Permanent heritage listing for York Residency Museum and P O

16/2/96

The State Government has moved to protect the heritage value of two of York's most historic buildings.

Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the Residency Museum and the York Post Office would be permanently placed in the State's Register of Heritage Places.

Mr Lewis said the Residency Museum, built in the 1850s, was closely linked with the early settlement and development of York.

The York Post Office, built in 1893, formed an important civic precinct with the adjacent Court House and Police Station.

"Both buildings are fine reminders of the development of York and reveal much about the way of life of the town in their eras," he said.

"They both contribute to York's sense of history and are highly valued by the local community."

Mr Lewis said the Residency Museum, adjacent to the Old York Hospital in Brook Street, was built as an office and residence for the second Government Resident, Captain R G Meares and his family.

Meares resigned as Government Resident in 1859 when the magisterial duties were transferred to Northam. However, the residency continued to be occupied until about 1901.

Shortly after, it was adapted for use as a maternity hospital and remained so until the early 1940s.

In 1972 it was opened as the first regional museum in Western Australia and remains a well-known tourist attraction.

Built of local clay bricks in the Victorian Georgian style, the museum is in good condition and has a high degree of integrity and authenticity.

Mr Lewis said the Post Office, in Avon Terrace, was one of the earliest civic buildings in York and was still being used for its original purpose.

"In fact, there has been a post office on the site since 1866, making it the longest continuous use for post office facilities in Western Australia," he said.

"The current York Post Office was built in response to the town's growing importance as a rural centre.

"In particular, it was built because York was the town and railway centre closest to the Yilgarn goldfields in the initial period of the gold boom years."

A two-storey, rough-cut stone and brick structure with an iron roof, the Post Office was designed in the Federation Arts and Crafts style by noted Government architect George Temple-Poole.

Together with the two-storey court house and the single-storey police station, the post office forms part of an impressive civic precinct.

"The York Post Office is a well preserved example that is representative of the civic buildings built by the State Government in the gold boom years," Mr Lewis said.

"It demonstrates the way of life for postmasters and their families and contributes to the York community's sense of history.

"The building is in sound condition and has a high degree of authenticity."

Media contact:  Bronwyn Hillman 222 9595 or 221 1377