Heritage

An historic heritage building in Hillman has been restored to its former glory, with the City recently completing restoration works on the Old Abattoir located on Darile Street.

The Old Abattoir has been a feature of the Hillman landscape since the early 1940s, and is associated with former owner Oliver (Crom) Wilson, who constructed the building during World War Two.

War time restrictions made fresh meat difficult to acquire, so Mr Wilson and his partner Sydney Dixon, who operated two butcher shops locally, built the abattoir and arranged for their own supplies of stock. The abattoir was later converted into a dairy in 1952.

Over the years, the building's condition slowly began to deteriorate, with the roof collapsing and graffiti covering both internal and external walls.

However, with the on-going support of the City's Heritage Reference Group, which includes representation from the Rockingham District Historical Society, as well as support from Council, the City embarked on a project to reconstruct the building.

"The historic building represents a link to Rockingham's history that is still visible to this day," City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said.

"Without intervention to help repair the building, there was a risk of further deterioration and a piece of the City's heritage could have been lost forever."

"Thankfully, with support from the City's Heritage Reference Group, Council and expert advice from a range of stakeholders, the City has been able to retain the remnany vuggy limestone walls and faithfully reconstruct the original roof to preserve this important piece of Rockingham's history.

Vuggy limestone is an unusual stone for building construction in Western Australia, but was a common stone used for buildings in the East Rockingham area."

The Old Abattoir is located in the Dixon Road Precinct. The Precinct is a Crown Reserve vested in the City of Rockingham for conservation and public recreation and it is a place that has been included on the City's Heritage Survey and Heritage List.

"The City is committed to preserving our heritage assets, and recently began development of the Draft Heritage Strategy. This strategy will further strengthen the City's approach to conservation, management and the promotion of heritage, ensuring iconic structures like the Old Abattoir can be appreciated for generations to come," Mayor Sammels said.

The historic Chesterfield Inn has been restored through urgent conservation works by DevelopmentWA.

The building has its origins dating back to 1855, when the inn and surrounding lands was used as a hotel, farmhouse, and encampment for the 10th Light Horse Regiment from 1912, and later a dairy farm. The inn was also used as Chesterfield House youth hostel from 1979 until 1992, when fire damage forced the building's closure. James Herbert established 'Rockingham Arms' in 1857, but it wasn't until 1876 when the Rockingham Arms was transferred to John Chester (1839-1918) and in the 1890s he changed the name of the premises to Chesterfield Inn.

As part of an agreement with the Heritage Council, DevelopmentWA was required to retain, conserve and interpret the former Chesterfield Inn, and undertake works to stabilise the walls and roof, and re-roof and secure the building, which occurred in 2017.

Chesterfield Inn is tangible evidence of the district's early history and its association with a number of pioneering families of the district.

It was one of the earliest stopping places for travellers on the road between Fremantle and Mandurah, and is one of the few remaining wayside inns in Western Australia that was established during the first 50 years of this state.

View from road of Chesterfield Inn before and after urgent conservation works.

Places of Pride, is a National Register of War Memorials, which is an Australian War Memorial initiative to record the location and photo of every publicly accessible war memorial in Australia.

We have included reflections and photographs of the Naval Memorial Park, Village Green War Memorial and Remembrance Flame (Village Green War Memorial), and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Port Kennedy, in honour of those Australians who have died in war. The City is investigating other sites within the district to include on the National Register.

• Village Green War Memorial
• Remembrance Flame
• Naval Memorial Park
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Site of the Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA. Inc

The Rockingham District Historical Society Inc. website includes a tribute to sons of Rockingham pioneering families who served in World War One.

Rockingham's Serving Sons

In winter of 2019, the Seaside Camp Alfred Hines Hall facade was severely storm damaged.

It was found the lintels had rusted and expanded and cracked the masonry facade. The storm took its toll, toppling the upper facade. Thankfully this occurred during winter when the Alfred Hines Hall was not in use.

The Alfred Hines Seaside Home (fmr) is on the City's Municipal Heritage Inventory (Heritage Survey) for its association with the provision of services to children with disabilities and their families since 1956. The place has social value to the many family members of the community who have attended the place or have been associated with individuals or groups who have made use of the facilities. The main hall is a landmark in the community and has a strong form and detailing. In 1959, the front entry facade was added with some simple art deco detailing.

