10/3/04
Two historic Northam residences - Curdnatta, on Newcastle Road, Northam and Buckland Homestead and Farm Buildings in Irishtown - have been added to the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places on an interim basis.
Heritage Minister Tom Stephens congratulated the residences' owners for supporting their heritage listings, and said it would help ensure the places were recognised for future generations.
"Curdnatta is a modest residence built in the Federation Queen Anne style in 1911 for Ashton Hunter, an employee and later manager of the Northam Flour Mill, who lived there until 1930," Mr Stephens said.
"It was built at a time when there was much investment and expansion in the flour mill - Northam later became the flour milling centre of WA.
"Curdnatta was designed by prominent WA architect Edwin Summerhayes and is recognised as a well-maintained example of a suburban house to his design."
The Minister said the Buckland Homestead and Farm Buildings were an outstanding example of WA's rural heritage.
"Buckland Homestead comprises an 1876 stone and corrugated iron homestead with two attached cottages of earlier construction, a granary and a workers' cottage in a picturesque setting," he said.
"The homestead is associated with the Dempster family, who were pioneers in the Avon Valley and prominent in pastoral, agricultural and public affairs and business."
The place was built as a family home for Charles Edward Dempster who was a Member of Parliament in 1873 to 1874 and 1894 to 1907.
"It is also important in demonstrating the contribution made by ex-convicts to the labour force in WA - the stone masons, carpenters and brick maker employed on construction of the homestead in the 1870s were all former convicts," Mr Stephens said.
"Being the Year of the Built Environment, it is an opportune time to celebrate our cultural heritage and recognise the value of retaining places of significance for the community and future generations."
A period of public comment will now be available for owners and stakeholders to provide comment on the assessment documentation for the places. Submissions will be received until April 2. Assessment documentation can be viewed at http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/
Minister's office: 9213 6500
