WS Waterhouse & Sons Hardware Shop

Statement of Significance

Waterhouse's business premises are important because the buildings are tangible evidence of a commercial enterprise that has been associated with the same local family for 71 years. The AWAS hut has important associations with the Nungarin Army Camp (5 BOD)

Physical Description

Waterhouse's Shop occupies a full block, with open-air storage on adjacent Lot 101 (a 400 square metre block excised from Lot 10). The shop frontage has a short brick dado with large glass windows, and a cantilever verandah over the footpath. Several older sheds adjoin the shop to the rear, and various specific purpose sheds are situated on the block

History

Waterhouse's first shop was opened in May 1928, but prior to the completion of the premises in Railway Avenue, the business operated for a short period from the home of W.S.Waterhouse Lot 501 First Avenue. Construction of the current shop began on 6th August 1951. Erection began by building around the original structure until it was necessary to remove the roof. Business was then carried on from the rear shed in temperatures reaching 120°F until the new building was completed prior to Easter 1952. The new business premises were opened on the Tuesday after Easter. The building contractors were Harnett & Horner, but the current owner, Bert Waterhouse, was involved in carting materials and assisting with labour. A small room at the back of the shop was used to house the power plant, and to charge wireless batteries. Around 1938 a large store shed was built at the rear of the premises by Reg Payne. In 1943, H.H.(Bill) and Bert Waterhouse built an extension to the shed to hold charcoal for gas producers purchased from Bill Woodbridge. Further extensions were made in 1944 to house a Lister diesel engine for an air-compressor and battery charging unit. The large shed at the rear was purchased about 1947, and used to be the AWAS Hut at the Nungarin Army Camp. Bert Walsh, Bert Waterhouse and Brian Jennings dismantled the hut and re-erected it on the present site. The store shed for CIG gas and animal food was built early in 1960 by Merv Windsor. The first truck shed on the site (erected approximately 1948) was dismantled and replaced with the current chemical shed in September 1993. WATERHOUSE FAMILY HISTORY William Charles Hartnoll Waterhouse (b. 18.3.1864, married Evelyn Joanna Warren) was a pioneer of the Nungarin district, taking up Avon Location 14961 in 1910. The youngest of his four children was Warren Saville (W.S. "Wog" Waterhouse b.2.3.1901, married Constance Mary Andrews). Warren Saville built up the family business, and in turn passed it on to his two sons, Herbert Saville (Bert), and Mervyn Warren. Bert & Merv operated the business jointly for many years, until Bert (b.25.8.1928) eventually took over in his own right. In what has become almost a family tradition, Bert included his two sons, Colin and Trevor, and they became the third generation to be involved in the business and the fourth generation to have been established in Nungarin. After the departure of Colin to Busselton, 'W.S.Waterhouse & Sons' is now run by Bert, his second son, Trevor Lawrence (b.29.8.1954) and Trevor's wife Valerie.

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