Narembeen Public Hall

Statement of Significance

Social: The place demonstrates that it is highly valued by the community for the social and cultural activities that have taken place and continue to take place there. The Narembeen Public Hall is important to the community's sense of place as it can demonstrate the pivotal role it played in the social and cultural life, for over half a century , in the lives of the Narembeen community. Historical: The Narembeen Public Hall demonstrates the diversity of social and cultural activities in the social and community development of the town and region of Narembeen in the eastern wheatbelt. The Narembeen Public Hall represented a time of prosperity and enthusiasm in the region and still represents the notion of contemporary and modern in the country. The site demonstrates a close association with the pioneers of Narembeen and the subsequent development of the town and the civic precinct in association with the Narembeen Road Board. The place demonstrates a strong association with the Country Women's Association and all that organisation represents. The place demonstrates a lasting association with Australia at war through the countless social functions welcoming the soldiers home, fundraising for the cause, memorial plaques in the foyer, the annual ANZAC day memorial service and the formation of the Volunteer Defence Forces. Aesthetic: The place is valued for the aesthetics which represents the spirit of the town as being modern and progressive. The place demonstrates an important design achievement for a regional wheatbelt town.The place represents a creative design achievement within the constraints of the site and the contemporary agenda. The place demonstrates a distinctive landmark individuality in the corner statement. It demonstrates a cohesive streetscape of a "civic precinct" in Latham Street. The Latham Street precinct is an important townscape element in Narembeen comprising three of the most significant extant buildings in the town. Scientific: The authenticity of the place offers the potential for the interpretation of the history and evolution of the place and the town in which it is located. Rarity & representativeness: A place of this presence, or design philosophy is uncommon in the eastern wheatbelt. The place demonstrates a way of lif e spanning many decades in the evolution of a town which is in danger of being lost. The Narembeen Public Hall is a unique example of this architecture in the eastern wheatbelt region

Physical Description

The Narembeen Public Hall is situated in the centre of a "civic precinct" on the corner of Latham and Longhurst Streets in Narembeen. Longhurst Street is the western entry into Narembeen from Bruce Rock, and Perth, and Latham Street is the north south entry into town from Kondinin. A street vista northwards up Latham street is for the most part obscured by several mature peppermint trees along the Longhurst Street boundary. The Latham Street view is the best vantage point with the vista obscured, but the hall is obscured by the Road Board Building. The rear of the site adjoins a lane access way. 5.5 metres to the west of the Public Hall is the Lesser Hall.

