Northampton Shire Offices

Author

Shire of Northampton

Place Number

08966

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Location

57 Hampton Rd Northampton

Location Details

Local Government

Northampton

Region

Midwest

Construction Date

Constructed from 1957

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	19 Apr 1996	Category 3	Category 3 SIGNIFICANT AT LOCAL LEVEL Retain and conserve if possible; endeavour to conserve the significance of the place through provisions in the Town Planning Scheme with encouragement to the owner to conserve the place. Photographically record the place prior to any redevelopment.

Statement of Significance

The site of the Northampton Shire Offices has social and historic significance for the activities and role
of Local Government in the community. However, the building itself has little or no aesthetic
significance. It has social significance as a centre for local government since 1957.

Physical Description

The Northampton Shire Offices are located on an elevated site overlooking the main road at the corner of Stephen
Street. The site is on a lot adjacent to the original Road Board building (see Site No 85). The offices are of painted
brickwork in the very plain, in this case almost domestic style, of the 'modernist' period which fails as a public
building to make any contribution to the streetscape or town character. The building also comprises painted timber
window frames, a feature stone wall at the entry and a green roof.

History

The construction of new Shire offices had been a topic of considerable debate since the 1940s. Although plans had
been drawn up on several occasions, the interruption of the Second World War and the high cost involved saw the
postponement of the plan. However, the new Shire offices were eventually constructed and opened by a former
Chairman of the Board, Mr. F.A. Porter, in 1957. Mr Porter had been a member of the Board for thirty years, sixteen
of them as Chairman. When completed the building and the furniture cost about 7,000 pounds. The original Road
Board office (Site No.85), located adjacent, became a public library and later an arts and crafts centre. The shire
offices were built on the site of the former Northampton Workingman's Hall that had opened in 1880.
An obelisk built of local stone was unveiled in front of the shire offices on 7 April 1971 by Cr E. E. Teakle (Geraldton
Guardian 13/04/1971).

Chronology Entries
1871 The Mines District Road Board was formed.
1880 A Mechanics Institute was opened in Northampton. The building was used until 1957 whan it was
demolished to make way for new Shire offices.
1919 The residents of the Northampton Road Board District were presented with a plaque to commemorate
their subscription of double the allocated quota to the Commonwealth of Australia Peace Loan.
23/07/1957 New Shire Offices were opened by F. A. Porter, former Chairman of the Board.
1964 The Northampton Town Centenary Celebrations were held.
1975 Northampton Shire Council revenue reached its first half million dollars.
1993 The National Trust (WA) presented a plaque to the town of Northampton in recognition of the town's
classification as a Historic Town.
2001 The Northampton Shire offices were upgraded.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Orig'l Fabric: Intact

Condition

Good

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
Summerhayes and Associates	Architect	1957	-

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	'New Look Shire Office'	Geraldton Guardian	11/07/2001.
	Suckling, A.J; "The history of the Northampton District". p.127
BL Acc 7059 B	Photograph; "Northampton Shire Council building".	Battye Library	1971
	"The Hampton Road Heritage Walk."

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Office or Administration Bldg
Original Use	GOVERNMENTAL	Office or Administration Bldg

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	BRICK	Common Brick

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Government & politics

Creation Date

16 Jul 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

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.