Cue Shire Offices and Old Gaol listed on heritage register

28/9/97

Two of Cue's historic turn of the century public buildings have been placed on the interim register of the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places.

Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said the Cue Shire Offices, built in 1895, and the Old Gaol, built two years later, had both played significant roles in Cue's history.

"Both buildings in Austin Street show the former prosperity of the town in its boom time at the turn of the century," Mr Kierath said.

"They also demonstrate the importance of the town's contribution to the surrounding districts."

Mr Kierath said the Cue Shire Offices building is a two-storey Victorian Georgian style stone building, flanked by single storey shops.

The offices were originally funded by the London and Western Australian Investment Company and were named 'The Murchison Chambers'.

About the same time, a business group known as 'The Gentlemen's Club' was established and soon moved into the first floor of the Murchison Chambers.

Another tenant of the building was the engineering firm Bewick Moreing, whose employee, mining engineer Herbert Hoover, went on to become President of the United States from 1929 to 1933.

Mr Kierath said that over the years, as Cue's population dwindled, the building deteriorated badly. In 1979 the Shire of Cue spent $8,000 to make it a site for a local museum.

"The building was bought by the Shire of Cue in November 1986 and extensively renovated to serve as the current Shire Offices," Mr Kierath said.

"The choice of this building indicates the high regard in which it is held by the local community."

Mr Kierath said the second building, the Old Gaol, was an important reminder of the treatment of prisoners in former times.

He said the Cue Public Buildings, built in 1895, consisted of a police station, quarters and holding cells. However, the capacity of the holding cells was considered inadequate and tenders for a separate lock-up were called the following year.

When completed, the single-storey, Victorian Georgian style stone gaol was considered one of the finest buildings in the Murchison.

"When the gaol was opened, the Police Force consisted of a sub-inspector and 24 men," Mr Kierath said.

"Unfortunately, Cue's prosperity did not continue and the gaol was closed in 1914, although it operated as a lock-up until the early 1930s.

"The last prisoner held there is said to have been the infamous multiple murderer John 'Snowy' Rowles, who was hung for the murder of three men working along the No. 1 rabbit proof fence.

"Rowles is said to have murdered his victims with strychnine and then burnt the bodies."

Mr Kierath said the site was converted into a caravan park in the 1960s, although the Old Gaol was closed as the ablution block in 1977.

Meanwhile, the Government buildings in the heart of the town - including the police station, police station house, Magistrate's Court, Post Office and Post Office House - have been entered permanently in the Register of Heritage Places.

Designed by well-known Government Architect George Temple Poole, the buildings were built in 1895 and initially were not thought to have architectural merit.

However, that has changed and the buildings are regarded as fine examples of the Federation Arts and Crafts style and remain in relatively good condition given their continued occupancy and use.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133 or 018 097 260