RAAF Headquarters Bunker (fmr), Belmont

Author

City of Belmont

Place Number

16785

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Location

81-91 Leake St Belmont

Location Details

Other Name(s)

SES Bunker

Local Government

Belmont

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	27 Jun 2023
Heritage List	Removed	17 Feb 2003
State Register	Registered	28 Feb 2006	Register Entry Assessment Documentation	Heritage Council

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	Removed	22 Nov 2016	Category 1	Category 1 Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example. The place should be retained and conserved unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative. Any alterations or extensions should be sympathetic to the heritage values of the place and in accordance with a Conservation Plan (if one exists for the place).
Municipal Inventory	Removed	17 Feb 2003	Category 1	Category 1 Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example. The place should be retained and conserved unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative. Any alterations or extensions should be sympathetic to the heritage values of the place and in accordance with a Conservation Plan (if one exists for the place).

Statement of Significance

• The construction and form of the structure is a rare example of a partially subterranean concrete bunker and it is a prominent element in the streetscape.
• The place has value as a good example of a building designed by the Allied Works Division and demonstrates an exceptionally high level of technical achievement required to construct a partially subterranean bunker for the purposes of military defence.
• The place has historic value for its association with the functions and services established during World War Two by the Commonwealth Government.
• The place has social value for the past and present military community and the wider community for its historic and military associations with World War Two. The place has value as a workplace for men and particularly women during World War Two which provided significant opportunities for that workforce.

Physical Description

The Bunker is situated between Epsom Avenue and Leake Street, Belmont and is located within a group of buildings reserved for emergency services purposes.
The structure is obscured by mounded earth and has an entrance to the north. A shallow sloping roof over the whole structure is of corrugated zincalume.

History

The Commonwealth Government constructed an underground communications centre between Epsom Avenue and Leake Street. The radar and signals equipment installed there were operated mainly by members of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force.
The place was built in response to the bombing of Broome (3rd March 1942) to provide a better secured facility for the Fighter Sector Headquarters against a possible air raid attacks on Western Australia.

The place played an important role as the RAAF Fighter Sector Headquarters, from March 1945 to August 1945, as the centre for the transfer of information from radar station regarding aircraft movements towards the end of World War Two which resulted in the decision to intercept unidentified or suspicious aircraft.

The place also played an important role for the Civil Defence and Emergency Department as an available operational headquarters in case of national emergency from 1967 to 2003, and particularly during the Cold War period (1948 to 1989).

In 1980 there were upgardes made to the electrical and telecommunications as well as changes to the interior layout of the rooms.

The bunker is now part of a complex of buildings that form part of the State Emergency Services headquarters of FESA. It is not known what function the bunker serves in that facility.

The three other buildings on the premises were constructed post 1967 by the State Emergency Service (SES) and are considered as having low significance.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Moderate
Authenticity: Moderate

Condition

Good

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
6929	Standard heritage record for SES bunker, 81-91 Leake Street, Belmont.	Heritage Study {Other}	2003
11380	RAAF Headquaters Bunker (fmr), Belmont	Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan}	2013

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	MILITARY	Office or Administration Bldg
Present Use	COMMERCIAL	Office or Administration Bldg

Architectural Styles

Style
Other Style

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	CONCRETE	Other Concrete

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES	World Wars & other wars

Creation Date

16 Oct 2003

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

06 Feb 2024

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.