House, 2 Hill Terrace, Mosman Park

Statement of Significance

House, 2 Hill Terrace, Mosman Park is a fine example of the Inter-war Old English architectural style, including high quality interior decoration. The place was designed by Reginald Summerhayes and demonstrates the development of Mosman Park.

Physical Description

House, 2 Hill Terrace, Mosman Park, consists of a large brick and terracotta tile residence in the Inter-war Old English architectural style, with this style applied to the walls and ceilings of the house's interior.

History

In 1934, Dr Frayne, a Perth radiologist, bought a block of riverside land at Mosman Park and contracted noted architect Reginald Summerhaes to design a family home. The house was subsequently owned by a number of families but the exterior structure remained largely unchanged since the 1930s.

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Memorial Hall

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Statement of Significance

This building has a strong Art Moderne presence despite being an adaptation of a previous building and having been modernised in the 1960's. It's impressiveness is enhanced by surrounding ovals and predominantly single storey residences. For eight decades it has been an important social and civic venue as the local administrative centre between 1920 and 1965, a cinema, a reception centre and community hall.

Physical Description

This building was the original Town Hall and Picture Theatre. It shows evidence of three major renovations. The predominant style, both externally and internally, is the art deco or art moderne style of the 1939 alterations. The brickwork is painted, with the streamlining, fins and other decorative features painted to contrast. The east side of the building and the lines of the corrugated metal roof appear to be the original style. To the immediate west is a high walled garden.

Condition

Very Good

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Statement of Significance

DEMONSTRATION OF A WAY OF LIFE: The original Soldier's Memorial Hall was constructed as an all purpose hall for the rate payers of Mosman Park and has served the residents of Mosman Park in one form or another for over 70 years. The Hall played an important part in the social life of the community. The building incorporated a Road Board Administration Office, Community Hall (including a Picture Theatre with Gardens attached). As such it has served local residents from 1921 to 1965 when offices were relocated. During this time the main hall has hosted social events such as dances, concerts, flower shows and picture shows regularly with attendances commonly exceeding 250 people. There would be few long time residents without fond memories of the building during a period which predated television. These would include Mr. Jack PIatt, son of Tom PIatt, who recalled his father's comments regarding the first silent picture showing at the hall. The attendance at that time was 439. In the 1930s sound picture shows were regularly held in the main hall and In the adjoining picture gardens. During the 1940s the cinema was well-patronised, especially on Saturday Night when "long queues awaiting entry would snake around the building and continue down Lochee Street "(I) Both the hardtop and summer gardens were very popular through to the late 1950s when the advent of television spelt the death knell for many cinemas in W*A, Reference: Taped interview Lyn Huxtable, projectionist. SCARCITY VALUE The Mosman Park Hall which includes a picture theatre and gardens is the only example of it's kind left standing in Western Australia. The building is a rare example of the incorporation of a local government administration building and a picture theatre in Western Australia. The design chosen by the architects in 1939 was typical of many cinemas dating from that time, though unique to Perth. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Prominent citizens connected with the Mosman Park Memorial Hall arc: The architects Kreightmeyer and Rowe and Marshall Waller Clifton Picture Theatre Propreiters the Hatfield Family, who also ran Cottesloe Picture Theatre and Lido Gardens

Physical Description

The style of architecture chosen by the architects was typical of many cinemas dating from this time, though quite unique to Perth. This Streamlined Art Moderne "Odeon” design radically altered the appearance of the old Hall. At the same time, the main hall was completely modernised for the showing of the movies. Inspiration for the_building no doubt came from the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Las Angeles. Like the famous American Showroom, the additions to the Town Hall offer little more than a facade on a barn of a building, though the symbolism was arresting and brought a touch of modernism to Mosman Part. Here the hint of the fin-shaped pylons over the entrance to the hall reflect the public's fascination with the machine aesthetic during that period. Read from across the street, the 1939 building presents a deeply recessed and dramatic frontage. This predominant design suitably expressed the dual nature of the building, which; like its predecessor, was planned to house both the Road Board Offices and the picture theatre. The sculptural qualities of the structure resulted from the need to express the duality of function. One of the most arresting features of the building is the prominent lower block situated on the vest side over the entrance to the cinema. This nautical style created an access to the lobby upstairs The tower is decorated by a vertical ladder-like formation an optimistic touch which was symptomatic of the times This is intercepted by a band of three racing stripes projecting from the face of the building. Typifying speed and motion, the stripes are interrupted at perpendicular angles above the openings to the balconies to form fin-like projections which enhance the speed motifs These eye catching elements were designed to attract the attention of the passerby. The exterior of the building is surprisingly well preserved, despite its lack of attention in recent years. Here vertical fenestrations are embellished with quoin-like decorations and are today painted a brick red shade, these tend to contribute to the Germanic tone of the building. The original glass and jarrah doors are still intact at balcony level. These are embellished with horizontal stripes which complement the racing stripes elsewhere on the building.

