Israelite Bay Post and Telegraph Station

Uses

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Statement of Significance

The telegraph line from west to east was a major achievement for the time. The station has historic significance as a link in the Albany to Eucla and overseas communication system which played an important role in the development of Australia. The operation of the place had great scientific significance, but there is not much left to demonstrate that now. The remains of the building are a landmark in the remote location and demonstrate how well it was designed to suit its purposes and location. The social value of the place lies in its capacity to remind present and future generations of the ability of people to build and operate essential services in extremely difficult circumstances. The area is visited today only by occasional fishermen or people interested in local history. It is surrounded by Coastal Reserve No A 27632. commonly known as the Nuytsland Nature Reserve. The area containing the Telegraph Station and the ruins of the surrounding settlement have been classified by the National Trust of Australia (W Australia), and have been entered on the National Estate Register. It was also entered on the Western Australian Register of Heritage Places in 1993. The National Trust have produced a conservation plan for the Telegraph Station Building.

Physical Description

The telegraph station was founded in approximately 1877 when the Overland Telegraph Line was constructed. The early timber buildings were replaced with new and larger buildings in 1896 using the design of George Temple Poole. renowned government architect. under the supervision of builders Payne and Locke at a cost of £2,572. The building had 12-foot walls and four tall chimneys. The rooms were spacious and well proportioned. the public and mail room being 20 feet by 16 feet, with three tall windows along one wall. Housed under the one roof were the Telegraph master's residential quarters, and separate similar accommodation for the single men's quarters. The station remained in use until 1917 and although it was stripped of timber and iron which was sold and removed circa 1927, the stonework is in excellent condition. In the area are the graves of Postmasters John Healey 1898. John Francis c.1920. Thomas Brass 13.1.1916, John Cook 14.10.1912. and John Charles Lecount 18.12.1922 (aged 52 years)

History

Apart from the Telegraph Station staff. others lived in the area too. Cook's cottage is still present although is partly ruined. Dimer bought the Telegraph Station building in 1927. He took the roofing for the shearers quarters on his property in 1928. The Brooks house ruins. a cemetery with five graves and the ruins of the house occupied by Cook can be seen.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: The walls of the ruin are solid.

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Statement of Significance

Architectural and historical interest

History

Built 1877, Wooden structure, standard design New buildings erected 1896 of which this is remains. Standard design by G. Temple Poole for station and quarters. One of numerous repeater stations between Albany and Eucla Telegraph station until 1917. Sold to private ownership 1927.

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Esperance Recreation Ground

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Tooklejenna Rock

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Physical Description

The ruins are set in a partly cleared area. above a sloping enscarpment. with views towards the coast and Point Malcolm area. Parts of a wall remains, surrounded by rubble and stones. Some timbers remain and corrugated ironcan be seen in bush around the house.

History

This was the simple home of an aristocratic Englishman (remittance man) turned kangaroo hunter. It was built in the 1900s. William Vincent was paid a remittance by his family because he disgraced them.

Condition

Very Poor

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Boxer Island

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Sealer's Cave

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Billiards Saloon (fmr)

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Salmon Gums Town Hall

Uses

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Dundas Road Board Offices

Uses

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Statement of Significance

Aesthetic: It is significant in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics. Historic: It is significant in the evolution or pattern of the history of the local district. Social: It is significant through association with a community or cultural group in the local district for social, cultural, educational or spiritual reasons. Rarity: It demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of the cultural heritage of the local district. Representativeness: It is significant in demonstrating the characteristics of a class of cultural places or environments in the local district.

