Murphy's Workshop

Author

Shire of Denmark

Place Number

23955

Enlarge Map

Show Property Street View

There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

1 Short St Denmark

Location Details

Lot 97

Other Name(s)

Murphy’s Workshops

Local Government

Denmark

Region

Great Southern

Construction Date

Constructed from 1948

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	28 Jun 2011	Considerable Significance	Considerable Significance DESCRIPTION: Very important to the heritage of the locality. High degree of integrity/ authenticity. DESIRED OUTCOME: Conservation of the place is highly desirable. Any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place.

Statement of Significance

Murphy’s Shed has aesthetic, historic and social cultural heritage significance. Though of a simple design the shed adds streetscape value to Mitchell St and is one of a number of historical places that contribute to the potential of a heritage precinct in Mitchell Street.

Physical Description

Murphy’s workshop is located on the west side of the Denmark Historical Society Museum (formerly the Denmark Police Station) in Mitchell Street. It is a large rectangular corrugated iron building with a gabled roof (though the peak of the roof is unusually slightly curved).

History

William (Bill) Murphy built this workshop in 1948 using prefabricated metal frames imported from Sweden. He commenced business doing general farm machinery repairs and also had an International Harvester Agency. In 1950 Bill’s brother Alan started working for his brother and another partner, Tassie Rice, joined them in the business.

In the late 1950s Bill chose to take up a teaching career and Alan carried on the business. He was an excellent tradesman with amazing skill and knowledge – his workshop was always active with local farmers and the horse racing fraternity calling to have metal work and repairs carried out by him. Alan continued working until late 2003 and he died in 2004. His workshop was leased to Wildwood Galleries which opened it for a short while. In 2009 it was run as a private workshop.

In 2013 the Shire of Denmark named the laneway to the west of the site as "Murphy Lane" in recognition that the Murphy's owned and resided at 1 Short Street for over 60 years and the property is still held by the family, and that Bill Murphy was a Councillor with the Shire of Denmark (served from 1955-1961 and 1962-1963).

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Most

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Historical Plaque on Murphy's Shed
	Denmark Historical Society

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	COMMERCIAL	Other
Present Use	COMMERCIAL	Other

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron
Wall	METAL	Corrugated Iron

Creation Date

22 Feb 2012

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.