The Crippled Children's Seaside Home Society Inc. was formed in 1937 with Alfred Hines (1882-1963) the main instigator. He worked tirelessly to help improve the life of children who had crippling diseases. Families back then had no direct assistance from the state or federal government to care for these children. The first camp was held in 1942, and for 15 years a search was undertaken for a permanent home. In late 1954 or early 1955 the society settled on Point Peron, with the first camp in 1957.

The application to reinstate the facade was supported by the City on expert heritage advice and was granted Development Approval by the Western Australian Planning Commission in November 2019.

The facade work has recently been completed in sympathy to the original simple are deco fecade by the Seaside Camp for Children. The facade lettering now reads "Seaside Camp for Children The Alfred Hines Hall".

Seaside Camp for Children

The Founders' Memorial stood at the intersection of Railway Terrace and Kent Street since 1979.

The 1979 Founders' Memorial had an attractive and distinctive form, featured a series of bronze colour relief panels on each face and was adorned with a stylised bronze colour sculpture in the form of a sailing boat. The 1979 Founders' Memorial Sesqui Centenary was a gift to the Shire of Rockingham by the Apex Club of Rockingham. Local artist Daryl Jane designed and created the frieze and sails.

It was erected by students of Rockingham Senior High School, supported by APEX and the community. It commemorates the pioneers of the district and the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Captain James Stirling in the vessel Parmelia bringing colonists to Western Australia.

In 2015, the City adopted a Foreshore Revitalisation Masterplan which included changes to Railway Terrace to realign parking from the centre to the road edges and create a wider alfresco dining area. The Founders' Memorial was intended to remain in place (or slightly moved), but in the final design it was unable to be retained due to the road alignment. Various options were considered but a new contemporary memorial design was derived which pays tribute to the original distinctive form as an artistic inspiration for the final design.

The Artist's Statement explains the essence and inspiration for the design. John Flower Architect did the design concept for TBuilt Constructions Pty Ltd. Daryl Jane kindly guided the restoration of the sails and friezes.

The new location of the Founders' Memorial erected in 2019 maintains its prominent position on Railway Terrace and continues to be accessible to community members and visitors. The wall sides are adorned with significant dates and history from 1829, 1830 and 1979. The key elements from the original memorial have been retained, including some of the bricks.

Please take some time to admire the 2019 Founders' Memorial and the enduring legacy of Rockingham's pioneer families and early settlers.

The Bungaree Kindergarten building was designed by Paul Ritter FRIB (1925-2010).

Ritter was the first City planner of the State’s capital, Perth and spent two decades serving as a Councillor for East Perth.  Ritter was a brilliant, eccentric and at times controversial figure who fought to preserve and enhance the character and vitality of the Perth City Centre. He helped save many of Perth’s heritage buildings during rapid development. 

The Bungaree Kindergarten was selected on a site within the first section of the New Town of Rockingham, planned by Clarke-Gazzard Partners, for 10,000 dwellings with traffic segregation on separate path and road systems.  In 1970, the kindergarten was alongside a delightful major path of the first residential area, which lead to the primary school, new town shopping centre and playgrounds.  The developer asked for a ‘showpiece’, costing no more than the normal kindergarten.

Ritter coined the term Educreation: An approach which unifies learning and teaching, thinking and doing, with a therapeutic attitude. Ritter was also fascinated with the seemingly endless possibilities for the use of concrete and he developed material processes. The system that was created with Ralph Hibble used polystyrene as the mould form and carving and cutting into it then fitting the finished form. This method of construction was used to build the Bungaree Kindergarten. 

The kindergarten design is a pavilion-like building form: six hexagonal shapes, forming one-seventh at their centre, all unified under one roof, with three facets, each a flat hyperbolic paraboloid, pitched upwards to the centre and crowned with a 9m high slim spire.

The entry reads:

'Shire of Rockingham, Rockingham Park Kindergarten Welcome! We love you. Designed by Paul Ritter with the staff of the Planned Environment and Education Research Institute Perth 1969 1970."

