Local Government
Merredin
Region
Wheatbelt
Mitchell St Merredin
Merredin District Hall
Merredin Town Hall (fmr) incl. Clock Tower Building
Road Board Office (fmr)
Merredin
Wheatbelt
Constructed from 1925
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Register | Registered | 26 Feb 1999 | HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument, HCWebsite.Listing+ListingDocument |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
| Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey | Completed | 30 Jun 1994 | ||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 02 Apr 1983 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Nominated | 30 May 1984 | ||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 16 Apr 1999 | Category 2 | |
As the town of Merredin grew larger and more prosperous an obvious need developed for a public meeting place and venue for social occasions. The original hall and Road Board Office, a wooden building, was opened in 1913. This event was celebrated with a Grand Ball and Banquet attended by "all of Merredin's beauty and chivalry". With the exception of the clock, which-looks a little too small, the building is well proportioned and would have been a significant addition to the town at the time of construction in 1924/5. The building is of architectural and social value.
The original wooden hall on the site was opened by the Hon. T. Bath 23 April, 1913. The hall measured 60' x 40' and cost £360. The brick and tile building that remains is the former Road Board Offices that were constructed on the property boundary in front of the hall since demolished. The building which opened 20 May, 1925 is symmetrical with the entrance at the foot of the tower and office accommodation either side. The tower has clocks on three sides, gablets on two sides and the words "MERREDIN DISTRICT HALL" centrally placed. The date "1925" appears over the entrance, beneath a curved canopy. The north side (rear) has been rendered and has a toilet block addition.
The western office section has a centrally placed foundation stone, adjoining the street, with the following inscription: "This stone was laid by W.C. Woolcar J.P.' Chairman Merredin Road Board on 16th November 1924 W.J. Cohn C.E. Secretary W. Geo Pickering, Jas R. Parker Aria WA Builder Architect" Matching the above stone is another stone in the eastern office section, with the following inscription: "The clock in this tower was erected by the residents of the district in memory of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. This tablet was unveiled by Brigadier - General A.J. Bessell-Browne CB CMG DSO VD (F), on 25th April 1928." By the entrance is a Bicentennial Plaque with the following inscription: "Merredin's growth after 1920 prompted the newly formed Road Board to build a public meeting place. The original wooden hall and Board Office was opened in 1913. In 1924 the chairman of the Road Board, Mr G. Woolgar, began a campaign to renovate the hall. A loan of £7,000 was raised and the front brick section of the hall was opened in May 1925.
The building that remains is of high integrity. Offices added along east wall 1944; west section remodelled 1958; wall at rear demolished January 1978; subsequent toilet block addition.
Good
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| W. Geo Pickering (ARIA W.A.) | Architect | - | - |
| Ref ID No | Ref Name | Ref Source | Ref Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Merredin Tourist" brochure | Merredin Tourist & Information Centre (Inc) | 1979 | |
| "Merredin Peak Heritage Trail" booklet | WA Heritage Committee | 1988 |
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12131 | Report on the restoraton of the Merredin District Hall for the Shire of Merredin | Conservation works report | 1985 |
| 10003 | Merredin Town Hall (fmr) | Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan} | 2012 |
Individual Building or Group
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | GOVERNMENTAL | Town, Shire or District Hall |
| Present Use | SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL | Other Community Hall\Centre |
| Style |
|---|
| Inter-War Free Classical |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Roof | TILE | Aluminium Tile |
| Wall | BRICK | Common Brick |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Government & politics |
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