History

Assessment 1991 Construction 1921 Additions 1939 The building formerly called Cottesloe Beach Hall and before that Soldiers Memorial Hall, has been known since 1989 as the Mosman Park Memorial Hall. The structure is situated on the comer of Lochee Street and Solomon Streets, Mosman Park and is surrounded on the east, south and west by Davis Oval, Nash Field and Mann Oval. The building was to serve for forty four years as the office and administration centre of the local government office, as it evolved from Road Board and then to Shire Office. SOLDIERS MEMORIALHALL: The original Soldiers Memorial Hall was built in 1921.with loan money at the suggestion of the Soldiers" Welfare Committee. ThA design vas a solid symmetrical structure which gave the appearance of an education institution. The official opening of this building took the form of an "open invitation to a free picture night for ratepayers. The programme was a Paramount Picture called “You Can-t Have Everything” In those days of silent movies the programme began at 8.00pm and vas accompanied by full orchestra. Pictures were presented in the main hall. It has not been established whether the picture gardens existed before these alterations. One reliable source has suggested that the open air venue was in operation from the very early days. In any case the gardens were certainly operational during the 1930s and were remembered with affection by local residents. Although picture gardens are not entirely unique to Western Australia, due to the climate they are a fairly distinctive feature- It is evident that the local Road Board Office saw it entirely appropriate to link their administrative Office with a community centre which included provision for the projecting of the movies. This can be seen as an indication of the importance of the movie theatre to the social life of the community at the time. Although pictures were shown in this way all over the State, the notion of redesigning the local town hall to accommodate a cinema vas an uncommon occurrence. 1939 ADDITIONS. With the existing summer gardens in mind the original Hall was extensively altered for use as a cinema by architects A.B. Kreitmeyer and G-A. Rove in 1939.

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Alexandra Hall

Parent Place or Precinct

04041 St Luke's Anglican Church Group

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Has retained its original form and continues to be used for church activities, social events and community purposes. It forms part of a century old Anglican precinct with St Luke's and the Rectory. The Hall has been well maintained and is an attractive part of the landscape.

Physical Description

Is a timber framed building clad externally with weatherboard. The rood is hipped with gables to the east and west. The gables are louvred timber ventilators. The windows are fixed sash over a hopper sash and the sashes are divided with glazing bars. There is a verandah on the south. The Hall has a coved ceiling lined with stamped metal, over/above a ripple iron lined dado to shoulder height. The floor is wide jarrah boards. The eastern end of the Hall has been partitioned off as an opportunity shop. In the west end of the Hall is a raised stage with an arch lined with stamped metal. The stage area is lined with pine. There is an internal door on each side of the stage, on the south four steps and a balustrade lead down to the Hall floor, on the north side the steps have been removed and replaced with a stairway down to a room under the stage. The room under the stage has a timber floor, large timber columns and beams to support the stage, a batten plaster ceiling, ripple iron on the east wall, sheet material on the other walls, a door to the outside on the west and two small windows. This building is one of a group which includes St Luke's and the Old Rectory. Close by to the south is St Luke's Church. Both are set in well maintained, landscaped gardens with lawns, brick paving and limestone retaining walls.

Integrity/Authenticity

Internal Stairway Added

Condition

Very Good

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St Luke's Anglican Church

Parent Place or Precinct

04041 St Luke's Anglican Church Group

Uses

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Statement of Significance

St Luke's is a beautiful and well kept example of church architecture with a century of continual use. With Alexandra Hall and the Rectory, it forms a small, Anglican precinct. The Church has been a social place in which generations of Mosman Park residents have regularly met and a spiritual place in which the important ceremonies of life have been conducted.