The ship Rockingham was built at Sunderland in 1818 and was a second class ship of 427 tons, sheathed with copper over felt and boards. The Rockingham, commanded by Captain E. Haliburton, departed London in January 1830 with approximately 180 passengers and general cargo assigned to Thomas Peel. She had four guns and a crew of 25. On Peel's behalf, a financial backer to Peel chartered the ship Rockingham . Peel had also purchased the ship Gilmore (500 tons) and chartered the ship Hooghly (465 tons) and the brig Industry (87 tons). The Rockingham arrived at Garden Island after months at sea in May 1830, but was met with a storm, an impatient Peel and chaos with the ship drifting out of control and being capsized and beached. This was just the start of the ill-fated colonisation scheme of Thomas Peel. To find out what happened next please read the short booklet below.

Rockingham model on display at the City's Administration Building (first floor near the Reception Room).

When we use the word "heritage", we are talking about natural heritage, Aboriginal heritage, European heritage; and tangible (i.e. an old map) and intangible heritage (i.e. traditional custodians of Lake Richmond).

We define Aboriginal heritage as Aboriginal sites of immense cultural, scientific, educational and historic interest and provide Aboriginal people with an important link to their present and past culture.

We define historic sites as aspects of our past that we want to keep: a site which has played an important part in our history; a building which is special because of its architectural style or association with a person; or a natural feature such as a rock formation, fossil site or landscape – things which we would like future generations to enjoy. 

Heritage is important in understanding the story of both Western Australia and the local community, its history, identity and diversity. We wish to protect these places so that future generations will be able to enjoy a rich and diverse cultural environment and to understand what came before them.

An Aboriginal site can be an object associated with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present, any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, or any place which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest of importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State. We have a variety of Aboriginal sites in Rockingham such as Lake Richmond and scar trees in reserves.

An historic site can be a place of "cultural heritage significance" which has aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance as a place for present and future generations. These are derived from the Burra Charter adopted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as a way of developing an understanding of the theory and practice of cultural heritage management.

These values have been applied in the preparation of the City's Local Heritage Survey, an assessment criteria to evaluate the importance of a place for the local government area.

Heritage lists occur on a world, national and state level. The Federal Government lists places at the national level, and the State Government lists places at the state level. In Western Australia, state-significant places are entered onto the Heritage Council of Western Australia's State Register of Heritage Places.

The Australian Government Heritage website includes the following lists:

• World Heritage List
• National Heritage List
• Commonwealth Heritage List
• Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database
• List of Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia
• Register of the National Estate

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website includes details on Aboriginal heritage.

The State Heritage Office has a useful webpage called inHerit, which is a one-stop portal for information about heritage places and listings in Western Australia. inHerit includes comprehensive information about cultural heritage places listed in the State Register of Heritage Places, the City of Rockingham and other Local Government inventories and other lists, the Australian Government heritage list and others.

Search Heritage Places (inHerit)

There are 10 registered Aboriginal sites in the City of Rockingham, all of which are included on the City's Heritage Survey 2018, as follows:

There are also other lodged but not assessed places which also have the same protection under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website includes details on the State Register of Heritage Places and other types of heritage listings used in WA.

Of the 2,366 State-registered places in Western Australia, seven of these are within the City of Rockingham:

(source: Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, December 2019)

The Western Australian Museum includes maritime archaeology.

The Heritage Act 2018 requires all local government authorities in Western Australia to prepare a survey of places in its district which in its opinion are of cultural heritage significance. The former Heritage Act 1990 used the term "Municipal Heritage Inventory". In 1995, the City's Municipal Heritage Inventory was adopted. The inventory was prepared by a qualified Heritage Advisor in consultation with the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee and was reviewed in 1998, 2008, 2012 and reviewed in 2018.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the Act, the City's Local Heritage Survey assists us to:

• provide a cultural and historic record of the local district
• determine our heritage conservation policies
• provide information about local heritage that may be required under our Town Planning Scheme No.2
• achieve the heritage conservation objectives of town planning in the City.

The City of Rockingham Local Heritage Survey simply provides recognition of a place's importance to the local community. Places entered in the Local Heritage Survey do not have legal protection, unless they are listed in the City’s Heritage List under Town Planning Scheme No.2, or have been entered in the State Register of Heritage Places, or are protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, whether registered, lodged but not assessed, or not yet identified.

All places identified on the City's Local Heritage Survey and Heritage List are of cultural heritage significance. Some places may be more important to the community than others and some places have been lost over time, with only the site remaining. Management Categories recognise the levels of significance and intactness of heritage places and provide recommendations to us as to the kind of care that should be taken for each place.

