Albany Road Board Building (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Albany Road Board Building has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
The place was the first purpose-built offices for the Albany Road Board, constructed in 1926.
The place is associated with Josiah Norman, well known Albany identity and local contractor who built many important buildings and residences of Albany from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Small scale single storey building that originally held three rooms
• Corrugated metal gable roof
• Originally stucco, face brick and timber infill in gable
• Brick walls below verandah height painted
• Verandah under separate roof

Some obvious modifications include:
• 1980s two storey addition to the rear not in keeping with design and scale of original building
• Single car garage with skillion roof on east side
• Internal changes and modifications
• External colour scheme – painted brick formerly facebrick

History

This building was the first purpose-built offices for the Albany Road Board (later the Shire of Albany). Originally Albany came under the Plantagenet Road Board which was established in 1871 with Alex Moir as Chairman. From the 1880s, this greater Board gradually started splitting up until in 1896 the Albany Road Board had formed. Initially the Albany Road Board occupied rented office accommodation.

The building contract for their first offices was awarded to Mr Josiah Norman in February 1926 for a contract price of £459/5. Josiah Norman was born in Albany. His father, James Norman, came to Albany as an early settler in 1839 in charge of stock for the Australian Pastoral Company. His brother was John Norman Snr, also born in Albany, who was Postmaster for many years and lived at 78 Brunswick Road and after whom Norman House was named, and his nephews were John Jnr and Arthur Norman who established Norman Bros, the stationary business in Stirling Tce. Josiah’s sons were Ernest, William, Thomas, Arthur. Josiah was highly respected in the local community both for his business and public activities having achieved a reputation as a leading building contractor and as a Councillor for the Albany Road Board. As well as this building, he also built the Shipping Customs Forwarding building in York Street and Merfield at 142 Serpentine Road. Josiah died in May 1938.

The building was officially opened on Saturday 5th June 1926 by Mr W Mawson, the former Chairman of the Albany Road Board. It featured pointed face brick, timber gable infill, prominent chimneys and a small front verandah timber balustrading and a timber picket fence. At the time the new building opened, Mr J E Angove was Secretary and the Road Board area was bordered by Plantagenet, Denmark, Gnowangerup and Philips River Boards.

From this office the Road Board moved to Chester Pass Road and then later to an office in Mercer Road. After the Roads Board moved, the original office building was put to various uses including the manufacture of motor vehicle batteries and an antique shop. The double storey rear extension was added in the 1980s. In 2000 it housed an Elders Real Estate office.

In 2019 it is a private residence but also set up for holiday accommodation.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate
Authenticity: Moderate

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.