St Michael's Church

Condition

sound

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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St Augustine of Canterbury Church

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The oldest Anglican Church building in the Shire. Also shared with tte Uniting Church for services.

Physical Description

Very small plain rectangular building of red clay brick with iron roof, two windows on each longer wall. Fence of low brick pillars with pipe between road frontages.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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Beacon Railway Barracks

Values

• The place illustrates the provision of accommodation for crews of trainsmen on country rail routes, which was necessary to enable the operation of Western Australia’s extensive rail system.
• The place is valued by the local community for its association with the railway that played a key role in the development and economy of Beacon, and more recently for its role in the local tourism industry as budget accommodation.

Physical Description

The place is located on the north side of Lindsay Street close to the town centre of the Wheatbelt town of Beacon. The former Beacon Railway Barracks building is currently used as budget tourist accommodation and consists of 8 cabins. Each individual cabin has original floors, walls, windows, doors and ceilings but the original roof cladding has been replaced. External walls are weatherboard. The complex includes a shared kitchen and ablution facilities. Of the nine cabins relocated to the current site in 1971, 8 remain as one cabin was demolished due to white ant infestation.

History

Land around Beacon was officially made available for selection in 1926. The townsite had already been surveyed when construction of the Kulja-eastward railway line commenced in April 1929, and Beacon townsite was gazetted in October 1931. Frank Rowlands erected the first building in the town, a corrugated iron store on Beacon townsite Lot 5. Work on the section of railway from Kulja to Bonnie Rock was completed on 27 April 1931, and the first scheduled train arrived in Beacon on 4 May 1931. At this time, the town began to develop rapidly to include a bakery, butchery, garage, greengrocer, two boarding houses, and a Buffalo lodge. A progress association was formed and cricket and football teams established. Bulk handling facilities were installed at Beacon in time for the 1933-34 harvest. By 1936, the town had a bank and a post office. By 1939, there was still only one weekly train to Beacon. The arrival of the Friday train was a highlight for locals who would gather at the station for the train’s arrival, the crowd then moving on to the CWA for afternoon tea, many dressed in their Sunday best. The train brought provisions to the town including mail, newspapers, bread, stores, fuel, machinery, parts and fertilizer. The first railway accommodation in Beacon consisted of three modest weatherboard and asbestos, corrugated iron roofed houses with kitchen and dining room facilities constructed in the 1930s. These houses served as permanent accommodation for railway gangers and fettlers who maintained the line between Beacon and the terminus at Bonnie Rock. There were also four free standing cabins supplemented by a number of canvas tents, all located on the north side of the railway line. Many of the permanent railway workers were post war immigrants from Europe. The houses have since been demolished.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Beacon Community Recreation Centre, Recreation Ground

Uses

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The modern facility for the Beacon area for sport and other social functions not catered for by the Beacon Hall.

Physical Description

High stadium suitable for basketball, badminton with iron walls and a roof. Brick kitchen area, and change rooms and toilets and glass walled viewing area along eastern wall of stadium between the kitchen and change rooms.

Integrity/Authenticity

integrity: Intact

Condition

Very Good

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Beacon Hall

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Beacon community is strong and because of their distance from Bencubbin (especially residents north of the town), this Hall was their main focus for all functions until the Complex was built.

Physical Description

Rectangular red brick building with gable iron roof, additions to rear with covered walkway to Telecentre, which was part of the additions. Stage area inside.

History

It was built by a local resident on behalf of the Beacon Progress Association- (the Shire is recorded as putting in five hundred pounds towards the purchase of materials and labour), after the war when supplies of building materials were difficult to obtain, which explains the long construction period. The additions in 1994/1995 show the continued support for the betterment of the community.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact Modifications: Addition of kitchen facilities and walkway to new telecentre.

Condition

Very Good

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Old Beacon Club

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The building is significant socially as it is used by local groups and shire services.

Physical Description

Fibro cement building with iron roof, in good condtition, kept painted and maintained.

History

The first licensed premises in Beacon (license now transferred to new Beacon Country Club where Bowling Club is). The building is now used by Mt Marshall Shire on Thursdays to give the district a library service. Also the Beacon local newspaper, "The Beacon Bulletin" is produced on these premises.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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Dingo Proof Fence

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

An example of the type of fences constructed in the early days of the settlement to keep dingoes away from the stock.

Physical Description

Fence with tall timber (from bush) posts about 1.8 m high, wire mesh about 1.2 m high from ground up and then five strands if barbed wire above this, on some posts a metal extension piece to make it tall enough.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

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Pergandes Old Stone Sheep Yards and Homestead Ruins

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

One of the earliest settlers to take up farming in the area, Mr Ted Pergande was a prominent member of the community and these remains of his home, sheds and sheepyards are significant, particularly the ingenuity shown in the construction of the sheepyards. All granite was carted from nearby rock.

Physical Description

Slabs of granite arranged into yards, also remains of sheds and house bearby built from stones.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Little

Condition

Poor

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Waddouring Dam

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

A large dam, part of a scheme which also includes Barbalin Rock, with diversion walls directing the water into the catchment are. Important source of water for inhabitants because of the low rainfall of the district. One of the earliest provisions of water by the Water Authority in the shire and the only one of it's type.

