North Kalgoorlie Fire Station

Statement of Significance

North Kalgoorlie Fire Station is a good example of the design and use of single bay stations with brick facades and central raised parapets, dating from the accelerated building campaign of the 1930s. It is one of three stations of this design which has retained a high degree of original detailing and which continues to be used for its original purpose (the other examples are in Guildford and Tammin).

North Kalgoorlie Fire Station is of significance to the local community for its association with the provision of fire services in the district for over 65 years.

Physical Description

North Kalgoorlie Fire Station was designed as a single bay station with a face brick facade within which the appliance door is framed by a rendered surround. The parapet is of a simple rendered design with a low triangular cap breaking through the front of the hipped roof.

Below the parapet, the appliance door is flanked by simple rendered pilasters with lightly chamfered edges. The decorative detailing is completed by a rectangular name plate to the parapet, bearing the words "FIRE STATION" and a plain rendered cornice band. The face brick detailing returns along the side walls to accommodate a single window on each side, behind which timber framed walls are clad with asbestos sheets.

The main station building incorporates a single bay appliance room, bedroom and bathroom, with a 1950s kitchen extension.

History

North Kalgoorlie Fire Station was constructed for a cost of £735 pounds and was opened on 19 November 1935 by E. E. Brimage, Esq., JP, Mayor of Kalgoorlie. It replaced an earlier Brown Hill Fire Station (c. 1912 - 1935).

During 1932, the Western Australian Fire Brigades Board (WAFBB) requesting that plans and specifications be drawn up for a standard building for country fire stations. As the effects of the Depression began to wane, the WAFBB embarked upon an intense building campaign. The reason for the significant increase in buildings constructed is not known. The Depression would have affected the expenditure available to the WAFBB and such an active building campaign so soon after a severe economic downturn is not easily explained. It is possible that Chief Officer Gerhard, who was appointed in 1934, was instrumental in ensuring new fire stations were constructed.

Between 1934 and 1938, 18 new fire stations were constructed (15 of which were located in country towns), the majority being designed by K. C. Duncan. Duncan was a volunteer fire fighter and held several positions with the Volunteer Fire Brigades' Association. He was the association's secretary from 1937 to 1941 and a member of the Executive Committees from 1924 to 1942. Duncan became a life member of the Volunteer Fire Brigades' Association in 1937.

Of these stations, 11 are still used by the WAFBB: Bassendean (1934), Guildford (1934), North Kalgoorlie (1935), Merredin (1935), Tammin (1935), Cue (1936 - note new station built on the same site in 1989, old station retained), Southern Cross (1936), Meekatharra (1936 - note new station built on the same site in 1990, old station retained), Albany (1938), Coolgardie (1938) and Toodyay (1938). Of the remainder, three have been confirmed as demolished - Moora (1934), Wiluna (1936) and Norseman (1938).

Many of the stations had similar features, both in their planning and external detailing, reflecting the introduction of standard requirements and the use of a single architect for the Board's building works. A comparison of the design of the stations for which physical evidence has been collated identified the following four groups of buildings which share similar design characteristics:

1. Corrugated iron stations: Cue (1936), Fimiston (1938), Norseman (1938) and Coolgardie (1938).

2. Single bay stations with brick facades and a central raised parapet: Guildford (1934), North Kalgoorlie (1935), Tammin (1935), Busselton (1936) and Meekatharra (1936).

3. Single bay stations with rendered facades and a central raised parapet: Southern Cross (1936) and Toodyay (1938).

4. Stations with a single appliance bay and flanking accommodation/office wing(s): Bassendean (1934), Merredin (1935), South Perth (1935) and Albany (1938).

North Kalgoorlie is one of 5 stations known to have been built in the 1930s as single bay stations with brick facades and a central raised parapet. Of these, Busselton has been disposed of, Meekatharra has been retained as an ancillary building adjacent to a new station, while Guildford, North Kalgoorlie and Tammin continue to be used for their original purpose.

The main feature of these stations was a face brick facade with a raised central parapet breaking through the front of the hipped roof. The parapet was of a simple rendered design with a low triangular cap. Below the parapet the appliance doors were flanked by simple rendered pilasters with lightly chamfered edges. The decorative detailing was completed by a rectangular name plate to the parapet and a plain rendered cornice band. There were minor variations on the above theme, and Guildford Station and the former Busselton Station were the most substantial of the five stations, with face brick walls all round and a tiled roof. The other three stations were designed with the face brick facade returning along the side walls to accommodate a single window, behind which timber framed walls were clad with either asbestos or corrugated iron. The roofs were clad with either corrugated iron or corrugated asbestos.

From 1939, the WAFBB's building program was again impeded, this time by World War II. Only two stations were constructed during the war years and it was not until the early 1950s that the building campaign was seriously renewed. Duncan, and the subsequently Duncan, Stephen and Mercer, continued to be responsible for the design of new stations and while the simple decorative details changed in response to contemporary trends, the basic facilities and layout remained much the same

(Note: The information provided above was taken from the Thematic History of Fire Brigades in Western Australia (CAMS, August 1996) and the Fire and Rescue Service of WA Heritage Inventory (CAMS, August 1997).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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.