Allanson Park & Lowry Park (fmr)

Statement of Significance

Allanson Oval, Allanson, an expansive grassed area and associated sporting facilities, has cultural heritage significance for its historic association with Mr Tom Lowry, former Mayor of Allanson.

Physical Description

Allanson Oval is an expansive grassed area with associated facilities for local sport and recreation, surrounded by bushland.

History

The townsite of Allanson was originally known as ‘West Collie’ and is located 6km west of the Collie townsite. A railway siding and station was established at West Collie and land set aside for a townsite in 1898. The West Collie townsite was gazetted in 1906. As much of the original townsite land was underlaid by coal seams, little land was released and a new subdivision was made in 1911 and gazetted in 1912. In 1916 the name of the town was changed to Allanson, probably after Arthur Allan Wilson, Collie MLA from 1908 to 1947.

A 1914 townsite plan of West Collie shows Reserve 16403 (Recreation). The oval is located on this reserve at the intersection of Montgomery and Bedlington Streets, Allanson.

The opening of the oval was reported in the Collie Mail of 3 November 1922 as ‘an auspicious occasion’ and ‘a great gathering of local residents’. “All who visited for the first time since a sports meeting was held there three years ago expressed astonishment at the fine ground which had been made out of what at that time was heavily timbered forest land. As is well known, Tom Lowry was the ‘master mind’ in designing the layout of the ground, as well as performing a great deal of the work of clearing and fencing, so no-one begrudged him the honour conferred on him by the committee deciding that the reserve be named Lowry Park.

The Shire of Collie Municipal Heritage Inventory 1985 notes that the oval has also been known as Allanson Park and Lowry Park, the latter being in honour of Mr Tom Lowry, former Mayor of West Collie/Allanson in the early 1900s and described as a ‘legend in his own lifetime’. (Note that there is no formal record of Lowry being the Mayor of West Collie/Allanson).

Integrity/Authenticity

High/ High

Condition

Good

Uses

Creation Date

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