Agricultural Hall, Williams

Author

Heritage Council

Place Number

02727

Location

48 Albany Hwy Williams

Location Details

Local Government

Williams

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1898

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
RHP - To be assessed Current 29 Aug 2003

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Register of the National Estate Indicative Place
Classified by the National Trust Recorded 12 May 1975
Municipal Inventory Adopted 30 Jun 2000 Category 2

Values

The place is a fine example of a simple hall structure of local stone construction located within a garden setting.

The place is a landmark in the street.

The place has associations with the development of the Williams town site at the turn of the twentieth century, and was the first public building to be constructed in the town in 1898.

The place has continuously been used for community purposes since 1898.

The place has some rarity value as an early example of a community hall of stone construction.

Physical Description

The place is a single storey stone building with brick quoin openings. It has a high pitch gable roof clad with CGI. There is a circular vent in the gable. It also features a symmetrical front with double doors set centrally in the front façade, and a tall brick chimney on the west side.

History

The foundation stone for the new hall in Williams was laid by prominent local settler Michael Quinn of ‘Glenfield’ in 1898. It was constructed of local stone by builders Quigley Brothers. At the time it was the first community building erected in the town. Together with the local hotel, the hall was the meeting place for the Williams Roads Board until the construction of a purpose built office in 1909. It was used for various social events such as socials, dances and weddings as well as a meeting place for local clubs and was used for church services. Local history has it that the name ‘agricultural hall’ comes from the place being the location from 1905 of the ball which followed the annual Williams Agricultural Show. During World War Two the hall was used as an aircraft spotting station. The Williams station was staffed by women during the day and by men at night, with people working in pairs in four hour shifts. In the 1950s a concrete block kitchen was added to the rear of the site. In the 1990s the place became used as a community arts and crafts centre, which remains the function in 2003.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id Title Medium Year Of Publication
12279 Condition report: Williams Agricultural Hall Albany Highway, Williams Heritage Study {Other} 1993

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Original Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Agricultural Hall
Present Use SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL Other Community Hall\Centre

Architectural Styles

Style
Federation Free Style

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Wall STONE Local Stone
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Wall BRICK Face Brick

Historic Themes

General Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY Settlements
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES Community services & utilities

Creation Date

30 May 1989

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

16 Mar 2022

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.