Trades Hall

Statement of Significance

Assessment of Significance: Trades Hall is significant for its aesthetic characteristics in its use of 'pillowcase' stonework and its eclectic design of Gothic and conventional detailing. (Criterion 1.1) The building is notable for its simple design, in comparison to other more elaborate buildings of the gold boom period. (Criterion 1.1) Being the first Trades Hall built in Western Australia, Trades Hall has a high degree of historical value associated with the establishment of an organised labour movement in the goldfields and the State. (Criterion 2.1) The construction of Trades Hall in Kalgoorlie demonstrated the strength of union activity associated with gold mining at the turn of the century. (Criterion 2.2) A number of prominent political figures, including State Premiers John Scaddan and Phillip Collier and William Johnson, MLA and Secretary of the Trades and Labor Council during 1900-1901, were directly associated with activities in Trades Hall. (Criterion 2.3) For nearly a century, Trades Hall has been a continuous focal point for the numerous groups associated with the labour movement in the Eastern Goldfields. The place has a high degree of social value. (Criterion 4.1) The majority of the numerous trades halls constructed throughout Western Australia in the 1900s have been altered, demolished or sold. Trades Hall is a rare surviving example that provides the opportunity to study this building type. (Criterion 5.1) Statement of Significance: Trades Hall has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons: - the place was the first, and is one of the few remaining, Trades Halls in the State, and it served as the prototype for several future developments in the State; - the place stands as a political and social landmark to the establishment and organisation of the Labor movement; - the place is associated with outstanding political figures including two premiers, John Scaddan and Phillip Collier; and Labour MLA W.D. Johnson; - the place is associated with the 'Gold Rush' era as an historical landmark in the socio/political history of the State; - the place is significant for its aesthetic qualities enhanced by its gothic features and its uniqueness in its townscape setting; and, - the survival of the place is testimony to the successful choice of materials in conjunction with the building technique adopted.

Physical Description

Trades Hall is a simple rectangular building, constructed in stone, quarried some 100 km north-east of Boulder, with a corrugated galvanised iron covered roof. Unlike most local examples of this form of stone construction, Trades Hall has a 'pillowcase' finish on the stonework to create depth as well as a strong texture. Most stonework in Kalgoorlie is smooth-faced and usually laid in a more regular pattern. The facade has pointed Gothic windows and front door, and a simple rendered parapet. The incorporation of Gothic details sets Trades Hall apart from larger and more prominent buildings in Kalgoorlie. Exposed construction joints on Trades Hall indicate that there was an intention to extend the building eastward. The caretakers residence is situated on approximately the same site as the Worker office, which raises the question as to whether it is a replacement building or a modification of the original newspaper office. At this stage no physical inspection has been carried out to appraise the situation. With regards to the other buildings on the site: the caretakers residence is considered to have little significance (subject to site inspection); the latrines and screens have some historical significance due to the early date of construction and association with Trades Hall and the three outbuildings, used as storage sheds, have no significance. The condition of the latrines and three small storage sheds is unknown.

History

During the initial rush to the Goldfields in 1894, the escalation of the labour movement in Western Australia saw support for the Labor party grow at a rapid rate. Kalgoorlie soon became the centre of the movement in the State. The establishment, in Kalgoorlie, of the first Trades Hall in the State was to play an important role in the development of the labour movement in Western Australia. The early history of the site is somewhat sketchy for a number of reasons (all information in this documentation is taken from Barrett: 1993). The Kalgoorlie Municipal Rate books prior to 1903 are missing, as are the relevant sections of the Surveyor General's Records. Wise's Postal Directory first listed the Hall in 1902. However, early town maps of Kalgoorlie, when viewed in sequence, provide a good indication of the initial establishment and usage of the site, as follows: 1893-94: The first townsite maps of Kalgoorlie show only nine town blocks situated around Hannan Street. There is no sign of Porter Street at this stage. 1899: Kalgoorlie Town Map No. 8 shows Lot 883 on the corner of Porter and MacDonald Streets. Map No.8 is in use until 1905. 'Trades Hall' added to the map, c.1900-01. The title of Crown Reserve No. 7086 was allocated to the Lot in 1900. Nov 1900: Letterbook of Trades and Labor Council (T.L.C.) indicates a request to Lands Department for Title on the site. No reply has been located, however it would appear at this stage that the Crown Land Grant was issued to the T.L.C. (Goldfields District Council) some time between February and September 1900 in the form of a lease. March 1921: Crown Lease No. 511/1921 is issued to Edward Turnbull and George Callanan, as Trustees for the Eastern Goldfields District Council for the Australian Labor Federation. November 1979: Perth Trades Hall Inc. becomes proprietor of the site in leasehold for 999 years in accordance with Lease 511/1921, this transfer being the result of the disbandment of Districts Council in 1963. Trades Hall, Kalgoorlie was completed in November 1900 and the official opening took place on 7 December. Present at the event were the architects of the building Hawkins and Sprigg, who were acknowledged for their work by T.L.C. secretary W. D. Johnson (for further details on the political careers of Johnson, Scadden and Collier, refer to Barrett, 1993: 12-14 and 34). The design of the building incorporates just three rooms - two small offices and one large hall. Research indicates that one room was established as the office of the Secretary of the Trades and Labor Council. Its design and fit-out were of a higher standard than that of the second office. The Secretary's Office continued to be used for this purpose until 1963 when the disbandment of the Council saw it vacated. The second front room was used for a great variety of purposes. Research indicates that the room was intended to be rented out on a weekly basis. The design of the room supports this theory, as it has none of the details or finishes of the Secretary's Office. The room also has direct access to both the vestibule and the main hall. The third of the Trades Hall's rooms, the hall itself, has even less evidence to suggest its uses. It was used by the T.L.C. for their fortnightly meetings. It also played host to many of the affiliated Goldfields trade unions for the purposes of their meeting and social events. The continuity of ownership of the building has been instrumental in retaining the original form of its development. Serving as the headquarters of the labour movement on the Goldfields, the building has been the breeding ground for several prominent political figures in Western Australia. William Dartnell Johnson, MLA and Labor premiers; John Scaddan and Phillip Collier have direct connections with the Kalgoorlie Trades Hall (for further details of the conservation programme, refer to Barrett, 1993: 20-22 and 24-31). While there is no doubt about the date at which Trades Hall was built, a search of successive Western Worker newspapers indicated that a former building had been erected on the site prior to Trades Hall. Photographic evidence indicates a small framed structure, presumed to be the office of the Worker, was sited west of Trades Hall. This structure had evidently been established on site by September 1900, and was used as the offices and print room for the newspaper. According to a T.L.C. Letterbook the latrines and screens were erected in 1904, in the north-west corner of the site. The caretaker was appointed in 1952, and it is therefore likely that the caretaker's residence was built on site around that time.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Authenticity: High

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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