Physical Description

St Luke's Church has a traditional cruciform plan with limestone walls and a Marseilles clay tile roof. The lancet windows are not original, the original windows were too small and were replaced. The roof is supported by timber timber trusses with metal tie rods. The raking ceiling over the truss is of timber boarding. Around the walls are small ventilation boxes. There is a large rose window of stained glass leadlight high on the western end of the nave. Modern stained glass windows are behind the altar and on the south wall of the transept. The porch on the western end, stonework, lancet windows and doors, was added in 1956. The transepts and sanctuary are panelled with jarrah. There are jarrah choir stalls, pulpit and other church furniture. A jarrah font, carved by HB Howell was presented to the Church in 1899. The pipe organ, probably built in 1880, is considered to be the best example in Western Australia of the work of Hill, the 19th C organ builder. It was installed in St Luke's in 1924. This building is one of a group which includes the Old Rectory and Alexandra Hall. St Luke's is set in well maintained, landscaped gardens with brick paving and limestone retaining walls. Close to the north is Alexandra Hall, across an empty lot, to the south west, is the Rectory.

Integrity/Authenticity

1904 additions of transepts and sanctuary to the eastern end of the nave were designed by J Talbot Hobbs. 1956 front porch and entrance to west and additions to vestry.

Condition

Very Good

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St Luke's Anglican Church Group

Child Places

• 25078 The Rectory
• 25075 St Luke's Anglican Church
• 25079 Alexandra Hall

Uses

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Child Places

• 25078 The Rectory
• 25075 St Luke's Anglican Church
• 25079 Alexandra Hall

Statement of Significance

St Luke's Anglican Church St Luke's is a beautiful and well kept example of church architecture with a century of continual use. With Alexandra Hall and the Rectory, it forms a small, Anglican precinct. The Church has been a social place in which generations of Mosman Park residents have regularly met and a spiritual place in which the important ceremonies of life have been conducted. Alexandra Hall Has retained its original form and continues to be used for church activities, social events and community purposes. It forms part of a century old Anglican precinct with St Luke's and the Rectory. The Hall has been well maintained and is an attractive part of the landscape. The Rectory is part of a small Anglican precinct with a century of local history. Although there have been extensions to the rear, the Rectory appears to have retained its original front appearance. The large garden contributes a sense of space in an area where most house blocks are quite small.

Physical Description

St Luke's Anglican Church St Luke's Church has a traditional cruciform plan with limestone walls and a Marseilles clay tile roof. The lancet windows are not original, the original windows were too small and were replaced. The roof is supported by timber timber trusses with metal tie rods. The raking ceiling over the truss is of timber boarding. Around the walls are small ventilation boxes. There is a large rose window of stained glass leadlight high on the western end of the nave. Modern stained glass windows are behind the altar and on the south wall of the transept. The porch on the western end, stonework, lancet windows and doors, was added in 1956. The transepts and sanctuary are panelled with jarrah. There are jarrah choir stalls, pulpit and other church furniture. A jarrah font, carved by HB Howell was presented to the Church in 1899. The pipe organ, probably built in 1880, is considered to be the best example in Western Australia of the work of Hill, the 19th C organ builder. It was installed in St Luke's in 1924. This building is one of a group which includes the Old Rectory and Alexandra Hall. St Luke's is set in well maintained, landscaped gardens with brick paving and limestone retaining walls. Close to the north is Alexandra Hall, across an empty lot, to the south west, is the Rectory. Alexandra Hall Is a timber framed building clad externally with weatherboard. The rood is hipped with gables to the east and west. The gables are louvred timber ventilators. The windows are fixed sash over a hopper sash and the sashes are divided with glazing bars. There is a verandah on the south. The Hall has a coved ceiling lined with stamped metal, over/above a ripple iron lined dado to shoulder height. The floor is wide jarrah boards. The eastern end of the Hall has been partitioned off as an opportunity shop. In the west end of the Hall is a raised stage with an arch lined with stamped metal. The stage area is lined with pine. There is an internal door on each side of the stage, on the south four steps and a balustrade lead down to the Hall floor, on the north side the steps have been removed and replaced with a stairway down to a room under the stage. The room under the stage has a timber floor, large timber columns and beams to support the stage, a batten plaster ceiling, ripple iron on the east wall, sheet material on the other walls, a door to the outside on the west and two small windows. This building is one of a group which includes St Luke's and the Old Rectory. Close by to the south is St Luke's Church. Both are set in well maintained, landscaped gardens with lawns, brick paving and limestone retaining walls. The Rectory Is a large house with stone walls and a metal roof. The chimneys are decorated with elaborate corbelling in face brickwork. The gables on the east and west elevations have a distinctive pattern of battens with stucco infill. A verandah with original posts and brackets flanks the front section of the house. The present railing on the west side was not part of the original building. The entrance is from the eastern side of the verandah through the original front door. From a spacious entrance hall open three rooms and a passage leading to the back of the house. There are three rooms off the passage. The windows to the east and west are double hung with upper sashes divided into nine planes. On the south side two sets of French doors open out onto the verandah. Most of the rooms have ceiling roses, cornices and fireplaces, including one marble fireplace with a tiled hearth. The doors are all original with locks and keys. The back verandah has been closed in with weatherboard additions and the original stairway to the cellar and laundry has been relocated to the outside of the verandah. There are two back doors on to the verandah, one from the passage and one from the kitchen. The kitchen has been modernised but the original archway from the wood stove remains. A small room is accessed from the verandah and is above the cellar and laundry. This building is one of a group which includes St Luke's and Alexandra Hall. The rectory is set in a large, informal garden with mature eucalypts.

