Gnowangerup Memorial Hall, Gnowangerup

Heritage Council WA State Heritage Register, Classified by the National Trust & Registered on the National Estate – Conservation, Management Plan, Conservation & Restoration Works – in association with Ian RD Watson & Associate Architects 2000, Shire of Gnowangerup

The Gnowangerup Hall was constructed as a War Memorial in 1923, and was a regularly used venue for community life until the 1990s, by which time it’s appearance and condition had become a little worse for wear, and it’s usage had fallen away. The building was designed by George Parry, Architect, and built by Cresswell of Guildford. Subsequent additions in 1960 were designed by Marshall Clifton and built by Caramia’s of Gnowangerup. In 2000 the Shire of Gnowangerup commissioned a Conservation Management Plan and subsequently, extensive Conservation Works, to restore and preserve the building, from ORA Director Rosalie Pech Eva, in association with Ian R.D. Watson & Associate, Architects..

What we did
The preparation of a Conservation Management Plan comprising a desktop review of written and drawn materials, extensive research of local and State historical archives, exhaustive assessment of the physical condition of the building and recording of it’s condition was undertaken by us. The building and material were assessed in accordance with the tenants of the Burra Charter and according to the requirements of the Heritage Council of WA. Substantial conservation works were undertaken by Colgan Industries and an appropriate and ongoing schedule of maintenance implemented by the Shire of Gnowangerup to preserve this key building of cultural heritage significance in the major streetscape of Youngenup Road, Gnowangeru

The Impact
The work undertaken by ORA was key to the restoration and conservation of the building. Without the assessment, review and classification of the culturally significant building and associated historic materials, the significance of the building could not have been reliably ascertained. Once authoritatively established via the statement of heritage significance, the work of the CMP permitted the Shire to access grant funding to partially fund the works, together with their own funds and in kind contribution.

Photo Credit: Gordon Stuart

The Memorial Hall was a significant and much loved, dignified, but dilapidated landmark in the region, which now benefits from a planned and appropriate approach to restoration and maintenance via a Conservation Plan and restoration work to ensure it remains relevant to the Great Southern community it was designed to serve.

– Rosalie Pech Eva, Architect

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