Yabberup Hall

Statement of Significance

Yabberup Hall has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
• The place is rare as a brick agricultural hall from the late 19th century
which has preserved the majority of its original fabric intact.
• The place was an early hall constructed under the Grant-in-Aid
scheme, and is unusual as a brick building resulting from this scheme.
• The place is the earliest known building by Robert Donald, one of the
South West’s most prominent builders, who is responsible for a number
of significant buildings, many of which are entered in the State Register
of Heritage Places.
• The place has high social value as the focal point for community
activities, meetings, dances, weddings, birthday parties, church
services, christenings, badminton, and the yearly Christmas tree, since
its construction in 1896
Aesthetic Value
Yabberup Hall is a well-composed, simply designed building in the scale of
Public Works Department agricultural halls from its era
Yabberup Hall and its informal setting contribute to the aesthetic qualities
of the rural landscape in the Preston district.
Historic Value
Yabberup Hall is the earliest known building constructed by prominent
South West builder, Robert Donald.
Yabberup Hall is associated with the State Government’s grant-in-aid
scheme, under which a number of agricultural halls were constructed in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
National Trust of Australia (WA)
Yabberup Hall, Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup 5
Yabberup Hall is associated with Public Works Department Chief Architect,
George Temple Poole, for his involvement in the original design of
agricultural halls.
Scientific Value
Yabberup Hall has the potential to reveal information regarding the use of
hand-baked bricks in a rural area in the late 19th century.
Social Value
Yabberup Hall has been the focal point for community activities, meetings,
dances, weddings, birthday parties, church services, christenings,
badminton, and the yearly Christmas tree, since its construction in 1896.
Yabberup Hall contributes to the local community’s sense of place for its
historical and social associations with the district.
Rarity
Yabberup Hall is rare as a brick agricultural hall from the late 19th century
which has preserved the majority of its original fabric intact.
Condition
Yabberup Hall is in good condition, although would benefit from minor
maintenance.
Integrity
Yabberup Hall continues to be used for its original function, and has high
integrity.
Authenticity
Additions in the 1920s and 1970s have not incurred loss of significant
original fabric. Yabberup Hall has a high level of authenticity

Physical Description

Yabberup Hall is a simple Flemish-bond and Common bond brick building,
40’ x 20’, constructed of hand-made bricks in 1896. Later extensions (1920
and 1970s) have attempted to match the original brickwork.
Yabberup Hall is a single-storey brick building with one rendered facade.
The building was originally a simple rectangular building with one single
hall space internally, measuring 20’ by 40’. Brick additions have been
added for kitchen and toilet facilities. The north wall of the Hall is rendered.
The south facade, which has the main entrance, has a skillion verandah
taking up the full length of the original building.
A kitchen has been added to the west of the Hall, while to the rear is a
separate red brick toilet block, linked by a covered hallway.
National Trust of Australia (WA)
Yabberup Hall, Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup 6
Internally, the main hall is a single space with no ceiling, so the rafters and
the corrugated iron roof are exposed. A bronze memorial plaque is
located on one wall above a fireplace.
A later kitchen/supper room has been constructed to the west of the
original hall, with Flemish-bond brickwork closely matching the original

History

Assessment 2010
Yabberup Hall was built by prominent South West builder, Robert Donald
under the Grant-in-Aid scheme for the construction of Agricultural Halls.
Local labour, three brothers, hand-made the bricks and erected the building.
It has continued in use as a community hall since 1896.

