Interim heritage listing of York landmarks

A group of historic landmarks in York are to receive interim listing in Western Australia's register of heritage places. 

Heritage Minister Jim McGinty said a diverse range of architectural landmarks in the town had satisfied the criteria for interim listing set by the Heritage Council of Western Australia. 

The buildings to be placed in the register are: 

·         the York police station, courthouse and gaol complex; 

·         York primary school; 

·         the Railway Street monument and park; 

·         the former York police quarters and grounds. 

Mr McGinty said the York police station, courthouse and gaol complex formed an impressive block of buildings in Low Street and represented a prominent part of the York townscape. 

"The old gaol consists of a lock-up built in 1838 and additional cells constructed in the 1850s.  The courthouse and police station were built in 1895 from locally quarried stone and are fine examples of late Victorian architecture," he said. 

Mr McGinty said the York primary school was built in 1898 and had great social significance for the town. 

"The stone monument and small park adjacent to the railway station provide further proof that the register of heritage places is not just about buildings but a part of the built environment that has valid heritage significance to a community," he said.

The Minister said the former police quarters in Low Street were built near the turn of the century and were typical of simple late Victorian housing. 

"York is a town that takes great pride in its heritage and it is important that this is recognised through the inclusion of a group of its landmarks in the register," he said.

"A concerted effort is being made to build up the number of listings in the register and hundreds of buildings and other landmarks will be identified and readied for inclusion over the coming months."