Bridgetown Roads Board Office (fmr)

Statement of Significance

the place is a fine intact and ornate example of a Roads Board building in the Federation Free Classical style and was reportedly the most elaborate and substantial Roads Board Office in the south-west when completed in 1908; the place was designed by well known architect P. W. Harrison and is a fine example of his design work in the Federation Free Classical style, and, the place was built in 1908, and is associated with the development of the Bridgetown district which was flourishing due to the growth of the timber trade and fruit growing industry following the opening of the railway in 1898.

Physical Description

Bridgetown Roads Board Office (fmr) is a single storey Roads Board Office building of brick construction with an iron roof in the Federation Free Classical style designed by architect P. W. Harrison in 1908. The facade is dominated by a richly rendered parapet wall decorated with a number of classical elements. The dominant feature of the asymmetrical front façade is a pedimental motif with a deeply moulded cornice supported by pairs of fluted pilasters at each end and a single central pilaster. Ionic capitals cap the pilasters. The timber framed windows are original although they have been modified to a single large pane of fixed glass. The entrance to the porch on the left side creates an asymmetrical element, with the entablature and cornice of the pediment continuing over with a frieze of balusters above and supported on a single pilaster.

History

On 31 January 1908, a meeting of Nelson Roads Board decided to ‘take steps to purchase land and construct a Roads Board Office’, and appointed W. G. Stephens, A. and H. Doust as a committee to inquire as to where land could be purchased’ and to consider taking over the block of land purchased from the old show grounds. They reported that a block in Steere Street and one in Hampton Street were well positioned for the purpose. The Board agreed to purchase ‘Block No. 1 Steere St.’ (Lot 1) from the Nelson Agricultural Society at a cost of £100. After reviewing a draft plan by John Hurst, the Board decided to call tenders for competitive plans for a building to cost no more than £300 to submit to ratepayers, which was advertised in March. The Board considered Hurst’s plan unsuitable and after examining proposals from architects F. W. Steere, of Bunbury, and P. W. Harrison, of Perth, decided in favour of Harrison and provisionally accepted his plan for the proposed Roads Board Offices at a cost not to exceed £350. In early December 1908, the Roads Board Office was completed and occupied for its intended purpose. The Druids Lodge was granted use of the Board Room for its fortnightly meetings at the same cost as the Oddfellows. The Agricultural Society congratulated the Board ‘on the splendid office provision’ and voiced appreciation for the use of the place for Society meetings. On 30 December, a large number of people, attended the official opening of the ‘handsome Roads Board office’. H. Layman, MLA praised the Roads Board’s achievement and having travelled over much of the State in the past two years, he ‘knew of no Board with more commodious or up to date offices.’ The place was known as Nelson Roads Board Offices until 1917, when it became known as Bridgetown Roads Board, and accordingly it became Bridgetown Roads Board Office.

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