Faulkner Civic Precinct

Child Places

• 15629 Belmont War Memorial, WW1, WW2 & subsequent wars

Statement of Significance

• The place comprises a range of buildings and structures that demonstrate many stylistic forms and details unified through the mature gardens and waterways which include exotic and native species. • The place has historic value for its ongoing provision of essential services to the Belmont community since the late 1960s. • The name acknowledges the role of the Faulkner family who made a significant contribution to the community since the 1930s. • The place is valued by the Belmont community as the location of many facilities which are well patronised for the services they provide and the recreation facilities for the opportunity for the community to gather.

Physical Description

The Faulkner Civic Precinct comprises a number of buildings and elements that reflect the age and style of when each was constructed. The whole is unified by well maintained and mature public gardens and waterways that are accessed by pathways and roads.

History

This site has been developed by the City of Belmont and its predecessors since the second half of the 20th century. In the late 1960s, the site was roughly divided in two with the southern portion featuring a simple grassed sports ground and change rooms. The northern half was cleared but undeveloped. It is noticeable in the early aerial photographs that the location of the current lakes appear to be swampy or natural reservoirs of water. P.J. Faulkner Park was named on 25 January 1965 in recognition of P.J. "Paddy" Faulkner who served on the Road Board from 1935-41 and 1948-66. He lived on Great Eastern Highway and ran a pig farm in Belmont Avenue. Belmont became a Shire in 1961 and Road Board Chairman P.J. Faulkner became the district's first Shire President. Soon after in 1971 two key facilities were opened to the public on this site, the library and the swimming pool. The library was named the Ruth Faulkner Library in honour of the first female Councillor in the district who served from 1968-1971. The Belmont Swimming Pool was named the Bart Clayden Aquatic Centre after Councillor Clayden. Councillor Clayton was on the Belmont Park Swimming Pool Project Committee and worked tirerlessly to make the pool a reality during his time as Councillor. The Aquatic Center was designed by architects Forbes and Fitzhardinge and opened on 13 November 1971 by the Premier Hon J.T. Tonkin. The pool and its facilities have undergone major alterations and additions c1993 to designs by architects Forbes and Fitzhardinge and the original form is largely obscured. During the 1970s the gardens over the site were established and developed with the lakes a key feature of the landscape. As part of the garden redevelopment the Belmont War Memorial was relocated from Great Eastern Highway in 1972 to its current location in the precinct. On 17 February 1979, the Belmont Administration Centre was opened by the Governor of Western Australia, Sir Wallace Kyle. As part of the ceremony, Belmont was declared a City. As part of the works in 1979, two fountains are situated in an ornamental lake. One of these is distinctive as a rockery waterfall. These were in installed as part of the State’s 150th anniversary, as a joint project between the Belmont City Council and the Belmont-Rivervale and Cloverdale branches of the Country Women’s Association (CWA). Both these branches are no longer operating and the water features continue as a reminder of the role of the CWA in Belmont. Other features of the precinct are the Skate Park on the north east corner built c2000 and the Volcano playground built in 2005. The most recent building in the precinct is the new Belmont Hub, a multi -functional building featuring a library over two levels, digital hub, Seniors Hub, state-of-the-art museum, a dedicated space for community service organisations and commercial tenancies. The new library has again honoured the contribution of Ruth Faulkner to the City of Belmont. Construction of this building required the demolition of the former change rooms located at the corner of Wright Street and Robinson Avenue.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Last Update