Trust News|Western Australia Edition 05 | February 2013 - April 2013
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LOOK FOR THIS SYMBOL TO SEE MORE ImagES. TO NAVIgatE BacK TO THE CONTENTS, CLICK ON PagE NUMBER FOUND ALONG BOTTOM OF pagES. TRUST NEWS|WESTERN AUSTRALIA EDITION 05 | FEBRUARy 2013 - APRIL 2013 ABOVE L-R: Night Photo of Council House c.1960s. History Centre. Council House 2012, Juha Tolonen, inkjet print, commissioned for the City of Perth Art Collection INSET: Modernist Architecture Stamp, © Australian Postal Corporation 2007. Designer: Gary Domoney, Spark Studio Photo: Robert Frith/Acorn, Memorabilia Collection 50 Years: Council House 1963-2013 JO DARBYSHIRE, CITY OF PERTH SOCIAL HISTORY AND MEMORABILIA CURATOR The National Trust of Australia (WA) has been instrumental in many of Perth’s heritage battles over fifty years, including the Barracks (1966), The Palace Hotel (1975-82) and the Swan Brewery (1990). While many members of the Trust were divided over the fate of the Council House building in the mid 1990s, the Trust played an important part in the campaign to save one of the City of Perth’s iconic Modernist buildings. The role of architects in the National This argument was significant in the This was despite a Heritage Trust and their attitudes towards effort to save Council House. Assessment Report and restoration and conservation Architects were able to put forward Conservation Plan by Schwager, changed over time, and by the late the possibilities of refurbishment, Brooks and Partners (November 1980s there was a growing ensuring both the preservation of 1993), argued that Council House awareness that the process of the aims and ideas of the original represented a civic and cultural restoration was also an architects and the new upgrade continuity and should be retained, interpretation of history. It was requirements for modern office refurbished and entered on the recognised that restoration could technology. Western Australian Register of show the importance of the passage Heritage Places. In 1994, Commissioners appointed of time on a building, accentuating by the State to oversee the break-up its connection to, and continuity of the Perth City Council voted to continued page 3 between past and present.1 demolish the building. 1 Andrea Witcomb and Kate Gregory, From the Barracks to the Burrup, The National Trust in Western Australia, 2010, A UNSW Press book, pp134-135. Inside this issue Perspectives Council and Executive Digest CHAIRMAN, JOHN COWDELL AM 1. CONSTITUTION Jenny Gregory and Christine Lewis regular Executive and eight regular OF NEW COUNCIL were elected as Vice Presidents. Council meetings. AND ELECTION OF It is envisioned that this would allow 2. RULE CHANGES AND OFFICERS the administration a summer RECOGNITION OF SERVICE The Council of the (December and January) and winter At a special general meeting held in National Trust in WA (June and July) period to catch up on conjunction with the Annual General consists of 16 Council members the backlog of work, while not Meeting, on 7 November 2012, the elected by the members of the Trust organising agendas, papers and Trust amended its rules so that (for 3 year terms) and eight Council briefings for Executive and Council. Western Australian categories of members appointed by designated Council recognised that the National membership more closely reflected bodies. Trust in Western Australia has a those in the other State and Territory supervisory regime that is In 2012 five elective Council Trusts. It is hoped that the fees significantly greater than any other positions fell vacant and 10 charged for the core categories of State or Territory Trust. While this nominations were received. The WA membership can once again be made contributes to the good governance Electoral Commission conducted a uniform throughout Australia. The of the Trust, it was felt that some ballot for the vacant positions, which WA Trust further amended its rules to amendment to the sitting schedule resulted in the return of three sitting ensure that those who are able to vote was needed. Alternative proposals for Councillors, John Cowdell, Robyn and hold office in the Trust must be alternate monthly Executive and Taylor and Max Hipkins. Rosalind individual members or represent Council meetings or quarterly Lawe Davies was returned to Council corporate members. after a brief retirement and long time Council and Executive meetings The position of Fellow was created, as former staff member Robert Mitchell were not adopted. the highest membership honour that was also elected. The Council felt there could be more can be bestowed by the Trust. The new Council, including Grant flexibility for member participation in In recognition of their long and Godfrey who was co-opted to fill a setting Council agendas with a distinguished service, including casual vacancy, was constituted at greater emphasis on presentations lengthy terms as Chairman and the first