Integrity/Authenticity

St Luke's Anglican Church 1904 additions of transepts and sanctuary to the eastern end of the nave were designed by J Talbot Hobbs. 1956 front porch and entrance to west and additions to vestry. Alexandra Hall Internal Stairway Added The Rectory Railing of west side of verandah. Weatherboard enclosure of back verandah. Relocation of back stairway. Kitchen modernised. Roof replaced. Two fireplaces covered over.

Condition

Very Good/Good

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Leighton Battery

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Statement of Significance

The Leighton Battery was the only battery using 5.25inch dual role Coast Artillery/Air Defence weapons to come into service in Australia. It is now one of the only two 5.25inch battery locations remaining relatively intact int he world.

Physical Description

Located high on Buckland Hill, the Leighton Battery site is fairly unobtrusive as much of the construction is underground. A metal lookout platform, a gun, a gun placement and tunnel entrances are limestone retaining walls, and walking paths circle the hill. Vegetation is low scrub and grasses, mostly native but some introduced. The site looks over the Indian Ocean to Rottnest Island, to Fremantle Harbour, over many surrounding suburbs, to the obelisk on the east and beyond the to the Perth city skyline.

History

Constructed during World War 2 to improve defence of Fremantle Harbour. Originally had over 400 metres of tunnels linking ammunition magazines, a workshop, rest areas, an aid post and the observation/command post. Wartime records suggest that no rounds were ever fired in anger by this Battery. Guns were upgraded between 1945 and 1947. Site was used for training. Battery was disbanded in 1963 and all equipment including guns were sold for scrap. Site neglected until residential redevelopment in the mid 1980s. Site gradually restored since then. Opened as a museum on 29/11/1997

Integrity/Authenticity

Most of the original surface structures have been demolished. Some of the underground structures have been filled. Partially restored during 1980s and 1990s.

Condition

Good

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Statement of Significance

Buckland Hill affords a panoramic view encompassing the surrounding suburbs and a superb vantage over the Indian Ocean, Rottnest and the other islands surrounding Fremantle Harbour and Gage Roads. This one hill is all that remains of a range of seven hills (known as the Seven Sisters) which have all been quarried out of existence It has importance as an open space and as a break between the urban and industrial development along Stirling Highway and emphasises Fremantle as a separate identity from Perth. The Leighton Battery was the only battery using 5.25 inch dual role Coast Artillery/Air Defence weapons to come into service. It remained in service post-war until 1963. It is now one of the only two 5.25 inch battery locations remaining relatively intact in the world. Buckland Hill is the only site in the Perth region with connections which go back to both the earliest English settlers and the Dutch visits to the coast of Australia. The site was once considered important as a capital for the new colony before another site was chosen closer to the mouth of the Swan River. Buckland Hill forms a natural boundary between Mosman Park and Fremantle, and is one of the highest points in the Perth metropolitan area.