Each place entered into the Local Heritage Survey is afforded a Management Category between A and E, with A being the most significant, D being the least significant, and E being an historic site only (i.e. with no remaining structures).

There are 20 places on the City's Local Heritage Survey that are on freehold or reserved land managed by the City of Rockingham, as follows:

Note: Historic Sites are on the City's Heritage Survey but not Heritage List.

The City's Local Heritage Survey link is above or you can access it at any City library or at the City's Administration Offices. 

You can also search the State Heritage Office's Places database available on its website, which provides information on places entered on the State Register of Heritage Places, Local Heritage Survey, National Trust List of Classified Places and other heritage lists.

Anyone can nominate a place onto the City's Local Heritage Survey at any time. However, the City will usually advertise in the local newspapers calling for nominations from the public for entry onto the City's Local Heritage Survey as this is more coordinated and cost effective to assess nominations at the same time. If you are nominating a place, please make sure you put your nomination in writing to the City and include as much information as possible, including information sources, photographs with dates and anything you think might be relevant. To assess nominations, the City engages a qualified Heritage Consultant to inspect, assess, and research the place to then make recommendations to the City on whether a place is of cultural heritage significance.

During a Local Heritage Survey and Heritage List review, the City follows a process of consultation with owners of nominated places and invites public submissions and also considers advice from its Heritage Reference Group. The Council will then consider any public submissions received and make a decision on whether to include a place on the Local Heritage Survey. If an owner objects to a heritage listing it does not guarantee that a place won't be heritage listed. Heritage listing will be determined by Council based on whether a place has cultural heritage significance.

No. The place remains the sole property of the owner. Normal access arrangements will remain in place; that is, any person accessing the property without the owner’s consent will be a trespasser.

Yes, but development approval is required for alterations, extensions, change of use, external painting (if different colour), or demolition where the building is entered on the Heritage List under the City’s Town Planning Scheme No.2.  Our Heritage Conservation and Development Policy provides further information on making an application for works on a heritage-listed property along with the development incentives that may apply.

Where a place is entered on the Heritage List under the City's Town Planning Scheme No.2, development approval is required for demolition of a building. Our Heritage Conservation and Development Policy provides further information and guidance on the demolition of a heritage-listed place.

You can carry out maintenance work that does not involve removing or altering significant elements on your property or if you are simply replacing like-for-like materials.

General maintenance includes:

• cleaning gutters and downpipes
• repainting using the same colour scheme in accordance with the Heritage Council Policy and Practice Note for Painting Heritage Places as attached.
• cleaning that is low pressure, non-abrasive and non-chemical
• replacing missing or deteriorated fittings or building materials, such as loose roof sheeting, with like-for-like materials.

Maintenance can also involve replacing electrical wiring or other utility services.

Similarly, gardening or landscape maintenance does not need to be referred unless there is a danger of disturbing archeological sites.

Other minor works include installing electronic security systems as long as the works do not damage the building or place.

If you are unsure whether the work you propose to carry out needs to be referred, please contact the City's Planning Team for advice on 9528 0333.

Incentives provided by other organisations, such as grants and tax rebates, may apply for proposals to conserve heritage places. These are offered by the Heritage Council of Western Australia, the Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Lotterywest and The National Trust of Australia (WA). Community groups may also be eligible for funding under our Community Grants Program. Information about the incentive programs is available from the following websites:

• City of Rockingham's Community Grants Program
• State Heritage Office's Heritage Grants Program
• Lotterywest's Conservation of Cultural Heritage Grants
• DSEWPC's Your Community Heritage Grants
• National Trust of Australia (WA)'s Heritage Appeals

The impact of a heritage listing on resale value is a common concern for owners and buyers of a heritage listed residential property.

Various studies have shown that heritage listing has no effect on property values in most cases and sometimes improve resale values, which rebuts the common perception. Heritage listed residences with well-maintained heritage features have at times been found to attract a premium price compared to equivalent non-listed places in independent studies. Property value could, however, be affected for a heritage listed building that is being used for a purpose well below the most commercially valuable use permitted by the zoning.

Property values generally for both heritage and non-heritage buildings are determined by many factors including:

• location and condition of property
• its unique features
• prevailing trends in the 'market cycle'
• its zoning and other planning requirements
• lot size
• types of surrounding properties
• level of amenities and services in the surrounding area
• tenancy opportunities
• social profile of the area and
• quality and maintenance of individual buildings.

