British Army Barracks (fmr), Kojonup

Statement of Significance

The old Barracks building has architectural, historical and social significance. The style of the stone building is similar to many of the crofts of Scotland and is typical of the constructions built throughout Western Australia by the early pioneers. The history of the building reflects the development of the districts. In its time it has been a barracks, meeting hall, dance and social centre, church, school, school-teacher's residence and private residence and now the headquarters for the historical society who run the building as a museum. The Barracks is the oldest surviving building in the district.

Physical Description

The four roomed building is constructed of stone, with a hipped corrugated iron roof and a verandah across the front elevationunder a broken-backed roof. The original shingles can still be seen on the verandah and in the two back rooms. Timber posts support the verandah. The front door if off-centre and the three front windows are heavily barred. Inside there are four rooms. The main room is approximately 7m long and has the original fireplace and pressed tin ceilings. The three smaller rooms lead off the main room. An upstairs loft, accessed by timber and metal steps, was possibly used as a sleeping quarters by the early soldiers. The front of the building is screened by two old peppermint trees planted in the late 19th Century by a school teacher. Close by is the Spring Haven Lodge (Aged Peoples Homes) designed and built sensitively, considering the close proximity of the historical Barracks.

History

The Barracks is located close to the freshwater spring which was so significant in the early development of Kojonup. The original Barracks were built in 1837, and replaced by this building in 1845. The Barracks building is the only remaining building of the barracks complex. In 1963 it was purchased by the Kojonup Shire Council and given in trust to the Kojonup Historical Society as a museum. Opposite the Barracks is a log mounted "as a tribute to the early Aborigines who on the 28th February 1837 directed Surveyor Alfred Hillman's party to a nearby freshwater spring which they called Kojonup". The log represents a demonstration of Aboriginal methods of climbing a tree by means of notches cut into the trunk for each step, the intention being in this case to raid a beehive built in the hollow at the top of the tree

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity - Low Authenticity - Medium Modifications: Wooden floors replaced earthen floors in 1869. Shingles replaced 1869. Shingles overlaid with corrugated iron.

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

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