Maritana Buildings

Statement of Significance

The Maritana Buildings are of cultural heritage significance because:

- they are a recognised landmark at the northern end of the Kalgoorlie townsite;

- together with the other Anglican buildings, they form a church precinct which forms an essential part of the Maritana streetscape;

- they were designed by architects Hawkins and Sprigg, who were responsible for other significant buildings in the Kalgoorlie district;

- their continuous use as business premises illustrate the evolution and development of the commercial nature of the area;

- they reflect the commitment and dedication of the Anglican church to improve the Kalgoorlie area as well as to provide finance for church activities;

- they are recognised by the community as an integral part of the development of the area characterising the original fabric of European settlement of Kalgoorlie.

Physical Description

A semi-detached pair of commercial offices built in the Federation Anglo Dutch style with a gable roof and tourelle corbelled from the building truncation. Stucco work emphasises decorative detailing.

The site has a landmark position in the streetscape due to the site’s corner orientation and visual identity due to traffic density patterns of Maritana Street. The buildings form part of a prominent mix of religious buildings within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. Together with St John’s Church, a hall, church offices and lounge, they form the group of parish buildings and associated community facilities in the Kalgoorlie area. Many of the original buildings of the district have been retained, setting the Maritana buildings in the cohesive history and development of the district and site (Maritana Buildings Conservation Plan).

History

: In 1893, the Reverend Edward Mallon Collick was appointed by the Perth Diocese to minister to the needs of early settlers in Coolgardie. The finding of gold in Hannans, which was later renamed Kalgoorlie, soon saw the minister including the town in his visits throughout the area. Services were initially held in borrowed and makeshift accommodation due to the lack of a suitable venue and the Reverend was forced to travel large distances to reach members in remote and isolated areas. As Kalgoorlie developed into a regional centre, Reverend Collick established a formal parish constituency which included benefits and aid to the Aboriginal population.

A meeting of the Hannans Church of England Committee in August 1894 resulted in correspondence from Norman Hawkins, secretary, to Premier John Forrest requesting land for a church and clergyman’s residence in the newly surveyed town of Kalgoorlie. After being informed that up to two blocks could be applied for, the Church committee submitted an application for the Lots 88 and 89 on 5 September 1894 (SAWA – DOLA File 2846/94). Consequently, Kalgoorlie Lots 88 and 89 were set aside as Reserve 2653 for use by the Church of England on 9 November 1894 (Government Gazette, p. 1123). This land was adjacent to the municipal offices and was located one block to the north west of the intended town centre which was planned for the corner of Maritana and Hannan Streets.

The two lots were ‘granted upon trust solely for Ecclesiastical purposes in connection with the Church of England’ on 15 May 1896 and a Certificate of Title in the name of the Diocesan Trustees was registered on 18 May 1896.

“The Rev. E. M. Collick, rector of Coolgardie, is at present in Kalgoorlie, and will hold services as advertised in the Hannan’s Stock Exchange on Sunday. It was decided at a meeting held last night to proceed with the building of a church at once and Mr Collick would be glad to receive subscriptions towards the same” (Kalgoorlie Miner, 30 May 1896: 2).

In July 1896, sufficient attendance numbers encouraged the Bishop to establish a separate parish in Kalgoorlie and the Reverend W. B. Sisam was appointed as the new resident minister. During his first few months the Reverend organised for the collection of subscriptions in order to construct a suitable church building. Within five months enough funds had been received and architect, George Whillock was commissioned to produce the design. Within four months the new church was completed.

Records indicate that a building was erected on a portion of Lot 89 on the corner of Maritana and Brookman Streets in 1895. Although no evidence has been cited as to the type or construction of this building, it was leased to Alexander Percival Matheson [sic] for a five year term from 5 December 1895. This building was possibly intended to serve as church offices but was subsequently used by the parish to meet the increasing demand for suitable commercial accommodation within the area as well as providing an independent source of income to subsidise the Diocese allowance.

Ratebooks from 1897 indicate that the tenants provided a variety of services which included Alexander Mathieson, mining agent, Arthur Richardson, medical practitioner, Miss M. Jennings, restaurant keeper and Arthur and Alfred Kerrick, bicycle agents. It was used for commercial and retail purposes until it was destroyed by fire at the turn of the century.

The goldfields became a separate Archdeaconry in 1898 and the Reverend J. Barton Parkes, the new rector of Coolgardie, was appointed as Archdeacon. Other ministers were also relocated to the area and the Reverend Gordon Savile became the ‘priest in charge’ of Kalgoorlie. Reverend Collick was relocated to the new parish of Boulder which has also become a large and prosperous community in need of its own minister.

The necessity for a suitable venue to hold additional activities and community functions encouraged the parish to construct a community hall adjacent to the church. This was also a timber framed building with a corrugated iron roof which was constructed in 1899 and faced Brookman Street.