No one factor determines property value either positively or negatively.

There is also an aspect of rarity and authenticity in heritage places that can't be recreated. Heritage listed buildings are often quality buildings with a special appeal.

Some links to Australian studies, study evaluations and case law has concluded listing has a positive or no effect on property values and economic viability.

The City's Heritage Reference Group is an advisory committee with the following terms of reference:

"To provide a Forum to discuss the conservation and preservation of natural and culturally significant heritage sites within the Rockingham district."

Current composition

• Cr Rae Cottam (Chair), Cr Buchanan (Deputy)
• Mrs Wendy Durant - Community Representative (Rockingham District Historical Society Inc.)
• Mrs Sylvia Reed - Community Representative (Rockingham District Historical Society Inc.)

Deputy Community Members

• Ms Linley Graham - Community Representative (Rockingham District Historical Society Inc.) Deputy for Mrs Wendy Durant
• Mr Roger Allen - Community Representative (Rockingham District Historical Society Inc.) Deputy for Mrs Sylvia Reed

Executive Support

• Steve Sullivan, Planning Officer, Secretary
• Stephen Carrick, City's Heritage Advisor (Stephen Carrick Architects)
• Mike Ross, Manager Statutory Planning

Minutes of each Heritage Reference Group are included in the Councillor Bulletins which are available on our website under Council and committee meetings (minutes).

The Point Peron Rehabilitation Committee is a non-Council committee which provides a forum for discussion, and input from key government stakeholders.

The Point Peron "K" Battery Restoration Project main goals are to:

1. Create a memorial "sanctuary for reflection" whilst preserving and maintaining the local Point Peron reserve, with upgraded local amenities and protect the history of the area;
2. Preserve the remaining WWII landmarks of the Coastal Defence System at Point Peron in a dedicated museum collection to tell the story of the Australian Coastal Defence network in World War II.

The Committee's terms of reference are:

1. Identify the significant and historical details of the Point Peron Battery.
2. Identify the key elements of this history to be restored/highlighted and the surrounding infrastructure upgrades needed to support this.
3. Oversee the creation of a Master Plan in line with the objectives and outcomes.
4. Advertise the Master Plan for public comment once completed.
5. Make amendments until the Master Plan is satisfactorily agreed upon.
6. Lobby for funds to enact the Master Plan

Current composition:

• Mr Phil Edman (Chair)
• Mr Laurie Smith JP OAM, Rotary Club of Palm Beach WA Inc.
• Cr Buchan, City of Rockingham, Deputy Cr Stewart
• Mr Tim Fisher, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)
• Mr Tom Griffiths, South West Corridor Development Foundation Inc. (SWCDeF Inc.)
• Department of Defence
• Mr Phil Rowson, Royal Australian Artillery History Society WA

Executive Support

• Mr Mike Ross, City of Rockingham

Achievements

• Point Peron Rehabilitation Committee website
• Secret Fleets and The Forgotten Battlefield books available
• 11/28th Battalion - operation "Sandy Shovel" - Operations Bunker
• Battle for Australia WWII 2017 Exhibition, last WA Museum exhibit and fundraiser gala dinner
• Point Peron Battery K Conservation Plan 2016
• DBCA major capital works including path upgrade, retaining walls, seating, drainage, balustrade and interpretive signage
• Collaboration project with Rotary Club of Palm Beach to reinstate a 155mm Howitzer Gun.

Heritage Listing

• On 13 October 2019, the Cape Peron K Battery Complex was entered into the State Register of Heritage Places permanently.
• On 24 October 1995, the Cape Peron Battery Complex was entered into the City's Municipal Heritage Inventory

Images courtesy of Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Rockingham - The Visions Unfold

"The History of the Rockingham District to 1997" by Richard Draper

Rockingham: from Port 1872 to City 1988

By Richard Draper and Dale Kerferd in consultation with Mary Davies

Rockingham: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

By Mike Gee

The Sea and the Forest: A History of the Port of Rockingham, Western Australia

By V.G. Vall

Rockingham Looks Back - A History of the Rockingham District

1829-1982 by Nora Taggart

On sale at the Rockingham Museum

Thomas Peel of Swan River

Alexandra Hasluck

The 'Letter' Batteries

The history of the 'letter' batteries in World War II

Reg Kidd and Ray Neal