Irwin Barracks

Values

The place has a good example of a Late Colonial architectural style building.

The place is associated with the major development of Australian defence force in 1890s.

The place has been the main rifle range for the Perth Metropolitan area from 1906 to 1913.

The place is associated with the Boer War In South Africa as it trained and dispatched nine contingents to the War.

One building (the Hobbs Artillery Park) which is associated with the Commonwealth defence expansion in the mid 1930s and is a good example of an Interwar Art Deco design style building.

The place is also associated with JJT Hobbs and his son AJ Hobbs.

Physical Description

The City of Nedlands Municipal Inventory states:

The Army complex comprises of Colonial period buildings (1898 magazines); Pre Word War II Artillery Barracks; World War II Buildings and Post World War II Buildings. As well as an Art Deco Barracks.

‘The Magazine buildings comprise two slightly separated structures of differing size. The smaller building is a shifting room and fuse room, the large being a powder and ammunition room. The buildings are set in a bitumen paved area and are part of an extensive complex. The buildings cannot be seen from the road. They are constructed from coursed ashlar limestone with two pitched roof clad with fibre reinforced slate roof and timber floor.’

‘Internally, the magazine is fitted out with jarrah shelving and the door are framed, ledged and braced with a set of double doors between the buildings.’

History

The City of Nedlands Municipal Inventory states:

‘The Karrakatta site seems to have been acquired by the Colonial Government of Western Australia during the 1880s and indeed was used for the storage of two seven inch coastal artillery guns in the early 1890’s. From about 1895, with the assistance of the State minister for Defense, Sir John Forrest, the then Military Commandant for Western Australia, Colonial A Wilson, was able to have the Karrakatta reserve improved so as to permit ‘camps of training on a very much more extensive scale.’ These camps which were for WA Volunteer Forces, took place during 1896 – 1898, the first being at Easter 1896 and receiving an official visit form the Governor,’

‘The min Metropolitan rifle range which had been at Mt Eliza since 1863 was closed in August 1895. In 1896 an extensive rifle range was opened on the northern side of the Karrakatta reserve and was equipped with ‘Jefferies’ targets. Although Wieck suggests that it was designed to meet all requirement, this rifle range was declared unsafe about 1911 and closed when the present Swanbourne rifle range was ready for use in 1913.’

‘A gun shed and caretakers quarters were erected at Karrakatta in late 1896. What may be the latter is a two storey building shown in a photograph stated to have been taken during the Easter camp in1897 but bearing the date May 24 1896.’

‘Two magazines were constructed on the east side of the southern end of the rifle range during July October 1898. The magazines comprise two limestone buildings with slate roofs, and incorporate a number of safety features. They appear to have had few modifications over the years, although the original Welsh slate roof was replaced in 1968. They were built for the storage of ammunition and powder. The contract price was £810.19.9 and the contractor was SB Alexander.’

‘Photographs from the 1896 – 1898 period indicate that the troops were housed in tents. Around 1899, the place seems to have been known as ‘Camp Karrakatta’. The camps at Karrakatta were cancelled over the period 1899 – 1900 due to the use of Karrakatta for the training and dispatch of the nine Western Australian contingents for the Boer War, totaling 1226 personnel. As the last three contingents were not dispatched until 1902, it is possible that the periodic camps were not held at Karrakatta during 1901 – 1902.’

‘On March 1901, the Western Australians Defense Force and its assets came under the Commonwealth control. The periodic camps at Karrakatta continued, although a major training area was established at Tammin from about 1909, enabling advance training to be more readily carried out. Senior cadets has an Easter camp at Karrakatta in 1910. Undoubtedly the introduction of universityy training in 1911 made Karrakatta an important initial training camp especially its reasonable access to the Swanbourne Rifle range.’

‘A camp at Karrakatta is recorded for 1914. However, most of the soldiers in Western Australia during World War I seem to have been trained at the Blackboy Hill Camp, where about 32000 men were processed.’

‘There is no record of specific usage of Karrakatta by the Australian Army during the 1920s and early 1930s, although it is likely that it was involved with the compulsory military training introduced in 1920 and suspended in 1929. The expansion of the defence of Australia from the mid-1930s saw works carried out at Karrakatta from 1936, the most notable being in 1938 when a brick artillery barracks complex was erected. The purpose of this barracks was to house the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade which was then located at Swan Barracks with its horses and some of its equipment at the Guildford Remount Depot. The barracks, which designed by the architect Athol Joseph Hobbs, included officers and sergeants messes, a drill hall, an admin/office block and twenty four garages for guns. Interestingly, Hobbs was the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade from 1937 to 1939 and of the 2/3rd Regiment 1939 – 1940.’

‘The name Hobbs Artillery Park for these artillery barracks seems to have been used from about 1940. It was named after Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs (father of AJ Hobbs) who, from 1887 had served with the Perth Artillery Volunteers which subsequently became the No 1 (Perth) Battery, Field Artillery in 1897. He was commissioned in 1889 and seems to have commanded the Battery from 1897. As a Colonial, JJT Hobbs commanded the Australian Artillery on Gallipoli in 1915, with his 18 year old son serving in one of his batteries there.’

‘It is not known at this juncture when the name Irwin Barracks (which seems to be used interchangeably with Irwin Training Centre) was first used, but it may date from the 1960s. At the present time it is used by both Regular and Reserve units.’

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity- Good
Authenticity- High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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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.