Roleystone Historic Precinct

Child Places

• 12652 Flat/Picnic Rock

Statement of Significance

The place is an attractive and distinctive precinct characterised by a group of buildings dating from the Inter-War period that exhibit similar architectural details and building materials.
The village was established in the area called Flat Rock, a community meeting place from 1900 onwards, and the first Roleystone Post Office and General Store were located here.
The place incorporates Smailes Park, which is dedicated to Ken Smailes, a well-respected orchardist and farrier from the Roleystone-Karragullen district, and the plough incorporated into the park once belonged to Smailes and his father, and was used to establish their orchards in Karragullen.
The place is valued by the community as a long-standing and popular meeting place and commercial area, which dates back to the 1920s.

Physical Description

The place comprises a precinct of single-storey buildings arranged in an informal cluster near the intersection of Brookton Highway and Soldiers Road in Roleystone. The buildings are typically of timber-framed construction and are clad in a combination of corrugated iron, weatherboards and fibro, with hipped or gabled corrugated iron roofs (painted red) with skillion verandahs to the shopfronts.
A grassed picnic area remains near the rocky outcrop known as Flat Rock, which overlooks the Canning River valley, and has been named Smailes Park in memory of Ken Smailes (1917-2001). A 100 year old plough is incorporated into the landscaping of the park.

History

The buildings here- developed in the period 1921 to the 1940s- form a small retail precinct, that was established in the area called Picnic Rock or Flat Rock, a community meeting place from 1900 onwards. Snook’s Store commenced in 1921, selling cigarettes, tinned goods and ‘convenience’ foods, adding post office services in 1928, and petrol bowsers, some time later. Richard Knuckey opened a blacksmith’s shop opposite Snook’s Store in 1921, and in the 1940s, the Co-operative Store and Butcher Shop were established close by. In 1956, a drive-in picture theatre was established in this area, which operated until the transfer of film equipment to Exmouth in 1967.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

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.