St John's Ambulance

Author

City of Gosnells

Place Number

20057

Location

136 Wheatley St Gosnells

Location Details

Cnr Wheatley & Verna St

Local Government

Gosnells

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1959

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
(no listings)

Statement of Significance

St John Ambulance is significant for the critical community service it performs and the place represents a period of architecture.

Physical Description

The single storey brick building has a low-pitched gable roof clad with cement tiles. The long rectangular pavilion’s horizontal form contrasts with a rendered vertical wall that breaks through the roof form at the end of the depot, and a lesser vertical element at the office entry. The windows and doors are timber framed vertical elements in sets of three. The office entry doors are also timber framed, and glazed with fixed sidelights and fanlights.

History

The Order of St John has an ancient history, dating back to the 6th century, when a hospital for Christian Pilgrims existed in Jerusalem. By the eleventh century it was run by 'The Poor Brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem', who later became 'The order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem', with branches in other countries, including England about 1145 AD. In the nineteenth century, the Order created an Association to teach ambulance work, or 'first aid', and a centre was established for that purpose in Perth in 1892. In Perth, the Fire Brigade transported people to hospital from street accidents but anyone else requiring transport to hospital still had to avail themselves of whatever transport was available. From the Gosnells district this often meant travelling by train. In 1922, St John's created the St John Ambulance Brigade specifically to provide on site first aid and transport to hospital. The Brigade was initially manned by volunteers trained by the Association, but over the years these have been replaced by professional ambulance officers. St John's Ambulance has sub-centres and depots throughout the State, of which Gosnells is one. Gosnells was opened by the Governor Sir Charles Gairdner and Lady Gairdner on 6 September 1959.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree Authenticity: High degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
"Wise's Post Office Directory".
K Gildersleeve; "A short history of the St. John Ambulance Associationin Western Australia". 968
St John Ambulance Assoc; "St John, Ambulances, and Western Australia: A centenary anthology, 1892-1992".
Comment News, 20 October 1987

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use HEALTH Office or Administration Bldg

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall BRICK Face Brick
Roof TILE Ceramic Tile

Creation Date

15 Jul 2011

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Retired

Last Update

13 Nov 2017

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.