History

In 1895, following the discovery of rich goldfields in the area, Norseman was formally Gazetted as a town site, and soon after the Dundas Road Board was formed.(1353, 1354) Although initially based in the town of Norseman, in 1929 it was reported that, due to a local mining depression, the Dundas Road Board had decided to construct new offices in the rapidly growing town of Salmon Gums.(1355) In December 1933 a tender for construction was awarded to Bernard Pantall, and by early 1934 the new Dundas Road Board offices had been completed.(1356, 1357) Following the inception of the idea, the fates of both Norseman and Salmon Gums townships had however somewhat reversed, and suddenly the population of Salmon Gums was declining on the back of the Great Depression while the mining boom in Norseman was again gaining momentum. At a meeting held on August 23, 1934, locals decided to petition the Government to re-establish a Road Board presence in Norseman as “...a mining community could not be satisfactorily administered by a Road Board composed of a majority of farmer members some 60 miles distant”. Accordingly, later that same year, the former Road Board offices in Norseman were reinstated and reconditioned for use as the main offices of the Dundas Road Board, which effectively left their new offices at Salmon Gums as an isolated and abandoned outpost.(1358) In 1938, a Country Women’s Association branch was formed in Salmon Gums which sought to use the “building previously occupied by the Dundas Road Board as offices”, and thereafter the building was used primarily as headquarters for the local CWA.(1359) Two years later, it was noted that only every fourth meeting of the Dundas Road Board was now held in Salmon Gums.(1360) A boundary realignment in 1989 saw Salmon Gums secede from the now Shire of Dundas to join the Shire of Esperance, and as jurisdiction of the district was now with the Shire of Esperance, the land and buildings were accordingly transferred in the same year.(1361) To date, the former Dundas Road Board Offices still see use from the Salmon Gums community and the Salmon Gums CWA.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low Authenticity: Medium

Condition

Fair

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Salmon Gums Research Station

Condition

poor to fair

Uses

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Salmon Gums Hotel

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Physical Description

The plan was for a two storey building. but the eventual building was built of solid stone walls, with the structure built on one level only. The stone mason was Mario Chidilla 1926/27 and the contractor was William James Spratt. The Stone/granite was obtained from Number 26 dam "catchment".

History

This was one of the Hotels built in a small settlement in the malice region. when the land was being resettled on a larger scale. It offered excellent. friendly. efficient service to the folks in transit to and from Norseman, between the Goldfields and coastal town of Esperance. \( also offered facilities to people in the outlying districts of Dowak. Red Lake. Circle Valley. etc.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: 80%

Condition

Very Good

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Gilmore's Temperance Hotel

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Physical Description

The building was originally timber framed, and was clad and roofed with galvanised iron. Later a bullnosed galvanised iron verandah was added. The living quarters were in a lean-to at the rear. The original dining room became the bedroom of Mrs Annie Gilmore. A shed, store and poultry run were added.

History

In about 1896 the building was originally erected by Fred Gilmore as a wayside inn at Jocks condenser, 34 miles south of Norseman. In 1913 F Gilmore moved to Esperance and farmed location 3919 CR location 397 and also son Gordon's blocks H location 605 and CP location 505. He was granted a special business area and wayside inn license. He dismantled the Lakeview building and transported it to Scaddan. Jim Anderson commenced re-erection. The liquor license was revoked, and the building was completed as the Temperance Hotel, serving as a wayside inn in the coaching days of 1915-1925. Later it was used as a post office and store, F Gilmore and Son, for the farming community of Scaddan. They were agents for Ford and State Machinery, Scaddan and for the branch at Salmon Gums from approximately 1925-1935. Later Mr and Mrs Ted McCarthy ran the Post Office and Store, followed by Daniels and then Le Mercier who built new premises opposite. The building was typical of a tavern, store, post office and agency that was the main focus of isolated communities in the first half of the century.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Timber frame roof, bull nosed verandah, source corrugated iron walls. Modifications: Shed and rear skillion section removed

Condition

Poor

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Coastal Wireless Station (fmr), Esperance

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Statement of Significance

Esperance was an important link in telecommunitions between Australia and the outside world in the early part of the twentieth century. The wireless station operated until it was decommissioned in 1992. These buildings represent this important aspect of communication.

Physical Description

Two identical buildings were constructed from stone in 1913. They were simple structures with verandahs front and back and a pitched roof which overhung the walls to form the verandahs. More recent features likea low mesh fencing and landscaping have been added.

Condition

Very Good

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