Upper Gascoyne Road Board Office (fmr)

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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Statement of Significance

The Former Upper Gascoyne Road Heard Office has high Historic significance as the centre of local government in the district for 55 years. The place also has considerable social significance for its links to the prevision of education in the district for several years and its current use as a local museum. The simpIe style and compact scale cf the building together with its good condition and high integrity combine to enhance the aesthetic Qualities cf the place. The building is an excellent example of the small road board offices built in rural and remote areas in the early part of the 1900's and forms an intrinsic part of the civic precinct arc built environment of Gascoyne Junction.

Physical Description

The Former Upper Gascovne Road Board Office is located immediately to the east of the present Shire Office on Scott Street. The small timber framed building is clad with horizontally fixed weatherboards which have been painted cream. A steeply pitched pyramid-shaped corrugated iron roof covers the main building while a separate surrounding verandah reef is supported on timber posts. The original timber verandah floor has been replaced with concrete. The simple front (north) facade of the building faces the street and features only a centrally placed timber pane! entry door. The symmetrical design of the building sees a second door positioned on the opposite (south) wall, while the side walls each have a large timber framed double hung window. Internally, the building consists of only one room and features ripple iron to both the walls and ceiling. There is some evidence of white ant damage to the weatherboard cladding on all the elevations of the building. A collection of artifacts is housed inside and around the building, including a number of etc signs attached to the external walls.

History

The Gascoyne Road Board was formed in 1887. and it's first members were Robert Busr,. Roger O'Grady. Henry Waish, Charles Davis. E. Darlot and John Fitzpatrick. The Board was mainy occupied with building and maintaining roads and wells In the district, which at that time also included the Murchison District. In 1S07, the Upper Gascoyne Road Board was termed with William Scott as Chairman and Walter Summerhayes Smith as Secretary. Road Scare meetings were held at Bidgemia Station [Place No. 7], however members seen agreed that it was necessary to have an official office for Board meetings. On 20 September 1912, the Road Board Secretary submitted the pro-forma invoice from Millars Karri and Jarrah Co. fcr a proposed office at 'the Junction' as it was locally known, but officially named Kiiliii in 1912. and later renamed Gascoyne Junction. The invoice for 88 pounds was for material cut and ready for erection on a block of land granted by the government. The small two-room building was used for the regular meetings of the Road Board, it was also used as a school from 1953 until a new school was built and officially opened in May 1965. on July 1961. the Upper Gascoyne Road Board became the Upper Gascoyne Shire Council when the Local Government Act 1950 cane into operation. A new Shire Hall and Office were built immediately adjacent en Scott Street and opened on 24 June 1967. the old Road Board building currently operates as a local museum.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High

Condition

Good

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