Jitarning Hall

Statement of Significance

The place represents the Jitarning. It has associations with the pioneers of the district and their descendants. It is integral within the Jitarning townsite and represents the character of the place. It is an essential element in the streetscape and "country road scape" of Jitarning town. It is a typical example of a rural community hall, of which fewer examples are existent each year. The place demonstrates a sense of place.

Physical Description

The original 20'x40' hall was timber framed and clad with oiled weatherboard cladding. The wandoo dance floor and general structure was supported by acacia and jam (termite proof) stumps. The high pitched gable roof is clad with corrugated iron. Finial and vents are detailed on the front gable. The double entry doors are central in the frontage and flanked either side by vertical format louvre windows. In 1924 a supper room, stage and extended dance floor was built. In 1950, a new floor in the hall and lined the inside walls, which until then had been unlined. In the early 1970s the western exterior side of the hall was reclad with fibro cement weatherboards, and new windows were put in by the committee men, with the help of the Kulin Lions Club. There have been several updates and improvements in the kitchen area over the life of the hall. In 1979 the State Electricity Service was connected to the Hall, prior to that 32 volt power had been run from the local store, and before that wizard lights and kerosene lamps. In 1980/81 over $2000 worth of maintenance and repair work was carried out on the hall. In 1991, a tender by John Greay was accepted for restumping the floor and refixing the roof of the hall. The cost of this work was achieved by using voluntary labour and community donations.

History

The settlement of Jitarning was proclaimed a town in 1917 The survey of the town allocated Lot 11 King Street as the site of the Agricultural Hall, and this was confirmed as reserve 16704. In October 1917, the Jitarning residents approached the Lands Department with regard to changing the hall site from the allocated site to another site. The residents wanted the hall to be on the main street opposite the Railway Station at Lot 3 Curran Street. Lot 11 King Street was cancelled and Lot 3 Curran Street was declared the hall site Even before the new site was confirmed, the Jitarning community had met and informed the secretary of the Jitarning Farmers and Settlers Association to proceed with obtaining plans and specifications with the intention of erecting the hall as soon as possible. An application for Government funding for the Hall had been unsuccessful The Jitarning community was not deterred, they formed the Jitarning Hall Committee to raise the necessary funds for their hall By February 1918, the hall plans were approved and sufficient funds had been gathered to commence construction of the hall. A busy bee was held to clear the site During the construction of the hall the secretary of the Jitarning Hall Committee, Jack Kirby, requested that the Government vest the hall in three trustees, all of whom were members of the Jitarning Hall Committee. The Government agreed to the request, and on the 16 October 1918, Lennard Rigoll, Frank Pool and Arthur Sloggett were vested as trustees of the Jitarning Hall. The hall cost £240, of which £100 had already been subscribed. The committee was hoping that the opening festivities would reduce the debt. The hall opening on the 5th October 1918 was a great day in the history of Jitarning. Special guests included Michael Brown, Mr E.B. Johnston, the member for the district, Mr J Grieg MLC and about 400 people including guests from Perth The chairman of the Reception Committee, Mr A.T. Joynes declared it was a proud day for the people of Jitarning; "because it was the consummation of a long felt want - a hall in which they could meet to conduct their business and for social purposes" Until then meetings had been held under the shade of the gum trees. A sports day, tea and dance, were organised with the Ladies providing a sumptuous luncheon for the opening festivities. The hall was built in time to welcome home the returned soldiers from the First World War. The hall was used for dances, (boasting a magnificent floor), Christmas Trees, politicians, travelling entertainers, the Red Cross, the CWA, School concerts and community and sporting functions. Jitarning town boasted its own tennis, football and cricket clubs. Sports days and cricket matches were held in front of the hall, and high tea served at the hall. The annual race days and sports days were popular occasions in the district. All the social and sporting events and race meetings ended in the hall with a dance and supper. Mrs Randall taught music to the people of the district, and provided music for the school. She also taught Sunday School in the hall and organised regular church services. Baptisms and confirmations, conducted by visiting clergymen, took place in the hall. The community requirements were such that by 1924 the hall needed to be extended. In 1936, £80 was still owing on the hall. The Jitarning Hall Committee decided to hold a function to raise the money. They launched a popular Girl competition, and raised £40. CWA Branch at Jitarning was active throughout the 1930s with a number of functions and meetings taking place in the hall. During 1938 while the Jitarning State School was being extended, and the Jitarning Hall was used for the school accommodation. The hall was a receival point for materials and money raising efforts during the World War Two. Although the town population diminished over the years as farms became more mechanised and large scale operations, the Jitarning community always rallied for the repair and retention of the hall. When the school closed in 1950, a Grand Finale concert was held in the Jitarning Hall. The hall was still being used to the extent that community decided it was necessary to effect some alterations in 1950, and again in 1970, with the help of the Kulin Lions Club. In 1975 a special Easter Function was held in the Hall proving the old spirit still remained in the community and the hall. In the late 1980s the hall came under the threat of demolition and a request was made to DOLA by the Jitarning Hall Committee, to be able to remove the hall. The original trustees were long since dead, and it was considered by the Committee that the hall was in a dangerous condition. DOLA responded to the effect that the Committee could proceed to remove the building. In 1989 the Jitarning Hall Committee disbanded and declared they accepted no further responsibility for the place. Shortly, discussion between DOLA and the Kulin Shire resulted in the demolition plans being put "on hold". In 1991 the local residents and descendants of the pioneers began to rally to save the hall and a meeting at the hall was attended by nineteen people who resolved to explore the future possibilities of the hall as a public building. The resurge of interest in the hall and the Jitarning townsite in general resulted in saving the large gum trees on the road border in the Jitarning vicinity, which were marked for removal for road widening. Subsequent to the meeting of March 1991, works were undertaken at the hall, with a builder and voluntary labour and community donations. In 1994 a questionnaire was distributed to all Jitarning Ward ratepayers, from the Kulin Shire, informing them of the status and condition of the Jitarning Hall and requesting their comments. At a public meeting on the 30 April at the Jitarning Hall, 35 people attended. The results of the survey were presented by David Kirby, the Shire President at the time. 31 responses were received from 61 questionaries, and although the responses regarding participation and financial responsibility were negative, the overwhelming majority suggested the hall should remain in DOLA control and be demolished. Despite the outcome of the questionnaire, the meeting formed a committee, with the view to becoming an incorporated body, to take control of the hall, as the Shire was reluctant to do so. The Jitarning Hall Investigative Committee was formed, Mr Keven Giles was elected the President, and ten committee members were also elected. In 1995 the committee obtained funding and undertook a Conservation Plan, outlining the future for the place and pre-empting further funding applications. The hall is the centre of the Jitarning district community and represents the ongoing spirit of the community and its forefathers.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: intact/redeemable Authenticity: high degree

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update