Narembeen Civic Precinct entered on heritage register

12/7/97

A snapshot of the development of life in rural Western Australia has been preserved with the entry of the Narembeen Civic Precinct in the State register of heritage places.

Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said the interim listing on the register would protect buildings including the Lesser Hall, built in 1923, the Narembeen Roads Building, built in 1927, and the Public Hall, constructed in 1940.

"Together these buildings show the way civic and social life developed in a country town of this era," Mr Kierath said.

The town was originally a railway siding named in 1917 - and its first major building was a hotel, granted a licence after lobbying by local land owner Charles Latham, who later became a Member of the Legislative Assembly and also a Federal Senator.

Latham worked closely with Henry Hale and Paddy Connolly who purchased 30 acres from landowner Tom Savage to build the hotel and establish town blocks.

The Narembeen Progress Association was formed in 1922 to guide the development of the new town. One of its first objectives was the provision of a meeting place.

The hall was built on land donated by Connolly and Hale and was opened in September 1923, only a short time after the hotel.

"The opening was memorable with a fight breaking out between railway workers and the cleaners," Mr Kierath said.

"Women and children were locked in the hall for their safety and policemen from Bruce Rock were called.

"The hall was used temporarily as a school while the school building was moved from Emu Hill to Narembeen and has also been used for church services, Saturday night dances and picture shows."

The Public Hall was designed to complement the existing hall on an adjacent site and opened in 1940. It is sometimes known as the Memorial Hall as it has several memorial plaques in the foyer.

"Many country towns built community halls in the latter half of the 1930s, usually reflecting the community's desire to be seen as modern and progressive," Mr Kierath said.

"By contrast, the entrance of the Narembeen Public Hall is a fine, relatively rare example of an inter-war functionalist town hall constructed in rural Western Australia.

"WA's picture show man Paddy Baker has a close association with both the Narembeen Hall, sometimes known as the Lesser Hall, and with the Narembeen Public Hall.

"Baker screened movies in the Lesser Hall on Friday nights and contributed from his earnings to the Hospital Building Fund. He later showed pictures in the Public Hall, attracting full houses."

The Narembeen Roads Board was built in 1927 to the Federation style.

"The position of the three buildings on an irregular site, and in particular the alignment of the entry of the Public Hall and the way it addresses the street corner, demonstrates creative design," Mr Kierath said.

"The precinct's integrity is high, with the Lesser Hall and the Public Hall still being used for community purposes and the Roads Board Building being used as a museum and centre for the publication of the local newspaper."

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133