Former Parish Hall

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic Value – Importance for its contribution to the aesthetic values of the setting demonstrated by a landmark quality or having impact on important vistas. Aesthetic Value – The building is a pleasing example of a community hall in the Federation Free architectural style featuring a central triangular pediment above a well detailed façade. Historic Value – Importance for close associations with an individual whose life, works or activities have been significant within the history of the locality. The building is notable for its links with the Masons and prominent residents including Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and S. M. Stansmore who designed and built the building using locally manufactured bricks. Historic Value – It was the first masonic building erected in the North West of Western Australia. Social Value – Importance as a place highly valued by a community or cultural group for reasons of social, cultural, religious, spiritual or education associations. The building provided a venue for a wide range of community activities over the period of its history.

Physical Description

A single storey masonry and iron hall in the Federation Free style with a pedimented parapet. Rendered façade was added in 1980.

History

At a meeting of the Freemasons held in 1902, it was decided to build a Masonic Hall in Carnarvon. The contract was given to Mr. Sidney Stansmore who commenced work in 1905 and used bricks made from local pindan clay. The foundation stone was laid on Friday November 3 1905 by the R.W. Bro. DN McLeod. The foundation stone was originally blue with gold lettering. The hall became the property of the Anglican Church in 1917 and was transformed into a parish hall for the adjacent St Georges Anglican Church. It served as a defacto town hall until 1970. The Parish Hall served many community groups acting as a picture theatre, sports venue, Sunday school and church hall for various religious groups. In 1925 a kitchen in the rear and a verandah on the side were added to cater for the social functions. This resulted in the removal of two windows and the insertion of a large opening onto the new verandah. In the same year, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was initiated in the Hall as a Freemason. The Hall served as an organising and fundraising centre following the HMAS Sydney disaster. In 1965 the Rotary Club of Carnarvon was established in the Hall where they met there for many years. The NASA Tracking Station personnel had no dedicated social facilities and as such they vigorously tried to purchase the hall in 1970 but were refused. In 1972 the Hall was sold to three partners however the partnership did not last for long. David and Jenny Shelton bought the other partners out and dedicated the hall to their printing works, Gascoyne Printers. The second set of alterations to the hall were undertaken with the removal of parts of the sprung dance floor for concrete draining pads for dry cleaning equipment the proposed at the rear of the hall. Line markings painted by the NASA badminton team can still be seen on the wooden floor today despite these alterations. The other major alteration was the addition of a cement render to the façade of the building that cannot be removed without destroying the original handmade bricks. The hall later became the offices of both the Northern Guardian and Carnarvon Classifieds. Previously in 2000 the façade was the subject of a mural by renowned local artist Markham Boston. The building was sold in 2004 before being sold again in 2007. The resulting owners have taken on conservation works still being undertaken today.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium/High

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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