Curtin University of Technology (School of Mines)

Statement of Significance

Assessment of Significance: School of Mines has some aesthetic significance for its contribution to the character of Kalgoorlie, as a turn of the century gold boom town.

School of Mines demonstrates the very strong association of the mining industry with the history of Kalgoorlie, and the eastern goldfields.

School of Mines is associated with A. E. Clarke, a prominent Victorian architect, who emigrated to WA in the late 1890s and practiced in Kalgoorlie.

Equipment and exhibits in the School of Mines are likely to have scientific value, but they have yet to be fully assessed.

School of Mines is identified by the community as being an integral part of Kalgoorlie and the eastern goldfields.

School of Mines, an educational institution in the goldfields for ninety years, has a strong association with Kalgoorlie and the mining industry throughout Western Australia.

School of Mines is representative of the establishment of the mining industry in Kalgoorlie and Western Australia.

Statement of Significance: School of Mines has cultural significance for the following reasons:

- the place has a strong association with the history of mining in Kalgoorlie and the eastern goldfields;

- the place has a continuing educational association with Kalgoorlie and the mining industry in Western Australia; and,

- the place has an association with A. E. Clarke, a prominent Victorian architect.

Physical Description

The Heritage Council of WA does not have a current assessment of the physical evidence of the buildings on site. It is known that some internal alterations have taken place, including the replacement of ceilings and light fittings. The degree to which these alterations have impinged on the heritage of the place is yet to be assessed, but there is no indication of major disruptive work.

History

In 1903, the School of Mines was completed on land adjacent to the Chamber of Mines Building.

"The first week in October should see the completion of the Kalgoorlie School of Mines building, which is now being erected in Egan Street, next to the Chamber of Mines. It is a spacious structure with a frontage of 135ft. 2in. and a depth of 117ft. 4in., and when completed will be a handsome addition to the many big buildings in this city. In front there will be a verandah with a concrete floor 10ft. in depth and 76ft. in length. Then there will come the main entrance hall, close on the left of which is to be the senior laboratory, and on the right the secretary's office, lobby, lecturer', assistants', and directory rooms. The extreme right will be taken up by a class room, preparation room, lecture hall, and drawing office. These latter apartments, it is expected, will be completed and ready for use in about six weeks. On the extreme left side will be the furnace, assay, metallurgists' laboratory, laboratory assistants' and balance rooms, and at the back will be another balance room, lobby, and the caretaker's and class rooms. There is also space for central courtyard. Altogether there will be 16 fume covers, 11 melting furnaces, and six muffle and assay furnaces, and for carrying off smoke from these, a large chimney stack is to be built. A drainage scheme is provided for throughout. Mr. A.E. Clarke is the architect, and Messrs. W. and J. Park are the contractors for the work" (Western Argus, 7 July 1903: 16).

According to Webb, "...there can be little doubt that the school owed its origin to the idea that the mining industry needed something more than hands-on training. Many of the school's promoters were the products of school of mines in Australia and overseas who already knew the value of a sound training. Although Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie were for once united in opposing the location of a school of mines in Perth, the development of deep mining and the milling of new types of ores on the Golden Mile were making it increasingly obvious that if a school was founded it must be located in Kalgoorlie. Thus, when it was suggested that the Coolgardie exhibition building, constructed at government expense, would form an admirable place in which to house a school of mines, a controversy arose as to whether the school should be in Coolgardie, a languishing mining centre, or in Kalgoorlie, a burgeoning centre of mining with special needs for research and training in mining and milling, which was to rage for some years. Finally, as a compromise, when the School of Mines was opened in 1902 it was first housed in Coolgardie's vacated exhibition building. Two years later, the school was moved to Kalgoorlie when a new purpose-built Kalgoorlie School of Mines was formally inaugurated at an official ceremony on 25 March 1904. The Coolgardie building was used for a time as a technical school (1993, 569).

The Western Australian School of Mines has been a branch of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University of Technology) since 1969.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.