Guildford's Garrick Theatre to have interim heritage listing

14/7/97

The historic home of Guildford's Garrick Theatre is to have its heritage values recognised and protected by the State Government, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said.

The Garrick Theatre, built by convicts in the 1850s, will be placed on the Heritage Council of Western Australia's interim register of heritage places.

Mr Kierath said the theatre was originally built as a Commissariat Store and quarters and was closely linked to the establishment of the convict depot in Guildford.

"It was designed by prominent engineer Lieutenant Edmund Du Cane as part of the establishment of the depot and Du Cane supervised its building as well as the first bridge over the Swan River at Guildford," he said.

"Only the Commissariat building, the Pensioner's Cottage in West Guildford and his own house remain.

"As such, it is an important reminder of the early convict days of the Swan River Colony."

Mr Kierath said Du Cane was just 21 when he arrived at the Swan Rover Colony in 1851 aboard the Anna Robertson with a party of 65 sappers and engineers and their families.

At the time, Western Australia had been in a period of depression and Guildford had been particularly hard hit. Introducing convict labour was seen as a way to improve the Colony's economy and infrastructure.

Du Cane was assigned to design and supervise construction of convict works in the Guildford, Toodyay and York districts while based at Guildford.

His first duties were to build the Commissariat Store, a gaol, a depot for ticket of leave men and quarters for himself. All these buildings, along Meadow Street, were completed by the end of 1852.

The new convict depot gave an immediate boost to the town's economy and social life.

Mr Kierath said the Commissariat Store and quarters were a single storey, brick walled, corrugated iron building in the Colonial Georgian style.

When Du Cane was transferred to Fremantle in 1855, his former house was handed over to the Director of the Commissariat Store in Guildford.

The store was later used as a drill hall by Enrolled Pensioner Guards and when the convict depot was closed in 1878, the buildings were handed over to the municipality of Guildford.

The Commissariat quarters were renovated in 1951 for use as an infant health centre and the whole building is now leased by the Garrick Club.

Mr Kierath said Du Cane returned to England where he was closely involved in the British prison system and knighted for his services.

"The building's links to Du Cane add to its historic value," he said.

"It makes a significant contribution to the scale and quality of the Meadow Street historical precinct.

"The community values the building for its links with the convict past and it deserves protection by the State's heritage laws."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133