Physical Description

The primary built feature of the site is a series of tunnels within the hill. These tunnels were to serve the 6 inch gun battery. The tunnels are brick lined and timber roofed, except where fires started by vandals have destroyed roof timbers. Visible evidence of the tunnels is provided by ventilator shafts and brick and concrete entrance structures. Two 6 inch gun positions are also visible and are similarly constructed of red brick and concrete. All of the above surface features associated with the 6 inch gun positions are either built into slopes or rise less than three feet above ground surface. One 5.25 inch gun pit has been excavated and another remains buried. The third was destroyed during preparation of the housing estate development. The gun pits are of poured concrete and lie flush with the surface. Also associated with the 5.25 inch gun battery is a reinforced concrete command post. This building is set into the earth at the rear of the site extending between 4 and 5 feet above surface level. A square brick structure, designated the Radar Hut is partly concealed in vegetation at the summit of the hill. This structure was used to support a Fremantle Port Authority beacon which has since been relocated to another site. Limestone retaining walls associated with the adjoining housing development, have been utilised to provide walkways and terraces on the site. Both surface and sub-surface structures are suitable venues for interpretive displays. The hill area lies in the coastal belt of Tamala limestone and the soils are Cottesloe Association overlying the Spearwood Dune system. The naturally occurring plant species are typical of those found in the coastal limestone habitat but with a lower species count and less mature specimens probably due to fire. Also absent is the tuart which was mentioned in archival sources as being present east of the hill. Good stretches of native heath are found on the western slope of the hill. The hills are typically yellow to brown, fine to coarse leached sands with much exposed limestone. Pinnacles of limestone frequently extend up into the sand. The sands are primarily derived from the weathering process of limestone. Prevailing south westerly winds have stripped these slopes of much soil. Commonly observed reptiles are the Blue-tongued Skink and the Dugite. The Spiny Tailed Gecko has also been reported. Populations are depleted due to depredations of domestic cats. The most frequently observed birds are the Turtle Dove, Brown Honeyeater, Red Wattle-bird, Australian Magpie and Black shouldered Kite. The existence of native vegetation in extensive areas and the open space presents the opportunity for education and interpretive functions, which will increase with rehabilitation.

History

Assessment 1996 Construction 1942-45 Builder: Australian Army On Saturday 5 January 1697, Commander Willem de Vlamingh landed on a beach somewhere near the mouth of the Swan River. He then; “climbed up on the high ground” . Most commentators pick Buckland Hill as the site of this high. ground. On 8 March 1827, Captain James Stirling explored the same area and named the hill after William Buckland, FRS, then a Reader in Geologv at Oxford University: Buckland was later Dean of Westminster. Stirling recommended the hill as an excellent site for the first capital of the Swan River Colony. However, on his second expedition in 1829, he chose the Arthur Head site in Fremantle. Beginning in the 1890’s the topography of the area was greatly changed by quarrying operations. Buckland Hill is all that remains of a. range of seven hills known as the Seven Sisters. Buckland Hill came into the ownership of the University of Western Australia as part of its original foundation endowment. During W.W. I, Buckland Hill was a naval signal station known as “Port War”. Defence planners decided against using Buckland Hill as an alternative location for the Fort Forrest guns when they were relocated from North Fremantle in the early 1930s. However in WW II, plans were put in place to relocate two 6 inch guns from Fort Arthur’s Head to Buckland Hill. Work commenced in the summer of 1942 and the guns were operational in February 1943 under the designation of the Leighton Battery. The threat from air attack instead of naval bombardment prompted the replacement of the two 6 inch guns with a battery of three 5.25 inch dual role coast artillery/air defence weapons. Of the numerous sites planned and initiated in Australia for this type of weapon, the Leighton Battery was the only one to become operational. The battery remained in operational and training use with the regular army and later the reserves until 1963 when the weapons were sold for scrap. It is one of two remaining 5.25 inch battery locations in the world.

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The Rectory

Parent Place or Precinct

04041 St Luke's Anglican Church Group

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Is part of a small Anglican precinct with a century of local history. Although there have been extensions to the rear, the Rectory appears to have retained its original front appearance. The large garden contributes a sense of space in an area where most house blocks are quite small.

Physical Description

Is a large house with stone walls and a metal roof. The chimneys are decorated with elaborate corbelling in face brickwork. The gables on the east and west elevations have a distinctive pattern of battens with stucco infill. A verandah with original posts and brackets flanks the front section of the house. The present railing on the west side was not part of the original building. The entrance is from the eastern side of the verandah through the original front door. From a spacious entrance hall open three rooms and a passage leading to the back of the house. There are three rooms off the passage. The windows to the east and west are double hung with upper sashes divided into nine planes. On the south side two sets of French doors open out onto the verandah. Most of the rooms have ceiling roses, cornices and fireplaces, including one marble fireplace with a tiled hearth. The doors are all original with locks and keys. The back verandah has been closed in with weatherboard additions and the original stairway to the cellar and laundry has been relocated to the outside of the verandah. There are two back doors on to the verandah, one from the passage and one from the kitchen. The kitchen has been modernised but the original archway from the wood stove remains. A small room is accessed from the verandah and is above the cellar and laundry. This building is one of a group which includes St Luke's and Alexandra Hall. The rectory is set in a large, informal garden with mature eucalypts.

Integrity/Authenticity

Railing of west side of verandah. Weatherboard enclosure of back verandah. Relocation of back stairway. Kitchen modernised. Roof replaced. Two fireplaces covered over.

Condition

Good

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