Jack Hills

Uses

Creation Date

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Meekatharra Golf Club

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

Meekatharra Golf Club is significant for the recreational and social activities.

Physical Description

Golf course and associated timber framed corrugated iron clad building.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Fair-good

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Meekatharra Race Club

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

Meekatharra Race Club is of significance as the focal point of regional horse orientated activities, and the socialising that is associated.

Physical Description

Racetrack and associated group of timber framed corrugated iron clad buildings.

History

Horseracing was always a favourite pastime in the country, where horses were bred and ridden as a matter of course. The first meeting of the Murchison Amateur Racing Club was held on Nookawarra Station in 1870s. Meekatharra had a racing club in 1909, and in the 1920s its racecourse was famous for rodeos and buckjumping. The major racing event is held on the October long weekend. In 1978, Tammy Fraser, wife of the then Prime Minister, was invited to present a newly named prize - the 'End of the Earth Cup' - in honour of her comment the previous year when the plane she was travelling in was forced to land at Meekatharra Aerodrome. Her attendance drew a record field for the Cup race and a record crowd.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Fair-good

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Stock yards & Weighbridge

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Stockyards are significant for the association with the surrounding pastoral industry.

Physical Description

Weighbridge is located behind the stockyards

History

The weighbridge was used for the manganese and talc loads.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Fair-good

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Mountain View Gabanintha Mine

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Gabanintha

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Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The site of Gabanintha Town represents a thriving town established in 1898 that had disappeared by 1930.

History

In the 1890s the Gabanintha line of reef was discovered and the Sovereign Mine was established. A small town site was gazetted in November 1898, and several businesses were opened including a hotel by storekeeper William Snell and a butcher shop by J. Meehan & Co, both of Nannine. In 1910, the town and associated Star of the East Mine boasted three hotels, a butcher, baker, storekeeper, boot maker and teamster as well as several mine managers and pastoralists. By 1930, there were no listings in the town, although the mine continued to operate until 1944. The Gabanintha town site has become part of the open-cut workings east of Meekatharra. The pool in Gabanintha was the venue for social events including children’s foot races. In the 1960s there was a water ski club. The billabong was sometimes referred to as Talval Pool.

Condition

Site

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Haveluck Mine

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Ingliston Consols

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Miner's Dwelling

Uses

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Paddys Flat Group Mine

Uses

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Water Tank

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Water tank at Meekatharra is a landmark that also informs of the critical requirement for water to sustain the early, and ongoing development of Meekatharra.

Physical Description

Expansive ground level round concrete water storage tank located on in an elevated position on top of a hill. It has a “Welcome to Meekatharra” sign painted on the side.

History

In 1902 water was reticulated from 5 wells around town. A new well at Garden Gully pumped water into town but that was of poor quality, and sweet water at Democratic well was too expensive. In 1912, a new bore field 7km northeast of town pumped water to Tank Hill. In 1913 a standpipe meant that everyone had a reliable water supply.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Good

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Meekatharra Police Station & Courthouse

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The site of the Original Meekatharra Police Station represents the formalisation of law and order facilities in the developing town and region of Meekatharra in 1908.

History

Meekatharra was initially policed from Nannine, until in 1904, the manager of the WA Bank a requested permanent police presence. Tenders were accepted for a police station and lockup on 22 February 1906. Additional police quarters were completed on 6 October 1908, and quarters were relocated from Cue in 1918. The Lockup had a 20-foot high wall around the exercise yard but one Aboriginal prisoner managed to scale it. In 1962, the existing station and cells were considered to be sub-standard and the Geraldton Building Company won the contract for a new police complex at a cost of £42,210. The new complex was opened on 14 May 1965. In 1997, further work was undertaken and on 10 May 1997, the new buildings were reopened and described as a 'totally refurbished version of the previous facilities'. The new buildings were designed by architect Colin Rule and the builder was P. S Chester & Son, Geraldton. The station had 14 staff at this time.

Condition

Site

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Holy Rosary Convent & Catholic Church

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

Holy Rosary Convent & Catholic Church are significant for the associations with the Catholic community and the sense of place for events that have taken place. The convent’s significance also lies in the education role and associations during its 60 years.

