Heritage nod to Leederville Oddfellows

A landmark 1897 Leederville hall, with roots that can be traced back to one of the United Kingdom's oldest mutual benefit societies, has been State heritage listed.

  • Former Oddfellows Hall entered into State Register of Heritage Places

  • Building now operates as Eyes on Oxford

A landmark 1897 Leederville hall, with roots that can be traced back to one of the United Kingdom's oldest mutual benefit societies, has been State heritage listed.

Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said the former Oddfellows Hall was one of the few remaining buildings linked to the movement in Western Australia.

The two-storey limestone and iron building, at the corner of Oxford and Richmond streets, now operates as optometry business Eyes on Oxford.

"The Oddfellows was one of the many friendly or mutual societies that existed in Australia before the advent of government assistance," Mr Jacob said.

"They played a vital role in providing health and unemployment benefits to working class families and were a precursor to today's private health insurance companies.

"The State heritage listing of this place pays homage to the Oddfellows and other friendly or mutual societies that provided security for working class families at a time when life was often precarious."

The Oddfellows movement originated in the United Kingdom in 1798 with the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, which claims to be the earliest established "~Friendly Society'. It was thought to be named for workmen of "~odd' trades not covered by craftsmen's guilds.

"The term "~Odd Fellows' became so synonymous with a sense of community, value for money and reliability that many pubs, hotels and guesthouses adopted the name even though they had no affiliation with the society," the Minister said.

While the building was constructed for the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, the order soon ran into financial difficulties and the building was sold. However, the name remained with the front building operating as a retail business and the rear hall used for various community events and meetings until it was relocated in 1917.

The current owners purchased the distinctive limestone property in 2006 and undertook critical conservation work before opening it as Eyes on Oxford.

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