PICA & Arts House

Child Places

• 02026 Hackett Hall

Statement of Significance

The place is a fine example of their styles of architecture. PICA in particular has landmark qualities due to its architectural detailing and prominent tower element. The place was constructed as part of the Perth Central School, the first central school in Western Australia, the philosophy of which was to provide a complete educational facility, with opportunities for post-primary education. The construction of the Boys’ School was the largest project undertaken for the Education Department in the 1890’s. The place has archaeological research potential in, around and under PICA & Arts House. Through its use as an educational facility over a period of ninety years, PICA & Arts House have significant associative value for the thousands of people who have studied there. More recently, the place is valued for its associations with the local contemporary art scene. The place is the only remaining elements of the Perth Central School, an unusually large school complex in the early 1900’s. The place is representative of the shift in educational policy at the turn of the twentieth century.

Physical Description

PICA & Arts House are located on the south-west corner of the Perth Cultural Centre Precinct site. PICA, the former Perth Boys’ School (1897), is a two-storey red brick and corrugated iron former school building in the Federation Free Classical style and currently accommodates The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA). Arts House, the former Monitors’ School (1905, 1914) is a separate two-storey red brick structure to the west of PICA but has a more utilitarian style expression and provides accommodation for The Blue Room theatre. PICA is located in the former Perth Boys’ School Building. This building was designed to be seen in the round and is of the Federation Free Classical Style. It displays prominent external decorative elements, with much of the original detailing remaining. The building has red face brick walls set on a stone plinth. There are decorative elements to the entry porches, windows and eaves. The building has a corrugated iron hipped roof with raised sections over the central gallery spaces and a prominent tower element in the James Street facade. Arts House is located in the former 1905/1914 Monitors’ School. Former elements comprising the 1898 Manual Training Room, and 1906 Cookery and Laundry Centre were demolished c. 2006. This remaining structure has a rectangular form with bands of white render contrasting against the red brickwork and a gabled corrugated iron roof. A rendered masonry and glazed annexe has been constructed on the east side of the building in recent years providing a new entrance foyer and access to the upper storey.

History

Perth Girls’ and Infants’ School was built on Lots Y19 and Y20 to a design by Richard Roach Jewell in 1877. In 1897 the contract to house a new Perth Boys’ School and Perth Girls’ School in James Street was awarded. In June 1905 the first purpose built Monitors’ School in the state, for students who wished to sit the secondary school examination and simultaneously to become teachers, was opened in a building immediately to the west of the Perth Boys’ and Girls’ School building. Various auxiliary manual and household training buildings were grouped around the Monitors School. Over the next half century the group of buildings, known collectively as Perth Central School was adapted and added to in line with changes in education policy and the development of other facilities such as Perth Modern School in Subiaco and a new Perth Girls School in East Perth. The Perth Technical College moved into the buildings in 1958 and in the following decade the concept of establishing a Cultural Centre within the precinct was developed. TAFE (formerly Perth Technical College) vacated the former Central School buildings in 1988 which were refurbished for occupation by PICA and officially opened on 8 November 1991. The former Monitors School, Household Management Centre and Manual Training School buildings collectively formed ‘Arts House’. The Monitors School has been retained, but other components have been demolished in the redevelopment of the site for the State Theatre Centre at the corner of Roe and William Streets.

Integrity/Authenticity

Medium level of integrity. Medium level of authenticity.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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