Police Station (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The old police station, together witht the adjacent gaol amd fmr sergeants's quarters form an historic precinct that contributes to the aesthetic qualities of the landscape. This historic precinct represents an early twentieth century wa of policing and living. The place has a close association with the development of law and law enforcement in Western Australia.

Physical Description

Simple, small square-shaped building covered by a hipped roof that extends to cover an encircling verandah with a concrete floor. The roof is supported on square timber posts that are termite damaged at their base. The dominant roof structure features a corbelled brick chimney. A pannelled door on the south elevation forms the entrance to the bulding. A double hung sash window divided into 6 panes is on the north side of the building. The interior comprises a single space that has a simple fireplace. The interior is lined with timber boards below dado heiht and has a fibro-cement above dado height and on the ceiling.

History

Precinct comprising fmr gaol, police station and police sergeant's house.

As with the fmr Courthouse , the police station was relocated from Mt Margaret to Laverton in 1899 (Battye Libraray, Research Notes, 226, p. 1). The first policeman at Laverton was Constable Charles Harris who commence his duties, according to the Police Occurance Book, on 18th September 1899. (ibid). The first police precinct was temporary and comprised mainly of tents and the first prisoners were chained to a log (ibid). The community was soon petitioning for a more permanent structure, in particular a gaol.

Town Lots 47 and 48 were reserved for the police precinct on August 1900 (GG 03/08/1900, p 2,805). On 29th May 1901, almost a year later, Mr Mackesy accepted the tender of construction of the Laverton police station, police quarters and a gaol at a cost of 690 pounds. In November, when the wood and iron cell was ready for occupation there were two policemen at Laverton, Constables Ansell and Houston (Laverton Mercury 22/06/1901, p 2). In 1905, additions to the police station amounted to 108 pounds (GG, 16/05/1902 p 1,241). In 1908, a verandah costing 63/5/0 pounds was alson added (GG 11/12/1908, p 3,392).

Further additions and renovations were made to the police precinct over the decades until the new police quarters and office were built by Mr Ernest Best, in 1934, at a cost of 1,153 pounds (GG 20/04/1934, p 555).

Forty years later, Mr Julius Elischer, built an entirely new police precinct in the newly designed town of Laverton and the old buildings were relocated to different sites, (State Records Office, AN 7/21, Public Works Department, Acc 1608, No. 1550).

A $20,000 Tourism Development Grant has recently been received and the conservation of these buildings is in progress.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree
Authenticity: High Degree

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.