TRUST NEWS|WESTERN AUSTRALIA EDITION 08 | NOVEMBEr 2013 - JANUARY 2014 A fresh face at 57 Murray Street CAROLINE STOKES CONSERVATION ARCHITECT ABOVE: The conserved facade of 57 Murray Street is revealed as the scaffolding comes down. ABOVE: David Wallace from Chris Savage Plaster Design runs Western Projects a new cornice to conserve and restore the original cornices at 57 Murray Street. C Stokes NTWA A refreshed 57 Murray Street is re-emerging from its scaffolding in the city of Perth revealing a spectacular north facing facade. The Donnybrook stone has received worked from a palette of local templates. A mould was cast and the most recent attention by materials including contrasting used for longer sections which were specialist masons who have carefully Donnybrook stone and red brick then installed. cleaned, repointed and applied a when designing the former Medical The refurbishment of 57 Murray St is new mortar mix to highlight the and Health Offices at 57 Murray St. a major $4.7 million commitment various hues of the stratified stone. His interest in classical architecture from the National Trust during 2013. Classed as a free stone, the eye is not only evident in the building, it Additional internal works include catching feature can be laid on its was also a focus of many public installation of a new lift and internal natural bed or vertically and the lectures he presented. painting based on paint scrapes facade shows evidence of repointing An extensive and decorative dating to 1911. An interpretation in some low ground levels, while ventilation system revealed during strategy for the place has also been pointing at upper levels appears to conservation work on 57 Murray St developed in recent months be original. The 2013 stoneworks was considered an essential priority including a special open day and is the first complete masonry within the State’s first public health tours in early November. When conservation program since the building at the time of construction. works are completed later this year, building was constructed in 1911. Many original cornices were found 57 Murray Street will be made Hillson Beasley, Chief Architect in in a repairable condition and small available as office space. Western Australia’s public works sections requiring replacement were department from 1905 – 1917 run by plasterers onsite using three Inside this issue PERSPECTIVES INTERPRETATINNOVATIONION CATALYST PPLACESLACES OOUT AND ‘N’ ABOUT ABOUT Perspectives Foundations of best practice heritage policy TOM PERRIGO CEO, NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (WA) When the Barnett Government was elected in September 2008, the first thing the National Trust did was encourage the new Minister to commit to the development of a state cultural heritage policy. The initiative was taken up and for the first time the Minister requested the National Trust, the Heritage Council and Lotterywest meet and develop a draft policy. Lotterywest was chosen as they are one of the biggest investors in community heritage and have extensive experience working with the community. The Minister was also familiar with senior officers in Lotterywest. These three parties met on many The Minister decided the heritage The National Trust believes it is time occasions with the initial objective policy would only be associated with the State developed a to produce a comprehensive holistic historic/built heritage and the comprehensive heritage strategy cultural heritage policy holistic policy would not be pursued that embraces the concept of a encompassing the historic/built at that point in time. It was holistic cultural heritage policy environment, the natural suggested the challenge for Cabinet before any new heritage legislation environment and Aboriginal Ministers to agree to a is developed or implemented. It is heritage to mirror the holistic comprehensive holistic policy which time for key agencies and major approach taken by the ‘cut across their portfolios’ would be stakeholders to work through the Commonwealth and to bring too great and it was best to develop challenges of duplication and consistency and certainty with the change over time. overlap of services and at best encourage more efficient use of identification, conservation and As a consequence, the twin goals of government and other resources interpretation of cultural heritage. consistency and certainty remain which in itself is a key commitment This policy can be seen on the somewhat aloof and the State is of this State Government. Trust’s website faced with the ongoing www.nationaltrust.org.au/ consequences associated with the The foundations of good holistic western-australia loss of cultural heritage across all cultural heritage policies and a The three parties agreed there were three environments; historic, natural