Corrigin Town Hall

Parent Place or Precinct

08202 Corrigin Town Centre Precinct

Statement of Significance

The Corrigin Town Hall is a fine example of its architectural style of which few examples remain in the state. It is a unique rural example of its style of architecture. The historical and social significance of the place to the community of Corrigin is considerable.

Physical Description

Large hall with patterned proscenium. Decorative air grills and an expansive curved span ceiling are a feature. The foyer originally had a Ladies cloakrooms on the south side of the entry, which is now toilet facilities. The left hand side of the foyer was a meeting room. A bio box is located above the foyer for screening movies. Behind the stage are small dressing rooms with the kitchen accessed on the right rear side of the hall. The kitchen is an additional construction fitted out with modern facilities of a relatively large scale. The original dark blue and gold trim curtains have been replaced by burgundy coloured velvet drapes. The stage remains intact. The jarrah hall floor has been retained. The building was constructed of locally made Corrigin bricks. The architectural style is representative of classical architecture of the period. Elements of its style include; symmetry of the facade, correct use of order and components, a pediment entrance, Greek columns(ionic), and spacious interiors facilitated by modem materials.
Ball was a great event with 300-500 people sitting down to supper. Dancing was enjoyed at all the social gatherings. Throughout the 1930s, the RSL Wool Week Ball incorporated the finals of the "Miss Corrigin" competition. Wedding receptions, dinners, school concerts, cabarets, ballet, live performances, theatre, YAL concerts, Repertory Shows and exhibitions also featured at the hall. Community groups have used the hall for meetings and functions. The 1930s Parents and Citizens School Sports Day were completed with free pictures at the Hall afterwards. Pictures were always a family night out, and remained popular at the hall until the late 1960s when the drive-in theatre opened in Corrigin.
During World War Two, fundraising and welcome home dances were the main events. Hancocks dance band provided the musical entertainment. The first meeting of the Corrigin War precaution Committee took place in the Town Hall on 3 January 1942. Of the 2000 evacuees allotted to the Corrigin district, the committee decided to accommodate 200. A number of war time precautions were established in Corrigin; air raid precautions (plane spotters) emergency procedures and trenches. In 1942, an air raid warning was conducted as a trial run during a picture show at the Town Hall. In 1954, the Red Cross branch was formed at a public meeting in the hall.
The second library within the Roads Board was established in the meeting room adjacent to the entry foyer. Monies were raised by subs. When the pictures were on in the hall, the community had a sense of ownership of the place by claiming the same seat each time for the picture show. During the 1960s, music was supplied by Flynn's dance Band which included Eric Joyce and Norm Oates "Keynotes", Terry Larke and Lindsay McFarlane. The Infant Health committee held fundraising afternoons serving and selling afternoon tea in the foyer of the Town Hall. The Catholic Debutante Ball and CWA Ball were still taking place in the 1960s. Since then the hall has been the venue of travelling theatre and entertainment shows, community organisation's dinners and celebratory events, and the annual Anzac commemoration, as well as regular badminton.
The architect, PW Harrison, also designed a number of other civic and commercial buildings in the Great Southern and south west regions during the later half of the 1920s and the 1930s. Buildings of note include the Dangin Masonic Lodge 1925 (now demolished), the Quairading Commercial Bank, and the Bridgetown Town Hall.

History

The Corrigin Town Hall was built during 1928 to be completed in time to celebrate the centenary of the foundation of Western Australia in 1929. The hall was a result of considerable community and Roads Board effort and was the subject of controversy, as a lot of people were against it. The Corrigin Town Hall was opened on 29 March 1929, by James Adams, the Chairman of the Corrigin Roads Board, and CP Wansborough MP. The Corrigin Amateur Dramatic Society was founded in July 1929, and in November that year the Narrogin Operatic and Dramatic Society performed the Geisha at the Town Hall.
The Hall was the venue of community and celebratory activities which included numerous balls; balls during the war, the annual Show Ball, the Victory Ball and Debutant balls. The annual Show Ball was a great event with 300-500 people sitting down to supper. Dancing was enjoyed at all the social gatherings. Throughout the 1930s, the RSL Wool Week Ball incorporated the finals of the "Miss Corrigin" competition. Wedding receptions, dinners, school concerts, cabarets, ballet, live performances, theatre, YAL concerts, Repertory Shows and exhibitions also featured at the hall. Community groups have used the hall for meetings and functions. The 1930s Parents and Citizens School Sports Day were completed with free pictures at the Hall afterwards. Pictures were always a family night out, and remained popular at the hall until the late 1960s when the drive-in theatre opened in Corrigin.
During World War Two, fundraising and welcome home dances were the main events. Hancocks dance band provided the musical entertainment. The first meeting of the Corrigin War precaution Committee took place in the Town Hall on 3 January 1942. Of the 2000 evacuees allotted to the Corrigin district, the committee decided to accommodate 200. A number of war time precautions were established in Corrigin; air raid precautions (plane spotters) emergency procedures and trenches. In 1942, an air raid warning was conducted as a trial run during a picture show at the Town Hall. In 1954, the Red Cross branch was formed at a public meeting in the hall.
The second library within the Roads Board was established in the meeting room adjacent to the entry foyer. Monies were raised by subs. When the pictures were on in the hall, the community had a sense of ownership of the place by claiming the same seat each time for the picture show. During the 1960s, music was supplied by Flynn's dance Band which included Eric Joyce and Norm Oates "Keynotes", Terry Larke and Lindsay McFarlane. The Infant Health committee held fundraising afternoons serving and selling afternoon tea in the foyer of the Town Hall. The Catholic Debutante Ball and CWA Ball were still taking place in the 1960s. Since then the hall has been the venue of travelling theatre and entertainment shows, community organisation's dinners and celebratory events, and the annual Anzac commemoration, as well as regular badminton.
The architect, PW Harrison, also designed a number of other civic and commercial buildings in the Great Southern and south west regions during the later half of the 1920s and the 1930s. Buildings of note include the Dangin Masonic Lodge 1925 (now demolished), the Quairading Commercial Bank, and the Bridgetown Town Hall.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact
Authenticity: High Degree

Condition

Very Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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