Mill Workers' Hall

Statement of Significance

Aesthetic, Historic, Rarity, Representativeness and Social

Physical Description

The Mill Workers’ Hall is a single storey, timber framed building,
containing a main hall and a lesser hall.
It is located on the south-west side of Brockman Street, south of the
railway line and north of Swimming Pool Road. It is one of a group of
significant heritage buildings in Brockman Street. The Hall is
characteristic of the town of Pemberton, and generally conforms to the
jarrah timber vernacular used in the townsite.
The Hall consists of a gabled main hall, aligned at right angles to the
street, so that the long axis runs north-west to south-east. The hall is
about 10 metres wide and 22 metres long, not counting the timber stage,
which is about 740mm higher than the floor level of the main hall. The
hall has a timber floor and the walls consist of timber panelling to a
height of 1.5 metres above floor level, over which are plaster on lathe
walls.
The entrance to the hall is via a small vestibule. Leading off the main
hall is a small kitchen with a servery. Toilets to the north-west corner
and adjacent to a storeroom (on the other side of the vestibule) are
accessed from the main hall. At the opposite end of the main hall is a
stage, beyond which is a backstage area and a toilet. Timber steps in the
corners of the main hall, lead up to the stage.
To the rear of the main hall is the lesser hall which was added later.
Access is by means of double doors located near the stage. At the rear is
a veranda which was common to the lesser hall and part of the backstage
area. Part of this has been enclosed and converted into a rear toilet and a
small room leading onto the veranda.

History

European settlement in the Pemberton region began when Pemberton
Wallcott took up grazing land in the area know as ‘Big Brook’ in 1862.
Prior to 1910 the area between Pemberton and the coast was occupied by
some of the early grazing families who began to establish farms for cattle
and horses. Pemberton townsite was settled in 1912 after the
establishment of the State Saw Mill No 3. The sawmills were to supply
the sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway. The timber industry which
grew up provided extensive employment and accommodation was built
for the workers and their families in Pemberton in the years that
followed.
The Mill Workers’ Hall was built around 1913. Originally erected to
function as a town hall, the building was erected on land donated by the
State Sawmill. It was constructed by volunteer labour using donations of
prime jarrah timber. When the land was later sold to private enterprise,
the hallsite was protected by a 999 year lease. By July 1914 the hall was
also used as a schoolroom with 31 students. A replacement two roomed
school was built close by in 1919. (A Heritage Council Assessment for
the Mill Workers Cottage Precinct dates the opening of the school as
1922).
The Mill Workers Hall was a major community facility, and was the
venue for concerts, plays, dances, wedding receptions and meetings. It
also functioned as the Red Cross blood bank. It was also the venue for
the local cinema. As early as 1911 film exhibitions were brought into the
rural regions of WA, and operators such as Jack Bignell, Allen Jones and
Paddy Barker travelled around showing films in temporary venues, like
the Mill Workers Hall. A dispute between Allen Jones and the Mill Hall
Management Committee resulted in some picture shows being cancelled.
Jones then decided to build the Pemberton Picture Theatre as a solution
to the dispute.
Ownership of the hall changed in 1961 when the Sate Saw Mill at
Pemberton was sold to Hawker Siddeley Ltd. Nine years later Bunnings
bought the mill complex. By 1993 the condition of the hall had
deteriorated markedly. Local people rallied to raise funds and the
Pemberton Mill Hall Restoration Fund was established. There was a
dispute over ownership and responsibility for the upkeep of the hall,
which was resolved in 1995. Bunnings gave up ownership of the hall,
and promised $30,000 towards the hall restoration. The land is now
under the control of the Crown. A Management Plan has been prepared,
and the site is vested in the Pemberton Progress Association.
Refer to 16.6 for more historical notes

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Good
Authenticity: Good

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.