comprehensive state wide strategic wide ranging advantages if all tiers and Aboriginal which are, in effect, plan ensure good legislation. New of government had the same managed by different agencies with legislation should be developed standards, however recognising that varying standards and processes. around policy and strategy not the change is difficult. other way around. The irreversible loss of heritage values is something Western Australia can ill afford. Inside this Issue 2 PERSPECTIVES The Freycinet Collection: Multi-Arts 11 PLACES Foundations of best practice Interpretation Avondale Farm Aquaculture heritage policy Doin’ the Tranby Rap Potential Heritage Watch On a Wing and a Prayer Samson House roses 9 CATALYST Jarrahdale Cleanup Spirit of the Walk Our welcome visitors 4 INNOVATION Ellenbrook fire recovery New exhibition at Old Farm Graeme targets photo archives A fresh approach at Hamel Eco Park A sign of things to come Scan the code to access the National Trust of Australia (WA) home page. TRUst NEWS | 2 | WESTERN AUSTRALIA Perspectives Heritage Watch LYNWOOD HOMESTEAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISAGREEMENT OVER DEMOLISHED IN MIDDLE AMALGAMATION REUSE IN THE CBD’S SWAN With the prospect of local FASHION PRECINCT Lynwood Homestead, at No. 18 Great government amalgamations in the To the Trust, King Street is an Northern Highway, Middle Swan, metropolitan area, many local important precinct of intact, was State Heritage Listed in July authorities will consider how to imposing buildings in Perth’s CBD. 1999, and Classified by the Trust in manage information and processes To others, it is the heart of Perth’s August 1999. The homestead was in the future. The Trust hopes that all designer shopping area. Mui Mui, a developed from a simple brick and places on Municipal Inventories subsidiary of Prada, wants to remove iron cottage (c. 1894-5), which then remain protected, regardless of local a significant staircase at 44 King became a wing of a much larger government size or change of Street. Planners at the City of Perth house designed in the Federation authority. Municipal Inventories have asked that the staircase be Queen Anne style. provide meaningful protection for retained as an integral part of the many of our heritage places and the The place became one of the largest building’s fabric. It’s an interesting Trust hopes that any changes residences constructed in Midland dilemma; adaptive reuse ensures strengthen the cooperation and and Middle Swan in the early that heritage places remain valued collaboration between government, twentieth century. Unoccupied and vibrant, but where should the heritage and planning agencies, since c. 1991, the place deteriorated compromises for that use be made? especially between local and the Office of State Heritage An online poll indicated that a small governments. Sustainable heritage agreed for it to be removed from its majority of the public (52%) favoured conservation can really take root at Permanent Register. The present removing the staircase; the Trust this level and any amalgamated owner then lodged an application to would advocate retaining it. authorities should continue this demolish with the City. The City, in practice or aim to improve on July 2011, rejected this and urged current outcomes. the owner to consider measures to conserve the neglected place. They did not, and a demolition order was approved, and the place demolished in June 2013. This sad case demonstrates that demolition by [owner] neglect and processes that allow or tolerate that neglect, remain a significant heritage issue. SAMSON HOUSE ROSES PHILIP PALMER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT The National Trust held the annual rose pruning day at Samson House in Fremantle in July. The WA Museum was instrumental in replacing many of the original rose bushes that were planted by Sir Frederick Samson in the 1940s prior to the National Trust taking over management of the property in 2010. The root stock was sourced from South Australian nursery that specialises in heritage roses. Over the past three years volunteers have assisted the National Trust in pruning more than 100 rose bushes on site. This year’s Rose Pruning Day at Samson House attracted 16 participants. Those attending were treated to a tour of the house and then a practical demonstration of rose pruning techniques. Following the demonstration, experts and amateurs alike made short work of pruning the roses before enjoying a well-deserved afternoon tea. This has become an annual event and fosters education and understanding of RIGHT: Volunteer with Phil Palmer at the heritage, as well as providing an opportunity for acquiring specialist gardening skills. pruning demonstration. A Brake NTWA TRUst NEWS | 3 | WESTERN AUSTRALIA Innovation