Acton Park Hall & First Settlers Memorial

Author

City of Busselton

Place Number

05310

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Location

Acton Park Rd Acton Park

Location Details

Local Government

Busselton

Region

South West

Construction Date

Constructed from 1924

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	16 Oct 2024

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	13 Aug 2014	Category 4	Category 4 These places are owned by the City and should be conserved, but special action is not required because the sites are mainly of historic and social value without built features. Some of the sites in this category are largely natural features and simply need to be managed in the ordinary sense of maintenance. Conservation actions may be limited to interpretation and/or site signage.
Local Heritage Survey	Adopted	16 Oct 2024	Category 2	Category 2 These places are also important places in the Shire, and generally have built features as part of their significance. These places should be retained on the list and conservation encouraged.
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	20 Jun 1996	Category 2	Category 2 These places are also important places in the Shire, and generally have built features as part of their significance. These places should be retained on the list and conservation encouraged.

Statement of Significance

The hall and the plaque have historic value for their association with the Group 28 settlers from the Group Settlement Scheme who first established farms in the region.
The hall has social value for the members of the Acton Park Community and more distant communities who have attended functions and events at the place since 1924.

Physical Description

This hall is a simple gable roof timber framed and weatherboard clad building with an entry vestibule. Part of the timber cladding has been removed and replaced with fibro cement.
The first settlers’ plaque is made of bronze and is fixed to the building.

History

This hall was one of many built for the Group Settlement scheme which operated in the south west during the 1920s.
The Group Settlement Scheme was a government venture designed to establish a dairy industry. Settlers were recruited from elsewhere in Australia and from Britain, given land and subsidised for stock and expenses. Many holdings were uneconomic and settlers endured great hardship. After two Royal Commissions, the schemes were
abandoned in the early 1930s.
From the available information this area was settled by Group 44 and the name Ambergate originates with these settlers. It is probable this building was constructed to provide a school premises for the children of the ‘Groupies’ that was built c1925. It was common practice for a single building to provide for multiple functions, and importantly
provided a location for the members of these groups to gather and socialise.
It is apparent from the physical evidence that there have been several additions and alterations to the hall since its original construction.
A plaque was erected on the site in 2002 to recognise and honour the early settlers in this region who were members of Group 44

Integrity/Authenticity

The hall continues to perform its original function and retains a high degree of
integrity.
The place appears little altered and retains a high degree of authenticity.

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
		Building Acton Park Hall	1924
		Loose Leaf (Busselton Historic Society)

Other Reference Numbers

Ref Number	Description
100051641	COB Property ID
PN064	Reference No.
526312	Landgate Pin

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Other Community Hall\Centre
Original Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Other Community Hall\Centre

Architectural Styles

Style
Vernacular

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	TIMBER	Weatherboard

Historic Themes

General	Specific
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Sport, recreation & entertainment

Creation Date

06 Feb 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

15 Jan 2025

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.