Council meeting following and discussion of general heritage President, Dr Margaret Feilman OBE the Annual General Meeting of the matters rather than a more narrow and Mr Michal Lewi AM were elected Trust. focus on property matters. Four as inaugural fellows. meetings will be held as forums each The valuable services of our Treasurer Dr Feilman is the sole surviving year for these discussions. John Palermo will be sorely missed foundation member of the Trust in and we hope that circumstances will It was agreed that a thorough review WA, with a record of 53 years service. enable his return to Council next of the rules would be conducted in year. 2013 and that the Annual General 3. GOVERNANCE Meeting should be set later in At its December meeting Council At its December meeting, Council November and combined with a re-elected John Cowdell as Chairman resolved to establish a meeting Christmas function for members and Gregory Boyle as Deputy schedule for 2013 that would involve and volunteers. Chairman. Max Kay was elected four regular Finance and Audit President, Helen Cogan as Secretary Committee meetings, and eight and Grant Godfrey as Treasurer. The Trust’s role of honour now includes: FELLOWS Feilman, Margaret Montgomery, Frank M Feilman OBE, Margaret Folvig, Dorothy A Playford AO, Phillip Lewi AM, Michal Hale, Barbara Sorensen AO, Harry W Hall, Pamela F Stewart OAM, Roslyn F LIFE MEMBERS (HONORARY) Hardy, Joyce M Strang, Don Bodycoat AM, Ronald Hassell, Cleve Symons, Valmai O Brown, Eileen W Haviland, E M A BENEFACTOR MEMBERS Bush, Fiona L Laver, Sheila Engenie Mary McLarty, John Cardwell, Margaret Jane Lewi, Michal Mitchell, Robert Clarke, Peggy Mclarty, Katherine Joan Perrigo, Thomas Dayman, Heather J Meadows, Madge H RIGHT: ‘We are going home’ flyer Perspectives produced by City of Perth, 1999 continued from page 1 50 YEARS: COUNCIL HOUSE ‘Rarity: The building is a rare, intact This decision ‘stunned’ the Royal 1963-2013 example of an early 1960’s Australian Institute of Architects modernist office building in Perth… (RAIA) who galvanised into action to In 2013 the City of Dumas House (1964) although not save the building from demolition. Perth commemorates dissimilar in character, does not The community was invited to the 50th anniversary display the same refinement of participate in a greater public of its iconic Council House building detail, or dazzling transparency.’ discussion about whether the in Perth. To celebrate, the City is presenting Heritage Assessment and Conservation building should be kept and how an exhibition exploring the origins Plan, Council House, 1993, p. 5. ‘heritage’ was defined. and history of the building. The State Government also proposed A half-day forum entitled ‘Council demolishing the building as part of a House – To be or not to be?’ was Where: Foyer Council House, broader plan entitled ‘Perth - A City held in September 1994 at the Perth 27 St Georges Terrace, Perth. for People’ and suggested the Concert Hall. It was organised by the When: 25 March to 24 May 2013 Council move into the Old Treasury Australian Institute of Urban Studies The exhibition will be free to the Building across St Georges Terrace. in association with City Vision. public. Speakers included those prominent The then Heritage Minister, Graham in the fight to save the building; the Opening hours: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Kierath, refused to place the building National Trust heritage architect Ron Monday to Friday (Closed Easter on the Heritage Register, despite Bodycoat, resident Bill Warnock, public holidays). calls from the Heritage Council and architect Ken Adam, and Dean of National Trust CEO Tom Perrigo to Contact Curator Jo Darbyshire School of Architecture at the do so.2 on 9461 3145 or University of Western Australia, [email protected] Professor Geoffrey London. This forum made it clear there was a In late 1995 the City of Perth had an strong body of informed opinion in independent feasibility study carried the community in favour of keeping out into the possible refurbishment the building which led to the of Council House. The study establishment of the Save Council indicated that the building could be House Committee. By March 1995 economically refurbished for $25 public sentiment seemed to swing in million.3 favour of keeping Council House. The two year campaign to save ‘Heritage doesn’t come from the age Council House was deemed of a building – it comes from what the successful when Council voted on building means to the community.’ the 13 March 1996 to return to the Jack Marks, a former Deputy Lord historic building. Two hundred Mayor of the City of Perth and newly people crammed into the Perth Town elected Mayor of Vincent, at a public Hall for the special Council meeting. meeting at Perth Town Hall on ABOVE: Council House in our sights, Council House was entered as a The Architect Magazine, No 2, 1963, 13 March 1995. permanent entry on the Heritage History Centre.