Physical Description

Rock fill embankment retaining wall with cement and rock spillway across opening of a natural watercourse from Waddouring Hill (344m high mostly rock). Diversion walls around this rock, constructed of cement and stones, to direct rainfall into the dam catchment.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Very Good

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Cement Silo - Hopwood's

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

An example of early way of storing grain on the farms. There is a more complete example in the district but this one is significant in that it was built by BWG Hopwood, the gentleman who named the wheat variety "Bencubbin".

Physical Description

Originally , circular wall of stone rendered, an iron roof, six windows and a ladder attached to the wall. Roof and window material now missing.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Only walls intact, roof and windows messing.

Condition

Fair

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H&R Collins Homestead

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Built by Mr Charles Collins who was one of the earliest landholders in the Shire and whose expertise in building was called upon to help other settlers. Mr Collins built a house in Fremantle for his son which is now on the National Heritage Register. This dwelling is a very good example of early construction in the Shire and is still in very good condition.

Physical Description

Substantial rectangular dwelling of 7 main rooms and hallway. Kitchen, dining, lounge and four bedrooms, with pantry off kitchen and bathroom off back verandah- additional four rooms gained from enclosure of western verandah. Walls constructed of formed local rocks with lime masonry, rendered inside and out and 12 inches thick and 14 feet high. Verandah on four sides (western now enclosed) whole building covered with iron roof. original verandah had board floors, now replaced with cement. original close outbuilding of formed stone and mud was laundry and dairy- remains of plastered stone support or copper in place, roof replaced. Dwelling has french doors and windows to rooms and anecdotal evidence says the frames for these were constructed by the builder from reject railway sleepers. The original ceilings are still in place an are of pressed tin in several designs. Original outdoor toilet building still standing by interior modernised.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact Modifications: Verandah enclosed, timber verandah posts changed to steel, cement verandah floor replaced floor boards.

Condition

Good: some cracks in the walls.

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Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church & Presbytery

Condition

good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

First Roman Catholic Church built in Mt Marshall Shire. An example if cement brick building type.

Physical Description

Cement brick (painted) church with iron roof, Gothic style with Romanesque sanctuary.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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St Mark's Anglican Church

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

. Present building was built with co-operation between the Anglican and the then Congregational Church which enables them both to have a more substantial and attractive building that they could have achieved separately. Representative of the type of building of the era and shows consideration of the hot climate in it's construction detail.

Physical Description

Rectangular brick building with tile roof extending over the sides of the verandahs, foyer extensions with own roofs and small extension at rear under main roof. Four half height windows on each long side. Bell freestanding in front of the church and brick fence on front boundary.

History

From research it appears that this building replaced the Congregational Church which had this Lot #147 set aside for church purposes in 1951 and had a building dedicated in 1952- this building was given to the Bencubbin parish by the Darlington Congregational church and was taken down and then rebuilt over a period of time by the local church members. An item of interest is that new windows for this building were constructed by Mr Charlie Collins with the arch shaped forms by using the wooden rims of combine wheels

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

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CWA Rest Rooms, Bencubbin

Condition

Shire advised demolition was for development of site.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Built so that CWA members could hold their meetings, and was also used as a Rest Room and meeting place for women of the district on shopping days. Also served as a place where other organisations could hold their meetings and gatherings, Used to house students from Perth in WWII.

Physical Description

Cement brick, iron roofed building with large meeting room, kitchen and bathroom. Verandahs on front and north-west side with cement floors.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Reasonable

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Bencubbin Road Board Secretary House

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

First dwelling built for the Road Board Secretary.

Physical Description

Rectangular dwelling of cement blocks with an iron roof. Verandah on four sides with back verandah and part of one side verandah enclosed. Central passageway from front door to kitchen/dining area at back.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Most Modifications: Verandah partly closed with fibro- cement, bathrooms in 1995.

Condition

Good

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Bencubbin Community Recreation Centre,Recreation Ground

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Major facility for the Bencubbin residents for sport and other functions, supplies the needs not really catered for by the Shire Hall.

Physical Description

Stadium area for basketball, badminton, social functions such as cabarets, Agricultural Show etc. with brick walls to 3 metres and iron walls above which extend to become the roof, parquetry timber floor, window wall on eastern side. Large modern kitchen facility and carpeted activities room with bar and two wide concertina doors opening into stadium at eastern end. Entrance from north on western side which accesses activities rooms and stadium and passage turns at right angles to access toilets and male and female change rooms.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Very Good

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Bencubbin Police Station & Lock-up

Condition

Shire advises this place has been turned into a museum. New Police Station in Monger St? Check with Police/Shire.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The first and only Police Station built in Mt Marshall Shire.

Physical Description

A weatherboard, iron roofed building constructed in 9126. The building consists of a front and back office and a one room lock-up, with toilet outside in the exercise yard. Next door was the residence of the Police Officer stationed in Mt Marshall.

History

Tenders were called by the Works and labour Department in August 1926 and it was completed by December 1926. Police residence was used until about 1990 when a new house was bought. The old dwelling was rented out until it was sold in 1995.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Intact

Condition

Good

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Pepper Trees, Old Bencubbin Station Site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Pepper tress and a flat space are the only remains of the original Railway Station site, all other buildings and equipment, including the old bin have gone and the new railway station building is of no particular note and is no longer in use.

Physical Description

Two old Pepper Trees.

History

When the railways reached Bencubbin in 1917, it enable the opening up of the district with the extra services available.

Condition

One is in better condition than the other.

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Railway Barracks (fmr)

Uses

Creation Date

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Bencubbin Post Office

Uses

Creation Date

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