Physical Description

Church: Single storey face masonry with a pavilion gable roof with front gable. The symmetrical frontage has a central double entry and flat roof porch with masonry piers. A geometric pattern of 9 small square windows flanks each side of the entry. The building is elevated from the street where a concrete block wall and double gate open to expansive stepped concrete pathway. The adjacent building is clad with fibrocement “boarding, and the window and door openings are boarded over with sheets of corrugated iron.

History

In 1909, the Lennonville Catholic Church was acquired and rebuilt by Harry Pidgeon on the corner of High & Regan streets, Meekatharra. It was opened 9 May 1909 by Bishop Kelly as the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. In 1911, the adjoining Lot 184 was purchased and the Convent of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was built for the Dominican Sisters. The foundation at Meekatharra was founded on 16 May 1911 with three Sisters from the Mother House at Dongara. Classes of the Dominican Convent School began in the Church on 22 May with 40 pupils. A presbytery was built in 1912. The school soon grew to 100 pupils and in 1916 a School building, 60ft x 25 ft with verandahs on 3 sides, was constructed between the Church and the Convent. By 1970, the number of pupils had fallen to 30 and the School closed on 16 December that year and the Sisters withdrew from the town. 1400 children attended the School at Meekatharra over the 60 years of its operation and it was the last of the Murchison convent schools to close.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Good

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McALeer’s Store

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The site of McAleer’s Store.

History

Charles McAleer and his father Patrick had stores at Sandstone and Lawlers before opening a store at Meekatharra in 1916.

Condition

Site

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House 113 Darlot Street

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House 132 Darlot Street

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Bundi Club, Meekatharra

Condition

The Bundi Club is constructed of weatherboard çwith iron roof and high ceilings. It is set two çstreets back from main street. Its original use çwas as a court house and mining registrar office.

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

Courthouse and Mining Registrar’s Office (fmr) is of considerable significance as it represents the establishment of law and order and mining controls as a pivotal element in the development of the Meekatharra town and district. The architectural style is typically responsive to a remote regional location. Courthouse and Mining Registrar’s Office (fmr) also demonstrates significant associations with Mrs Curley and the Bundi Club.

Physical Description

The single storey timber framed building is clad with painted weatherboards. The predominantly hipped roof with vented gablets, is clad with corrugated iron that has been painted. Three sides of the one part of the building has a verandah with a separate roof. The High Street frontage has been compromised by the close proximity of newer buildings.

History

The Courthouse & Mining Registrar's Office was built in 1911. Magistrate's House and Doctor's house were on adjoining lots. When the population of Meekatharra decline to around 100 residents in the late 1950s, the Courthouse was closed. In 1963, the building was handed to Mrs Avey Curley for an Aboriginal meeting place. She named it the Bundi Club, 'bundi' meaning good. The Bundi Club was used for sewing, dressmaking and cooking classes, where Mrs Curley and the young women with children and the older women made school uniforms and clothes to sell, preparation of school lunches, pensioner's Christmas lunch, a venue for dances, wedding receptions and gatherings after funerals, emergency and temporary accommodation and fund raising events. In 1988, the Miniara Resource Agency, a local co-operative Aboriginal organisation, was established with offices adjoining the Bundi Club. Around 1995-96 the Bundi Club ceased to function due to changing community needs and lack of funds for maintenance and essential equipment. Miniara Resource Agency has a mobile office unit in the front yard of the place. Mrs Curley was awarded the Order of Australia for her services to the Aboriginal community in the Murchison and Warburton area.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY Moderate to high degree AUTHENTICITY Moderate to high degree

Condition

Poor- unoccupied

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Presbyterian Church, Meekatharra

Condition

Maintenance seems not to take place, and the cumulative effects of weathering are evident on the external elements of the church, as well as the interior. The wall cladding is damaged and loose in places. The windows are mostly damaged with weathered frames, and the glazing that remains insitu, displays stone damage, although most windows boarded over. There is some stump subsidence, as well as termite damage. Overall, St Oswald's Anglican Church is in fair condition.

Uses

Historic Themes

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Statement of Significance

St Oswald's Anglican Church (fmr) representing a rare example of an intact iron clad church in the West Australian goldfields, and particularly rare in being as originally constructed and still in use. It is associated with the population growth in the Murchison goldfields and specifically at Meekatharra, at the turn of the 20th century and is of particular significance for its associations with women, who took a primary role in the management of the place from the late 1910s. It makes a significant contribution to the historic townscape in Meekatharra.

