Hale School Memorial Hall

Child Places

• 09958 Chapel of St Mark

Statement of Significance

Hale School Memorial Hall was constructed in 1960-61 and is of historic value as the first Brutalist style building constructed in Australia. It makes a significant contribution to the evolution of Western Australian contemporary architecture.
Hale School Memorial Hall is of scientific and historic value as it demonstrates achievement in construction technology, in its use of reinforced off-form concrete using the Bȇton Brut construction method and was the earliest application of this technique in Australia in 1961. The place is the exemplar and precedent for the use of this technique and for the evolution of Brutalist buildings in Western Australia.
Hale School Memorial Hall is of aesthetic value as a fine example of Late Twentieth-Century Brutalist style architecture and was designed by prominent Western Australian architect Anthony Brand who was recognised for his pioneering use of the Bȇton Brut construction method that demonstrated a high degree of innovation at the time.
Originally built to honour the Old Haleians who had died in war, Hale School Memorial Hall continues to have social value to past and present students, teachers and school staff as demonstrated in a documentary film produced in October 2021 by the Old Haleians Association and the stage play ‘My Hall’, by Julie Jarel in the same year.

Physical Description

Hale School Memorial Hall is a fine example of Late Twentieth-Century Brutalist style architecture with landmark qualities within the Hale School Campus. Constructed in Bȇton Brut reinforced off-form concrete with a striking east elevation, prominent external concrete columns, concrete fenestration and bas-relief moulded balustrades, Hale School Memorial Hall is valued for its bold contemporaneous design.

History

As the first Brutalist building in Australia, and the first to demonstrate the use of off-form concrete using the Bȇton Brut construction method, Hale School Memorial Hall is the exemplar and precedent for the use of this technique and for the evolution of Brutalist buildings in Western Australia.
Hale School Memorial Hall was built as a memorial to honour the Old Haleians who lost their lives in war, with this function reflected in the building’s austere but striking design, scale and use of off-form concrete to produce a building of symbolic significance.

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Historic Themes

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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.