: it is weak from the eastern approach in failing to address the park, perhaps in anticipation of other civic buildings being located to the east. The building, whilst in a prominent position is lost to the nearby town buildings, and only becomes visible from the shopping precinct opposite by the baroque angle at which Bay View Terrace meets Stirling High way north of the intersection.

History

Assessment:1993 Architect: 1899 Edwin Summerhayes; 1935 Reginald Summerhayes Builder: J H Motterham The associations of the building with the history of Local Government in Claremont make it an important building as well as a visible reminder of almost a century of Local Government in the Western Suburbs. The original Claremont Municipal Chambers designed by Edwin Summerhayes dates from the turn of the century, and it is believed that he also designed the Claremont War Memorial which stands adjacent to the Town Council Offices at the intersection. The first Municipal Council was commemorated by the laying of the foundation stone on the 24th March 1899 by the first Mayoress, Mrs James King. In the mid thirties, Reginald Summerhayes, son of the original architect was commissioned to refurbish the building. To mark the completion of the wok on 30 April 1935, another foundation stone was laid by Mrs G. Mengler, wife of the Mayor. The builder for this section of the work was J H Motterham.

Historic Themes

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