Yanchep National Park Precinct

Author

City of Wanneroo

Place Number

04151

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Location

3499 Wanneroo Rd Yanchep

Location Details

50 km North of Perth Includes individually registered places - note not registered as an interim precinct but combines a number of interim registrations

Other Name(s)

McNess Recreation Area

Local Government

Wanneroo

Region

Metropolitan

Construction Date

Constructed from 1880, Constructed from 2001

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	07 Nov 2016
State Register	Registered	17 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
Register of the National Estate	Registered	21 Mar 1978			Heritage Council
Art Deco Significant Bldg Survey	Completed	30 Jun 1994			Heritage Council
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	25 May 1994	Category 1A	Category 1A This place has been entered in the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Register of Heritage Places. All development applications must be referred to the Development Committee of the Heritage Council for approval. This place is considered by the City of Wanneroo to be of exceptional significance to the City and its conservation is required. The place should be conserved in accordance with the principles of the Burra Charter (The Australia ICOMOS for the conservation of places of cultural significance) which has been accepted by Council as the guiding document for the conservation of places of cultural heritage significance. It is recommended that a conservation plan or policy be prepared and adopted by Council and that any proposals for development be in accordance with its recommendations. If a conservation plan has not been prepared, Council may request the preparation of a conservation plan or policy prior to considering any proposed development of the place. The conservation plan or policy must be prepared in accordance with a brief approved by the Council and must be reviewed, approved and adopted by Council prior to approval to develop.

Child Places

Statement of Significance

Yanchep National Park Precinct has historic and aesthetic significance as a good example of a
national par incorporating a resort dating from the 1930s. It is also of historic importance for its
associations with Sir Charles McNess for his contribution to the development of the park, and the
RAAF who used the park as a base during World War ll.The park is socially significant as a popular
tourist destination.

Physical Description

Yanchep National Park is a recreation area comprising an open woodland park, lakes, caves, natural bushland and landscaped gardens, together with army bunkers and built structures of limestone, imitation ‘half-timbering’, and tile. The place includes; Gloucester Lodge and Pool, Yanchep Inn Hotel, McNess Ruin, Chauffeur's Room and Garage, Army Bunkers - Radar Installation, Administration Building, Yanchep War Memorial, Crystal Caves, Generator Bunkers - Radar Installation, Tram Cottage, Recreation Hall, Avenue of Trees, modified lake (Loch McNess) and surrounds, caves, bushland, other wetlands, structures and landscapes. These structures form a significant precinct characterized by a homogeneity of materials and forms established in the 1930s using local materials and motifs of the Inter-War Old English and Inter-War California Bungalow styles. Yanchep National Park is rare as a cave area developed for tourist purposes in Western Australia and as one of only six main cave areas in Western Australia.

History

The name Yanchep is believed to have derived from the native name Yanget a native flax which grew
on the lake within the park. (Chambers) The area was first visited by Europeans in 1834, by John
Butler recorded the lakes and an abundance of game while searching for stray cattle north of Perth.
Four years later, Lieutenant George Grey explored the area. In the period 1899-1902, the first actual
settler, Henry White, built a cottage near Lake Yanchep.
In 1905, the Government vested reserve No 9868 in the Caves Board which included 5,640 acres of
the district which incorporated the lake and flats approximately 8km long, for the Protection and
Preservation of Caves and Flora and for a Health and Recreation Pleasure Resort. During the 1930s
philanthropist Sir Charles McNess made a grant of 11,600 pounds for the alleviation of distress due to
the Depression and this act of benevolence, along with the good management of the State Gardens
Board, saw the commencement of major developments in the Reserve.
During the 1930s Yanchep National Park was established as a recreational resort on the shores of
Lake McNess. The complex included Gloucester Lodge, Yanchep Inn, McNess Guest House, Ghost
House Ruin and Chauffeur's Room, Army Bunkers and Administration Buildings.
In 1935 Lake Yanchep was renamed Loch McNess in honour of Sir Charles McNess's contribution to
the Reserve's development.
During World War two the RAAF established a radar station in the park and Gloucester Lodge and
Yanchep Inn were occupied by the No 4 Convalescent Depot and the No 4 Medical Rehabilitation
Unit. In 1976, the National Parks Authority of WA considered demolishing Gloucester Lodge. The
Shire of Wanneroo then acquired the lease of the building and partially renovated it for use as a local
museum which opened in 1979. (Australian Heritage Database). In 2005 a fire swept through the
park, however the buildings were not damaged. Refer to Heritage Council of Western Australia's,
Register of Heritage Places - Register and Assessment Documentation and the Australian Heritage
Council's, Register of the National Estate.

Condition

Precinct

Associations

Name	Type	Year From	Year To
William Bennett	Architect	-	-

State Heritage Office library entries

Library Id	Title	Medium	Year Of Publication
2060	Yanchep National Park management plan : 1989 to 1999.	Report	1989
8708	Alkimos Eglinton district structure plan.	Book	2007
6588	McNess Recreation Area Yanchep National Park : non-indigenous cultural heritage conservation plan.	Heritage Study {Cons'n Plan}	2003

Place Type

Precinct or Streetscape

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	SOCIAL\RECREATIONAL	Other
Present Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve
Original Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve

Architectural Styles

Style
Inter-War California Bungalow
Inter-War Old English

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Wall	STONE	Limestone
Wall	TIMBER	Log
Wall	TILE	Terracotta Tile

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES	Tourism
SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES	Sport, recreation & entertainment
PEOPLE	Famous & infamous people
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES	World Wars & other wars
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Exploration & surveying
OCCUPATIONS	Hospitality industry & tourism

Creation Date

03 Aug 1995

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

20 Apr 2021

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.