Kent River Trading Post

Author

Shire of Denmark

Place Number

23979

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Location

Lot 2320 South Coast Hwy Kenton

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Parker Hall

Local Government

Denmark

Region

Great Southern

Construction Date

Constructed from 1931

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	28 Jun 2011	Considerable Significance	Considerable Significance DESCRIPTION: Very important to the heritage of the locality. High degree of integrity/ authenticity. DESIRED OUTCOME: Conservation of the place is highly desirable. Any alterations or extensions should reinforce the significance of the place.

Statement of Significance

The Kent River Trading Post has aesthetic, historic and social significance.

Physical Description

The Kent River Hall is a large rectangular weatherboard timber building with a verandah along the eastern side and a recent extension along part of the western side. A residence was built into one end of the hall during the 1970’s and the remaining area is used for a wine cellar sales and restaurant. An extension was added recently to provide for modern ablution facilities and the restaurant kitchen. The original timber structure of the hall is largely intact and is best viewed from the interior of the cellar sales area.

History

The hall was completed and opened in 1931. It is somewhat unique as a privately owned hall and operated hall. Construction materials included timber from several abandoned group settlement homes in the area. In building the hall Harry Parker may have been catering for the social needs of the local community as well as providing a means of generating an income. It became an important social and recreation hub for the district for the next 40 years. Weddings, Friday night dances, concerts and badminton were held at the hall. Dance crowds during the 1940’s sometimes exceeded 300 people.
When the current owners acquired the property in December 1989 the residence in the Hall was in use and was habitable but had no sanitation. The remaining Hall area was used as a barn and the stage was still intact.
Considerable resources have since been used to improve the Hall to accommodate the current tourist facilities as well as a comfortable residence. A small vineyard on the property and the cellar sales/restaurant area in the Hall is leased to Old Kent River wines.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Information from owners, Mr and Mrs Glenister

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	COMMERCIAL	Shop\Retail Store {single}
Original Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Other Community Hall\Centre

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	TIMBER	Weatherboard
Roof	METAL	Corrugated Iron

Creation Date

27 Feb 2012

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

27 Nov 2019

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.