Bassendean Oval Grandstand

Parent Place or Precinct

07403 Bassendean Oval

Statement of Significance

• Bill Walker Grandstand has historic value for its association with the establishment of the Bassendean Oval sports facility in the Inter-War period.
• The place has aesthetic value as an elegant and graceful example of the Inter-War Utilitarian style and is a rare example of a timber grandstand in the metropolitan area.
• The place has historic value for its association with local footballer and four time winner of the Sandover Medal, Bill Walker.

Physical Description

The grandstand is a 2-3 storey structure constructed from timber with structural columns and a steel framed roof structure, with a seating capacity of approximately 800 people. The roof is a hipped gambrel form with a central gable to the south, clad in corrugated zincalume in single length sheets with colonial profile guttering. The walls are timber framed and clad with large format smooth rusticated weatherboards. The north elevation is fully enclosed with timber framed panelling, awning windows and solid timber doors. High level vents are located underneath the eaves across the elevation. A steel and timber flight of stairs central to the elevation leads up into the grandstand. The east and west elevations are partially enclosed as the line of the top of the wall follows the grandstand seating. A steel and timber stair is located on each elevation. A timber door is located to the west elevation under the stair. The southern elevation is completely open with timber grandstand seating facing the oval. Protected seating is provided for the teams and umpires at the base of the grandstand with a low fence to the oval side and a flat pitch skillion roof sheet with corrugated zincalume. The entrance to the change rooms under the grandstand is located within the centre of the elevation. The roof structure is mainly timber with a large steel beam and curved angle brackets to the full extent of the southern elevation.

History

In 1901, Guildford Lot 196, Reserve 7401, was gazetted and initially set aside for “Government Requirements”, in 1902, the reserve was officially changed to “Recreation”. On 4 March 1904, the Bassendean Oval was vested in the Town of Bassendean. After the reserve had been partially cleared, a concrete cricket pitch was laid, followed by tennis courts and a shelter shed. In 1922, the West Guildford Road Board voted to change its name from West Guildford to Bassendean. In 1927, the first motions were made towards establishing a West Australian Football League (WAFL) football team at Bassendean, whose home-ground would be Bassendean Oval. In September 1929, the works for upgrading the Recreation Reserve to become an oval for league football were implemented, and a
contract was let for the clearing, grading and fencing of the grounds. On 7 December 1929, most of the works at the Recreation Reserve were completed, and Bassendean Oval
was officially opened by the Hon. Philip Collier, giving the Bassendean football team a home ground and headquarters. The opening of Bassendean Oval coincided with the centenary celebrations for the foundation of the Swan River Colony. As with the rest of the State, Bassendean had felt the effects of the Great Depression years, with many of the local industries being cut back and numbers of workers retrenched. However, in spite of these hard times, during the 1930s Bassendean experienced an accelerated round of building projects in the town. The grandstand was one of these projects. On 3 February 1932, R. A. McDonald officially opened the threestorey timber and corrugated iron grandstand, (later to be called the Bill Walker Grandstand, (after the former player four-time Sandover Medallist and coach) with a seating capacity of 800. The grandstand cost £2,646. To celebrate the occasion, an A-grade cricket match was played between Mt Lawley and East Perth. The Bill Walker stand was officially dedicated and named as such in 1976, prior to that it was referred to as the Bassendean Grandstand. In 2000, the Bill Walker Stand was in need of repairs owing to significant termite damage and was not able to be used for the 2000 football season while major conservation works were undertaken. The grandstand was included in the State Register of Heritage Places as part of the entry for Bassendean Oval.

Integrity/Authenticity

High
Moderate

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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