A larger church which reflected the growth and development of the Kalgoorlie Diocese became a priority for the Anglican community. In 1899, the Diocesan Secretary and the Reverend Savile interviewed the Minister for Lands, requesting him to favourably reconsider the reservation of additional land in Kalgoorlie for the erection of a permanent church (SAWA – DOLA File 2846/94).

In 1901, it was announced that the ‘Diocesan Trustees have agreed to mortgage portion of Lots 88 and 89 exclusive of the site of the Church building, to raise funds to enlarge the Church’ (WA Church News, 16 September 1901: 157).

This information corresponds to the Certificate of Title which indicates that the Brookman Street frontage of the Lots was mortgaged to Laura Mary Pellew for £1750 on 1 November 1901.

In 1901 a monthly publication was commenced, The Goldfields Leader, to provide communication and information to members of the Anglican Church in the goldfields area. The Church Building Scheme and its subsequent changes were discussed in one of the first editions noting that:

“it had become necessary to provide further building accommodation to keep pace with the growth of the church at Kalgoorlie……so as to provide about double the present accommodation, and to greatly improve the appearance of the church” (The Goldfields Leader, 1 September 1901: 7).

However, by December, the church additions were limited to the construction of a chancel and sanctuary and the building of a new cathedral on a different site was contemplated. The committee eventually agreed to spend the remaining mortgage money on erecting new offices on the corner of Maritana and Brookman Streets to replace the previous building.

“The opportune purchase, however, by the Diocesan authorities, of the block of ground that crowns the head of Dugan Street….is so evidently suited for a permanent Church that both the Trustees and the Vestry felt that it would be an unwise step to spend £11300 or so upon the present temporary Church of St John.

It has therefore been agreed to spend the original £1750 in erecting offices on the corner of Maritana and Brookman Streets, and form thereby a substantial endowment to the parish for future work” (The Goldfields Leader, 1 December 1901: 5).

The new commercial offices provided increased revenue for the parish which contributed to the establishment of community facilities.

“Anglican Church – St John’s Building….The Anglican Church Kalgoorlie, under the guidance of the Rev. Gordon Saville [sic] is not a moribund institution. That is evidenced by the progress in making parochial institutions. An article published in the “star” some little time ago set forth the nature of some of these improvements, which are now coming into actual being. First and foremost, operations were yesterday commenced at the corner of Maritana and Brookman Streets for the erection of a suite of offices, which is believed and hoped will be an endowment for St John’s parish.

The plans of these offices were shown to a “Star” representative, and proved that the building will be of a substantial and utilitarian character. The building will be single storey, and of brick. Its main front will be on Maritana Street, and the side on Brookman Street, the latter measuring 64 feet, and the former 94 feet. The front will be ornamental, and surmounted with pedimented embellishments, while a tower will be reared at the chief corner. The building will contain 14 offices and a large sample room, while a strong room and other adjuncts will be provided, the whole to be handsomely finished off.

Hawkins and Sprigg Architects and W & J Park contractors. Both firms are well known on the Fields, having executed such work as is a guarantee of the satisfactory completion of St John’s buildings” (The Evening Star, 24 January 1902: 2).

The Kalgoorlie Town Council minutes of 3 January 1902 approved a building application for St John’s vestry for brick offices on Lot 89, Brookman Street, with the recommendation that ‘licence be granted subject to the E.C.S being placed to the back right of way’ (Western Argus, 11 February 1902: 18).

In 1902, the Maritana Buildings were constructed on the site as designed by architects, Hawkins and Sprigg. This firm was well established in the Kalgoorlie area and previously completing other prominent buildings such as St Mary’s Church and the Exchange Hotel. The architects were also separately for the Union Bank and the Brennan Bros.

In speaking of the progress of the Church in Kalgoorlie as St John’s Easter meeting on 15 May 1902, the Rev. Savile noted that ‘a fine block of offices had been erected at the corner of Maritana Street on Lot 89’ (The Goldfields Leader, 1 June 1902: 2).

Upon the completion of the new offices, the buildings were leased in two parts. Percy John Ogle of P. J. Ogle and Co, mining engineers, and Thomas Brougham Birkbeck, Henry Hoffman and William Jowett of Birbeck, Hoffman and Jowett, also mining engineers each purchased three year leases for the property.

The church proposed many other community activities and local and parish organisations such as the Boys’ Club, Men’s Club and the Girls’ Friendly Society, used the church buildings to conduct meetings and events. Secondary education for girls was commenced in the hall under the administration of the Sisters of the Church of England in 1904.

New leases were issued for the Maritana buildings in 1906 and the tenants were listed as Robert Henderson, of Westralia Timber and Firewood Co. Ltd, and Arthur Kewney, attorney. Ratebooks indicate that throughout the continuing years a diversity of small businesses occupied the buildings, including mining engineers, attorneys, mining managers, dressmakers, violinists and pianists.

Throughout its history, the Maritana buildings have continued to provide revenue for the Kalgoorlie Diocese and have retained this function to the present day.

(Note: The information provided above was taken from the Maritana Buildings Conservation Plan prepared by Hocking Planning and Architecture (1995))

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.