Physical Description

The single storey, timber framed and corrugated iron clad structure with entry porch, sanctuary and vestry covered by separate corrugated iron gable roofs, presents a symmetrical frontage to Darlot Street. The roofs are relatively steep and features three gablet vents along each side. The walls are clad with vertical sheets of corrugated iron that have been painted. The building is elevated off the ground on stumps that are a combination of jam posts and hard wood milled posts.

History

St Oswald's Anglican Church (fmr) was built to a design by architect Harry M. Marwood of Geraldton and dedicated on 24 August 1909 by Bishop Riley. Crooks and Brooker, who had a hardware store in Meekatharra, were the builders. The building was also used by the Freemasons until they acquired their own Lodge building in 1915. St Oswald’s Anglican Church became the centre of the Meekatharra Mission district covering Nannine, Peak Hill, Tuckanarra and Garden Gully. In the 1930s, services were being held on Thursday and Sunday in rotation with Wiluna, which had been added to the Rector's round. From 1936 to 1948, St Oswald’s was part of the Wiluna parish, reverting to Cue parish from 1948 to 1957. In that latter year the Bush Church Aid Society established its Murchison parish centred at Mount Magnet. The Aid Society was a missionary society within the Anglican Church established to service the people in remote parts of Australia, 'where local conditions are harsh and resources are not sufficient'. In the 21st century, services are held each Saturday for an Anglican congregation that fluctuates between 12-13 and 6-7 people. Of the three churches established in Meekatharra, St Oswald's is the only one remaining. The Catholic and Methodist churches were on the same street and the area was known as Church Hill.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High degree Authenticty: High Degree

Condition

Fair

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Masonic Lodge (fmr), Meekatharra

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

Masonic Lodge (fmr) makes a significant contribution to the historic Goldfields townscape of Meekatharra through the scale and proportion of the simple intact vernacular building. It is associated with the history of Freemasonry in Western Australia, especially in remote areas of the State.

Physical Description

The single-storey timber framed building is clad with horizontal sheets of painted corrugated iron. The hipped roof clad with corrugated iron, features a vented gablet at the ridge. The front wall features a cornice line moulding and a roughcast pressed metal patterned sheeting above, with a group of four windows central above the cornice line, associated with the feature gablet.

History

A building was relocated from Nannine and altered for use as the North Murchison Freemasons Lodge. The Lodge opened on 20 January 1916. The Lodge was well patronised with events drawing visitors from far and wide. 86 Brethren gathered for the installation of Worshipful Brother Harry Patterson Bennett to Grand Lodge rank in 1936 and 'the largest gathering of Freemasons ever assembled on the Murchison' attended the installation of Bro. Richard Caddy, the ceremony being carried out by his father, the Very Worshipful Bro. John Caddy. In 1947, the Most Worshipful Grand Master Dr J. S. Battye, travelled to Meekatharra to attend an installation. The social life of the lodge involved family members in Ladies nights, picnics, concert evenings, etc, and Freemasonry also involved charity, with donations to disaster funds, hospitals and community care organisations, medical research, care for the young and aged, and support for fellow members and their families. With falling membership, the Lodge held its last meeting on 15 October 1994. The Reserve was vested in the Shire of Meekatharra and the building used by the Guides, Brownies and Scouts Association for a year or so. In 2002, the Meekatharra Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes - Sir John Charles Head Orient 31 - occupied the place and undertook some maintenance and renovation work.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY High degree AUTHENTICITY High degree

Condition

Fair

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Old Meekatharra Cemetery

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Old Meekatharra cemetery is of considerable significance in recording the lives and deaths of 6 people in the years between 1890 and 1907 when the new cemetery was established.

Physical Description

There are six graves, each marked by a surround of stones, in this cemetery. Some headstones remain.

History

Known to have been buried here are: Dennis Walker (April 1890); John Davidson (1904), died after a rock fall underground; infant Dulcie Clarke (7 June 1904), aged 7 months; James O'Leary (1906) aged about 56, died of pneumonia; Samuel Pearce (1907) aged 38; Con Mathews, an Irish miner; and Henry Wills, a saddler who took his own life at the age of 75. At least one Afghan is buried here, almost certainly in a section away from the areas designated for the Christian denominations.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY Low degree AUTHENTICITY Moderate degree

Condition

Fair

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