Cuballing Civic Group

Statement of Significance

The place has aesthetic value for its use of decorative structural elements and a facade treatment of strongly contrasting materials of painted and cement work that creates visual interest. These decorative elements are common features of the exuberance of the Federation Free style and as such the place makes a positive contribution to the streetscape.

The place has landmark value on Campbell Street.

The place has historic significance as part of a building boon? that occurred around 1912 as Cuballing established itself as a progressive town with the facilities to support it.

Physical Description

The building has a richly modelled classical facade with engaged brick piers on the side elevations.
The exterior of the building is in red stretcher bond brickwork in local bricks. The front facade sits on a rendered brick plinth and has corner brick pilasters, and a rendered string course. The main feature of the front elevation is a rendered attenuated doorway surround with Art Nouveau detailing. The surround projects forward of the building face adding grandeur to the facade.

The front etevation is symmetrical about a central doorway with a semi-circular arched window either side of the entrance. The windows have decorative rendered sills and surrounds with pronounced key stones. The windows are double-hung sashes divided into eight panes in the upper sash by slim glazing bars. The lower sashes are in an altered state. Some panes are extant. The entrance doorway has a glazed rectangular faniight divided ten panes by slim glazing bars.

The pilasters extend to a rendered parapet that conceals a gable and hipped roof behind. The parapet frieze bears the name of the building, 'Cuballing Agricultural Hall'. The parapet is crowned in its centre by a dentil decorated semi-circular pediment with a circular accent containing a metal louvred vent.

The east and west elevations (side elevations) have engaged piers that divide the elevations into three bays. The two rear bays each contain a window. The window treatment on the side elevations has been simplified to include a flat head. The rear elevation is strengthened by two stepped buttresses with a picture window high in the gable wall.

Brick additions extend the east and west elevations. The original exterior walls, where the additions meet the original building, are evident in the interior with an original lintel of an old external opening. The additions are treated to match the original building. The gable ends extend to protect the casement windows, and are clad in fibro-cement lining as are the eaves soffit. The windows are simplified with simple rendered sills. Further brick additions are at the rear, with lean-to roofs. The additions accommodate toilets. The additions were built at different times as evidenced in the straight joint in the brickwork.

The interior of the building comprises a central hall with a raised stage with timber stairs either side, and a kitchen with an old fireplace, behind the stage. The additions to the building have provided an activity area with a pool table, storage, new kitchen and servery and toilets.

The interior of the original building has timber floorboards and rough rendered walls lined to resemble ashlar. Suspended fluorescent lights have been added and the entrance door has been replaced. A window on the east elevation has been bricked-up and replaced with a doorway. The interior of the additions to the building have linoleum covered floors, rendered walls and brick fireplaces.

History

The present Hall, built in 1912, designed by Mr Dods and opened by the Minister for Works, Mr W. D. Johnston in December 1912. The cost of the building was £890 of which £212 was provided by the Government. Local bricks from Davey Bros. Brickworks were used in the construction.1

The official opening of the Hall was reported in the local newspaper, the Great Southern Leader.

The agricultural hall at Cuballing having become too small for the requirements of this growing district, it was decided some months ago to accept the offer of £250 made by the Road Board who wished to secure the building of an office. With this amount and the Government subsidy of £212 the committee instructed Mr. B. H. Dods to prepare plans for a larger and more up to date brick building on the adjoining block. The contract for the erection of the structure was secured by Mr. J. Brown, who has played such a prominent part in the building up of Narrogin and adjacent towns, and the result of the designer and artisan is a structure which is a credit to the district.

To commemorate the opening of the hall the committee invited the Minister for Works (Mr. W. D. Johnson) and several other Parliamentarians...Mr Thos. Reynolds then welcomed the visitors, after which the Member for the District, on behalf of the residents asked the Minister for Works to lay the inaugural stone of the Cuballing Agricultural Hall... He [the Minister] then asked Mrs. Reynolds to open the hall, at the same time presenting her with a gold mounted silver key on behalf of the residents and expressing a wish that she would be long spared to continue the good work in Cuballing, of which there was such evidence of it in the past. In a few appropriate words Mrs. Reynolds declared the hall formerly open, which event was signalled by loud cheering.2

The construction of the Hall was part of a general development programme that was occurring in Cuballing at the time, as the following news excerpt illustrates:
New building operations in the town are going on apace. A contract has been let for the building of the new Agricultural Hall, and this building, together with the new Post Office, and the spacious additions to the Hotel Cuballing, the handsome new Anglican Church just recently completed, and the spacious hall erected by Mr Reynolds, will give the town a decidedly more imposing appearance.

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.