Roads Board Building (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The Capel Roads Board building comprises a weatherboard structure with timber windows and roof of corrugated iron sheeting being situated on a small area of land fronting Forrest Road on the main street of Capel and has heritage significance for the following reasons: • The place was the seat of local Government including general office. Council chambers and Library from 1926-1969. • The place makes an important contribution to the civic streetscape of the town. • The place displays important evidence of the development of Capel. • The place is a representative example of a post World War I Arts and Crafts building. • The place is an important relic of small town culture at the beginning of the last century. • The place contains historic introduced plantings that contribute to the civic streetscape. • The place is significant in its associations with many prominent families in the area including several community members.

Physical Description

The Capel Roads Board building is located on the corner of Roe Road and Forrest Road. As such, it occupies a central site in the civic precinct of the town and makes an important contribution to the civic streetscape of the town. Its immediate neighbour is a small shop with the shire office complex to the north. The structure is timber framed, with painted horizontal boarding on the exterior and plasterboard internally (timber dado internally). Timber windows are casement sets with a flat roofed awning over the front set and door. The roof is a hip with a small venting gable of corrugated iron sheeting with a lean to roof, to the rear. The design is simple Arts & Craft with subtle external design cues such as the front awning. The glass-panelled doors are inscribed with the former opening hours and building name, viz: Capel Shire Council; Office Hours 10 - 1pm/ 2pm to 5pm/ Monday/ to/ Friday. The plan of the building is a pair of front rooms with a central passage leading to a large office with a smaller room to the north side. From this large office a door leads to the original Board Room. To the south of this is a fireproof room of brick with a steel door. A rear verandah was added later and toilets built at the south end. The interior has been altered by removing central walls and installing a kitchen area, in an attempt to accommodate larger groups. The renovated area was enlarged in an attempt to continue the original woodwork and the four feet high weatherboard dado along the new expanse of wall. The original plaster fluorescent light surrounds and the picture rails have been retained as well as the fireplace surrounds in the front rooms. There are original plaster vents in the two front rooms and another two in the 'meeting' room. The safe has been left intact and the 'meeting' room has numerous photographs of Roads Board committee members lining the walls. The gardens are well maintained and possess large civic trees (Plane, Flame and a very old Carob tree). Alterations were done in 1997 and financed by (Iluka) Westralian Sands, the Lotteries Commission and the Shire of Capel. The work was done by Tony Hoist, a local builder and supervised by John Arnott, Iluka. The set back from the road enforces the importance of the building. The condition of the building is sound and maintenance appears to be regular and effective.

History

Assessment: 2003 Construction: 1926 Alterations/additions 1957, restored 1996 Builder J.B. Fletcher (1926); W.Spurr (1957); restoration 1996: Tony Hoist The Capel Roads Board building is located on the corner of Roe Road and Forrest Road. As such, it occupies a central site in the civic precinct of the town and makes an important contribution to the civic streetscape of the town. Its immediate neighbour is a small shop with the shire office complex to the north. The structure is timber framed, with painted horizontal boarding on the exterior and plasterboard internally (timber dado internally). Timber windows are casement sets with a flat roofed awning over the front set and door. The roof is a hip with a small venting gable of corrugated iron sheeting with a lean to roof, to the rear. The design is simple Arts & Craft with subtle external design cues such as the front awning. The glass-panelled doors are inscribed with the former opening hours and building name, viz: Capel Shire Council; Office Hours 10 - 1pm/ 2pm to 5pm/ Monday/ to/ Friday. The plan of the building is a pair of front rooms with a central passage leading to a large office with a smaller room to the north side. From this large office a door leads to the original Board Room. To the south of this is a fireproof room of brick with a steel door. A rear verandah was added later and toilets built at the south end. The interior has been altered by removing central walls and installing a kitchen area, in an attempt to accommodate larger groups. The renovated area was enlarged in an attempt to continue the original woodwork and the four feet high weatherboard dado along the new expanse of wall. The original plaster fluorescent light surrounds and the picture rails have been retained as well as the fireplace surrounds in the front rooms. There are original plaster vents in the two front rooms and another two in the 'meeting' room. The safe has been left intact and the 'meeting' room has numerous photographs of Roads Board committee members lining the walls. The gardens are well maintained and possess large civic trees (Plane, Flame and a very old Carob tree). Alterations were done in 1997 and financed by (Iluka) Westralian Sands, the Lotteries Commission and the Shire of Capel. The work was done by Tony Hoist, a local builder and supervised by John Arnott, Iluka. The set back from the road enforces the importance of the building. The condition of the building is sound and maintenance appears to be regular and effective Prior to the formation of the Capel Roads Board in 1907, the Capel Reserve 10044 was formed to include a road board site. The Capel Roads Board building was built in 1926 with money raised in 1925 by a Debenture of £400 from Mr Whittford. It was built next to Lot 178, which contained the Old Bakery building and residency, the Bakery building has since been demolished. These buildings, constructed in 1911 together with the Capel Roads Board, formed a civic area in the main street of the town. At the time of construction the building had two rooms at the front, on either side of a central passage, which led to a large room at the rear. Alterations were made to the building in 1957 when a boardroom was added to the rear of the office and a strong room on the southern side of this new room. Alterations were also made to the front windows and the skylight was removed. The building became redundant in 1961 when new Shire Offices were built close to the Capel Roads Board building The Shire of Capel was established in 1971 and in 1991 the Capel Shire Council called for public comment regarding the future of the Roads Board building. Submissions received were in favour of retaining the building and the Shire resolved to 'restore' or 'rebuild.' An architect was commissioned to provide costings on the two options. In 1993, Council received an application for the demolition of the bakery & Capel Roads Board building by the new owner Mr Trevor James who desired to undertake the development of a new commercial premises comprising shops and medical offices. The Shire requested that a heritage assessment be undertaken to assess both the bakery and the Capel Roads Board building. The report concluded that both building were representative of the historical development of Capel with cultural heritage significance. The consultant recommended retention of both buildings. The Capel Roads Board building was retained although the Bakery was demolished. In 1994, the building was used as a playgroup centre. In 1996, the place was completely renovated by the community using funds donated by Iluka Mining, the Lotteries Commission and the Shire of Capel. During the renovations alterations were made to some of the interior spaces. From 1997, it has been used by the Senior Citizens group and as a centre and meeting place for other local organizations. The Capel Roads Board building was placed on the Shire of Capel's Municipal Inventory and it is listed as part of the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Capel Main Street Heritage Precinct.

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