Narembeen Hotel

Statement of Significance

Social *social significance *.demonstration of a way of life, custom, process or function. The Narembeen Hall is exceptionally significant for its pivotal role as the impetus for the development of the town and region of Narembeen. It is significant in demonstrating customs and ways of life that have changed and also continued through the years. The Narembeen Hotel demonstrates the principal characteristics of the social life and community development of a wheatbelt town established in the 1 920s. The Hotel has a sense of place created by the memories of the events that have occurred I in the place, and varying degrees of historic importance to individuals, community groups and the town of Narembeen. Historical historical significance of development of cultural phases; association with important figures. The Narembeen Hotel and the licence thereof was pivotal in the history of Narembeen. The Narembeen Hotel is significant for the close association with the pioneers of Narembeen. It was the first permanent building in the Town of Narembeen Aesthetic environment^ importance; townscape or landscafe value; high * degree of unity of setting. *architectural/technical accomplishment The Hotel aesthetics demonstrate the importance of its location in terms of the main street and the railway station. The Hotel identifies the corner of the main street and has considerable town scape significance. Rarity and Representativeness ^scarcity value; a particularly fine (or unique) example. The Narembeen Hotel was the first building in Narembeen and represents the beginning of the Narembeen as a town and a region. It is the only hotel in Narembeen, and the only building with the street verandahs intact..

Physical Description

The one storey building opens onto the main street of the town and the Railway Station, and being the first permanent building in the Narembeen town, it was the prime location. The place is functional with verandahs wrapping around both street faces The front bar is accessed by entry doors across the corner truncation. The accommodation and lounge entry are on the main street frontage, and the beer garden is along the Currall Street frontage (opposite the Railway Station). The building is a brick and iron construction with a separate verandah roof. The entire street front external walls are rendered and painted a light colour. Originally, the light render was only from the window sill fine upwards, with face brick below. The verandah columns were originally timber. They have been replaced with steel columns. The Dining Room and hotel accommodation rooms remain in the original condition. The bar area and lounge have been refurbished a number of times, but the structure and plan intention is evident. The hotel laundry which is on the Churchill street frontage, a weatherboard building, in danger of collapse. At the rear of the hotel building "motel" units have been constructed separate from the hotel building. The beer garden remains in its original location.