The establishment of Agricultural Halls in Western Australia followed the British tradition of government assistance for the construction of public buildings. Assistance, in the form of a Grant-In-Aid comprising land and funds for construction, was provided following a request by a community. Initially, the Grant-In-Aid was for a building site and £250 for the total cost of construction. The first two Agricultural Halls were built in 1893 at Brunswick and Dardanup, and were built under direct contract to the Public Works Department (PWD) to a standard plan of a simple, rectangular gable-roofed building measuring approximately 20 by 40 foot. The plan was developed by the PWD under prominent Western Australian architect George Temple Poole, in his capacity as Chief Architect. For Halls built between 1894 and 1914, when the scheme was discontinued, the PWD made their standard plan available, although it was up to the local community whether or not they used it. Building materials depended on what was available in the area and varied between timber, brick and stone. Land around the Preston River was first settled around 1877 by the sons of Thomas Chapman, who had arrived in Western Australia, aged ten, in 1835. The Chapmans pioneered the introduction of the Granny Smith apple in the district. Another early settler was John Charles, who came to the district from Victoria in 1887 with his five sons and three daughters. Sir John Forrest’s eldest brother, James, also took up land in the area.
In 1891, note was made of the ‘steady progress’ of the Preston district, with fifteen new homes having been constructed in six years. It was at this time that the Preston residents held a meeting to secure a site for a cemetery. The same meeting also discussed the erection of a hall in the area. A brick and iron building was proposed, which was estimated to cost £60, of the Government was expected to contribute half. However, construction did not proceed at this time, possibly because some residents thought that £30 was too much for them to contribute. On 17 July 1894, the Preston Progress Association wrote to Henry Venn, the MLC for Wellington, requesting Government assistance for the construction of an Agricultural Hall.
In September 1894, the Government made provision of £250 for the construction of hall at Upper Preston. This was one of a number of halls planned under the grant-in-aid scheme. In January 1895, the Progress Association again wrote to Venn asking if there was to be any progress with the Hall. The site was selected by 2 April 1895, and in May the PWD appeared to agree to undertake the work, rather than offer a grant. Although tenders were called in May 1895, by June there was concern in the Department that no specifications had been drawn up. Plans were subsequently produced, and these show a timber and weatherboard building on stumps, with a dramatic half-circle window on the east façade. However, notes on the Department files show that there was confusion about who was going to be responsible for construction: the PWD or the local community. Five tenders were received for the erection of the building, and a note on the file shows C. Y. O’Connor asking George Temple Poole for his advice as to which tender should be accepted. The contract was won by Robert Donald, of Bunbury, who put in the lowest bid at £273 13s 1d. It is noteworthy that one of the more expensive tenders (£367 14s 11d) was entered by Chris Hough, who became Donald’s brother-in-law in June 1895, and who was to become his business partner the next year. Donald moved to Busselton in 1896, and the partnership of Hough & Donald operated for ten years, after which Donald continued on his own and, later, with his son. During his time as a builder he constructed a number of significant buildings, some of which are detailed above. In July 1895, a local committee was formed in Upper Preston to undertake management of the building project. They wrote to the Department asking if the Hall had to be constructed according to the supplied plans, or whether these could be altered to reduce costs. They were informed that the committee could use its discretion in these matters. In October 1895, the Hall Committee informed the Department that they had decided that they would use brick rather than seasoned timber.
Donald subcontracted the task of erecting Yabberup Hall to three of the Charles brothers, John, Jim and William.17 The bricks were made from local clay and it is reputed that the brothers stayed up all night while the bricks were baking. A description of Yabberup Hall given at the time was: ‘The Building is of Brick, 40 x 20, Plastered with lime throughout from roof. Chimney. Five windows. Two doors. Verandah etc’. The Hall was officially opened on 10 August 1896: “ The opening of the Preston Agricultural Hall yesterday was celebrated by a dinner. Mr. [Henry] Venn was the chief guest. He delivered a non-political speech, alluding to his long connection with the district, and expressing earnest wishes for the welfare of the locality. Referring to Sir John Forrest, he said Bunbury had good reason to be proud of its member. Any district of the colony might well be proud of the Premier. He would be only too pleased to meet there many friends, more especially amongst the old residents. A dance in the evening was largely attended.” The reference to the ‘non-political speech’ and the praise for Forrest is explained by the fact the Venn was currently under attack for his handling of the transport system (he was Commissioner of Railways and Director of Public Works), but had failed to find support from the Premier, who subsequently sacked him. The praise, of course, is probably not unconnected to the number of members of the Forrest family who resided in the Preston district. Later in August 1896, the Hall Committee asked the Government to intervene in a dispute with the Preston Progress Association about control of the Hall. They were informed that the Hall Committee retained control, even after construction was finished.
In September 1896 the Hall Committee requested a grant for lamps to be installed at Yabberup Hall. This request was refused. In 1902, the cricket club requested permission to leave their mats on the Hall verandah until they could erect a room of their own. Permission was granted, as long as the mats were kept tidily. In 1913, it was resolved that Yabberup Hall should make no charge for religious services held there. On 24 June 1913, Yabberup Hall was vested in the Ministry of Works. By 1914, the Hall was being rented for piano lessons.
In May 1916, it was noted that furniture, the piano and the tank had been placed in the Hall though locally raised funds. The Government was asked for £15 for a new tank. The Hall Committee was informed that the State would pay half of the cost. In 1918, the Hall Committee complained that some residents were using that hall without paying the appropriate fees. The Government forwarded the grievance to Preston Road Board as a more appropriate authority to deal with the issue.
In August 1919, the Secretary of the Hall Committee was instructed to obtain a grant from the Government to build a supper room. This was initially declined, but in April 1920, £20 was offered towards the construction of a ‘dressing room’, provided this was matched with local money. In July 1920, the Committee was informed that the grant would be withdrawn if progress was not made towards construction of the extension. This must have spurred local action, since the new supper room was opened on 26 November 1920. Sandwiches were supplied free of charge. By 1935 the question of a new hall was being raised, since the old one was becoming too small for the dances and various functions held there. It was proposed that Yabberup Hall would be retained as a supper room in addition to a new building. The Government suggested that the Road Board should take over the reserve on which the Hall was located, since they could they apply for a loan for a new building.
However, this project did not proceed. During World War II, Yabberup Hall was used for Red Cross fundraising. Between 1949 and 1963, the Hall Committee worked towards a new and larger hall, and $3656 was raised. In 1957, the reserve and Hall were transferred to Preston Road Board. In November 1972 a historical exhibition was held at Yabberup Hall, which attracted 400 visitors. Among the exhibits were early minute books of the Upper Preston Agricultural Hall Committee. In 1995, tennis courts to the north of the Hall were opened by Dr. Hilda Turnbull, MLA for Collie. In October 1996, a centenary celebration of Yabberup Hall was held, with descendents of the original European settlers and current residents in attendance. In 2009, Yabberup Hall continues to serve the local community in its original function. Fundraising is currently taking place to renovate the kitchens

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Disclaimer

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.