Local Government
Bassendean
Region
Metropolitan
Location
10 Whitfield St Bassendean
Location Details
Other Name(s)
BIC Reserve
Construction Date
Constructed from 1935 to 1960
Demolition Year
N/AStatutory Heritage Listings
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | Adopted | 22 May 2018 |
Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - Assessed - Below Threshold | Current | 11 Jul 2003 |
Other Heritage Listings and Surveys
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 31 Oct 1996 | ||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 22 Aug 2017 | 2 | |
Child Places
- 07398 Bassendean Croquet Club
- 16774 Rolf Harris Splash Pool
- 18087 Bassendean Tennis Club
Statement of Significance
The place demonstrates the commitment of the Bassendean Improvement Committee and the greater Bassendean community which achieved the goal of creating a substantial sporting venue in 1935, created by sustenance workers during the period of economic depression.
Physical Description
Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve is a complex of sporting venues including croquet lawns and clubrooms (c.1958), bowling clubrooms and greens (c.1960), and an oval. The Bassendean War Memorial is located north-west in the complex.
History
The land on which Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve is located was formerly known as Hay’s Swamp. Upon Hay’s death in 1923 it was suggested to the Bassendean Road Board that they purchase the land in order to improve the view and the facilities for the residents of Bassendean. A committee named the Bassendean Improvement Committee (BIC) was formed to raise funds for the purchase of Hay’s Swamp. Plans for the buildings on Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve were drawn in 1935 by architects Powell, Cameron and Chisholm. The Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve was opened on 9 November 1936. The 1939 survey shows the original location of the buildings on Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve. The Bowling clubrooms and green were located on the north side of Wilson Street which is currently (2003) a car park. The Tennis Pavilion (1935) in Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve was originally located on the hill behind the current council offices. The decision to provide tennis facilities within the Reserve was an obvious one as tennis was an extremely popular sport in the 1920s. The orginal Tennis Pavilion is no longer extant. The croquet clubrooms within Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve were built in 1958 by the Bassendean Roads Board. Since construction in 1936, the oval has had many uses including cricket, football, soccer and volunteer fire rescue training and school groups. The size of the main oval at Bassendean Improvement Committee Reserve has been diminished since its original construction. The most recent addition to the place is the war memorial located in the north-western corner of the reserve. The memorial was moved from its position on Old Perth Road to the Bassendean Improvement Committee reserve in time for the hundred year commemoration of World War I.
Associations
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASH McClay | Architect | - | 1997 |
State Heritage Office library entries
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6392 | Images CD No. 19 : Trayning Police Station and Bassendean Improvement Centre Reserve. | C D Rom | 2003 |
Place Type
Urban Open Space
Uses
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL | Other Sports Building |
| Original Use | SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL | Other Sports Building |
Architectural Styles
| Style |
|---|
| Post-War International |
| Inter-War California Bungalow |
Construction Materials
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | TILE | Other Tile |
| Roof | METAL | Zincalume |
| Wall | TIMBER | Weatherboard |
| Wall | BRICK | Common Brick |
Historic Themes
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Sport, recreation & entertainment |
| OUTSIDE INFLUENCES | Depression & boom |
Creation Date
03 Jun 1997Publish place record online (inHerit):
ApprovedLast Update
01 Jan 2017Disclaimer
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.