History

Assessment 1989 Construction: 1923 The Swan River Colony was established in 1829, and by 1830, Ensign Dale was exploring the Avon Valley region . In October 1830 Dale explored as far east as Bruce Rock. The Avon Valley was opened up for settlement- but establishment of farming areas further east was restricted by the struggling growth of the fledgling colony. In 1836 John Septimus Roe led an expedition east from York. on a more southerly route than Dale. At Roe's seventh camp site, emus were observed, and the site was subsequently named "Emu Hill". This is the first land mark recorded by non aboriginal persons in the Shire of Narembeen. Agricultural settlement was not economically viable eastwards beyond York in the later half of nineteenth century, and pastoralists took up the land for sheep. When Lefroy explored the area in 1863, Charles Smith6 held the eastern most property "Narimbeen". situated around Emu Hill. About that time sandalwood cutters were working in what are now the Narembeen and Bruce Rock Shires, and many of the tracks they cut were used by the early settlers, and later by the gold seekers in the 1890s. By 1867 Smith's lease was transferred to Charles Heal of York In 1880, together with his brother James, the first wheat crop in the area yielded 22 bushels to the acre. In 1883 Charles Heal purchased another property 'Caroling" and the two were worked in conjunction. In 1906 the lease was transferred a couple of times in quick succession, and was resumed by the Government in 1909 At this time McGibbon11 had made a claim, which resulted in his receiving compensation and 7000 acres. The property was then known as Kumminin. By 1919 when he sold the property, considerable improvements had been made. He sold freehold portions and the Government purchased the remainder for Soldier settlements. With an increase in the colony's population and prosperity resulting from the Goldrushes, there was a demand for agricultural land. The rabbit proof fence was erected between 1901 and 1907, and between 1909-1911, James Mitchell introduced the "Survey before Selection" policy and opened the eastern wheatbelt for settlement. In 1909 prior to that policy, WN Hedges had selected a farm and became the first permanent settler in the Narembeen district. Hedges property "Koolberrin" comprised of 18,962 acres in nineteen blocks. Millions of acres were surveyed into 1000 acre blocks and conditions were made pertinent to the non experienced and low capital farmer settlers . In 1910, 1000 acre blocks were surveyed and settled around Emu Rock and East Kumminin-. Small settlements developed throughout the region, and settlers associations formed to represent the farmers' interests. The struggle and enduring hardship of the early settlers was encouraged by the generous spirit of those settler communities. The co-operative movement of the settlers led to bulk handling and group benefits. The railway was developing. When Harry Read took up part of Smith's land in 1910, it was still called Narimbeen. He opened a sub-post Office serving the East Kumminin district and in 1917 a railway siding 3 miles north of Emu Hill was opened. Local settlers were asked to name the siding. Narembeen was submitted as an option, and chosen. In 1920 Emu Hill was a town and Narembeen was a railway siding. Both settlements applied to their respective, different electorates for a hotel license, and both were rejected. When both applications were resubmitted, Narembeen was successful and a license was granted. The Emu Hill application was rejected because it meant transferring a license from Beverley. Narembeen was rejected because of its small settlement. When applications were resubmitted for the licenses, the Beverley electorate had just had a referendum to reduce licenses in the area. The opponents to Narembeen failed to appear at the York licensing office, and were discounted. Charles Latham and Tom Savage, previous friends and then partners took up land in 1910 and together with the few other families in East Kumminin, developed a small community. Latham not only developed a farm, but a community and political power . He lobbied for the hotel in Narembeen with other powerful allies in Henry Hale and Paddy Connolly Connolly and Hale had purchased 30 acres from Savage's farm for the purpose of building the hotel and developing the other blocks. In 1922, Latham, Savage and Northmore established the Narembeen Progress Association. The hotel opened in 1923, the town blocks had sold quickly. In 1924 the Narembeen Road Board was established. By 1925 the railway infrastructure had expanded to link Narembeen to Merredin, and the town had a population of 2,100 people. Wheat and wool prices increased and the rural economy prospered and expanded on a large scale. A brief goldrush in Holleton east of Narembeen, between 1924 and 1927, and again in August 1929, when a new gold mine and the discovery of tin renewed interest in the area, contributed to the progress and prosperity of the developing town of Narembeen. The Great Depression in 1929 hit fast and hard. The Soldier settlers and other undercapitalised settlers were hardest hit, and many were forced off the land or just abandoned it. The more established farmers assisted the new settlers as much as possible. Social activities were a saviour as the Narembeen settlers forged their fledgling community. The Narembeen Progress Association formed in 1922 to guide the development of the new town, with an aim to establish a Narembeen Road Board- which would then facilitate the interests and welfare of the town and district of Narembeen- One of the first objectives of the Narembeen Progress Association was the provision of a hall or meeting place in Narembeen. Paddy Connolly and Henry Hale who owned the Hotel, donated the land for the Narembeen Hall25' which was subsequently constructed and opened on the 8th September 1923.26 only a short time after the Hotel. One of the Narembeen Progress Association initiatives was to set up special committees. Trustees for the Hall were nominated to Messrs Connelly and Hale for their approval. The need for law and order in the town of Narembeen was evident after the hotel was built and subsequently became the scene of many rowdy scenes. The influx of railway workers and clearers into the Narembeen district added to the problem, and it was agreed in April 1923, to station a policeman in the town. However prior to a police posting, the Narembeen Hall was opened and the need for a policeman was further highlighted. A permanent policeman was posted in Narembeen shortly thereafter. The Town and region of Narembeen has evolved through fluctuating fortunes. The nature of the wheat and sheep industry determines that seasonal workers are often in the region. The hotel provides the only accommodation in the town of Narembeen. The front bar and pool tables provide the social interaction for the itinerant workers and the local farmers to meet and wash away the dust of a hard days work on the land. The hotel has witnessed its own fluctuating fortunes with a number of changes of ownership and lessees.

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