History

Assessment 1995 Construction 1939/1940 Alterations/additions: toilets 1960 After the Great Depression, the rural sector had improved by the late 1930s with wheat and wool prices rising. Signs of the recovery were evident throughout the Narembeen district. The Narembeen Road Board built the Narembeen Public Hall in an enthusiast ic burst of renewed confidence, which proved to be short-lived with the on set of World War Two in the same year that the hall was being constructed. The land on which the hall is located was originally part of Tom Savage's farm and was actually where his original bush timber and hessian house was situated. . The site was later that of the first shop in Narembeen, the Emu Hill Co-op when Narembeen was just a railway siding. After Connelly and Hale purchased the Narembeen townsite land from Tom Savage in 1922, they donated the site, Lot 19, to the Narembeen Road Board for community purposes. The shanty was demolished, and the Narembeen (Lesser) Hall was built on the site in 1923. In 1939 the Perth Architects Powell Cameron and Chisolm were commissioned by the Narembeen Road Board to prepare plans for the Narembeen Public Hall. The functional design of the hall responded to the existing lesser hall in that it provided the kitchen and supper room facilities to enable the dance floor of the new hall to be retained almost exclusively for that purpose. The acquisition of the dance floor from the Embassy Ballroom refurbishment must have been quite a coup for the dancing community of Narembeen. Most community and social activities responded to the war effort. The opening in February 1940 was a huge affair with Mr Bonniface's Orchestra from Perth.. At a public meeting at the Hall in 1940, 80 men offered their services to the Volunteer Defence Services. The VDC provided a great moral boost and community interaction during the war years. The Narembeen branch of the VDC even claimed to have instigated the Australia wide movement. Every Saturday night during the war there was a dance in Narembeen or one of the surrounding towns. Dances were a popular social activity in Narembeen and one of the main functions at the Narembeen Hall (Lesser Hall), prior to the new Narembeen Public Hall being built. Red Cross dances in the Hall were organised to raise funds for relief charities. Transport was a problem with the war rations. For social events the farmers pooled their rations and Moppet's school bus did a community milk run to pick up the young people for the dances in Narembeen and the surrounding towns. The bus operator, Baden Moppet and his wife became the chaperones. The roar of the gas producer could be heard above the music of the last dance when the evening ended. The history of dancing was very social, a family affair, many of the men were away at war, and the dances were a wonderful social celebration of welcome whenever the soldiers came home. The floor was magnificent, even the children learned how to dance, not with lessons, · just by dancing at the regular dances. Everyone danced and took a plate for supper. Jock Hunter, the caretaker, provided buckets of water and milk for the coffee essence drinks6 Within an hour of the announcement by the Prime Minister, that World War Two was over, there was a parade of RSL members and the Road Board organised a dance that night. The Narembeen Public Hall has several memorial plaques in the foyer of the building, and is often referred to as the "memorial hall". Every year in Narembeen an ANZAC memorial service is held in the Narembeen Public Hall. Dances were the centre of the community fun, and although not continuous throughout the Public Hall history, the Old Time Dances Club was revived some years ago and on a Saturday night there is usually a dance in the wheatbelt somewhere. Narembeen Public Hall hosts the dance once a month with visitors travelling from throughout the wheatbelt and as far afield as Perth. Everyone brings their "esky" and a "plate" for supper. Supper is served in the Lesser Hall. The dances even now have some children attending. Narembeen is reputed to have the best floor in the state. The Shire operated Community Bus takes the dancers just like the old days all travelled in the school buses. During the period that the Old Time Dance Club was dormant, the Badminton Club began using the Hall. Now there is conflict between Old Time Dance Club who need a shiny floor , and the Badminton Club who don't want a slippery floor. Paddy Baker the picture show man provided the other major source of entertainment. He screened movies in the hall every Wednesday night and always attracted a full house, everyone went . The Country Women's Association has a significant association with the Narembeen Public Hall (and the Lesser Hall) through the organisation of significant social functions in the town. One such function was the Debutante Balls. The first was held at the Hall on the 20th August 1946. The people of Narembeen were eager for the excitement and glamour of such a grand event after the wartime austerity. The Lieutenant Governor Sir James Mitchell received the debutants before a crowd of 500 people. The CWA ran regular "old time family dances". In 1953 together with other community organisation delegates? the CWA met with the Road Board committee to facilitate the improvement of the kitchen facilities in the Lesser Hall which functioned in conjunction with the main hall. The 1950s was a time of affluence, there were more social choices. From the mid 1950s vandalism problems were evident in the backlane behind the Hall on the Movie nights, with youths smashing bottles. Many balls were held in 1950s, all organised by the CWA and raised money for community services and their new premises which was built in 1955. In 1959 the inaugural Industrial Show, with a fleece competition, was held with the Flower Show. In the 1960s there was a marked decline in the popularity of the dances and the regular movie shows had ceased in the Hall. No large functions were held in the 1960s by the CWA, except the annual New Years Eve Ball which was discontinued in 1967. In that year the Slim Dusty Show was a popular event at the Narembeen Public Hall. In 1968 the Narembeen Parents and Citizens Association organised a Debutante Ball. The Premier David Brand and Mrs Brand received 23 debutant s. The Hall and supper room were decorated better than they had been for some time . The 1970s was a period of rural depression and the lack of social functions at the Hall reflects that situation in the community's social life. In 1970 the annual Flower Show and Industry Show was discontinued, the fleece competition having been eliminated in 1966. Some wedding receptions still took place in the hall, although unlike the 1920s and 1930s, the wedding breakfast in the Lesser Hall was followed by a Reception, by invitation only, in the Main Hall. Faster cars and city accessibility meant a lot of the families celebrated weddings and family functions in the city or in a range of other venues developing in the town. A strong Repertory Club staged many productions including theatre , cabaret nights , and musical theatre. In 1974 t he Narembeen Repertory Club staged their f irst production, after a considerable break . The annual Balls continued to be celebrated in the Narembeen Public Hall, and in March 1979, the Lions held their Charter Dinner, and the Hospital celebrated their Golden Jubilee Ball. During the 1980s the Recreation Centre became the main venue for the community social and sporting functions. The Narembeen Club also has very good function facilities and rivalled the Public Hall, the Recreation Centre and the various sporting clubs. However the Public Hall still hosted a considerable number of social events. In 1983 the Karrinyup Symphony Orchestra appeared with pianist David Helfgott. In 1988 The Year 1O students from Narembeen Junior High School held their Graduation Dinner Dance in the Public Hall and the lesser hall was the venue for supper. In 1995, as for other years, the ANZAC service was held in the hall. The Old Time Dance Club continues to revive the spirit of the place with their monthly dances. The Badminton Club still plays on Tuesday nights under the expert eye of the sprightly octogenarian Mr Peter Walker. The recent "Go Narembeen" competition16 in Narembeen highlighted the town and a specific mention was made of the "art deco in Narembeen". Negotiations are underway between Suburban Cinemas Organisation and the Shire of Narembeen with regard to recommencing movies in the hall on a regular basis. Projection equipment of an antique nature has been relocated from the Narembeen Drive-in, into the hall Bio Box.

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