Hale School hall in heritage push

The Heritage Council of Western Australia has flagged a 1960s memorial hall at a private boys’ school in the western suburbs for heritage listing.

The Hale School memorial hall was constructed in the 1960s, designed by architect Tony Brand and Gus Ferguson.

Last month, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage opened public consultation over the Wembley Downs memorial hall being included in the State Register of Heritage Places.

The Heritage Council of WA’s assessment of the building – described as a late 20^th century Brutalist and constructed in the Beton Brut style of reinforced off-form concrete – was also made public.

In its assessment, the council found elements of significance heritage including: the use of Beton Brut concrete forms; concrete columns; moulded balustrades; original timber doors; and salmon colours pressed-brick masonry.

Mr Brand, a Hale School old boy, also designed the Tawarri Dome building along the Esplanade in Dalkeith.

Other Brutalist pieces designed by Mr Brand included the Public Transport Centre in East Perth and the City Beach/Floreat kiosk.

In its draft entry document, the heritage council found the Hale School hall significant, being the first Brutalist building in Australia.

“Designed in the 1950s and constructed in the early 1960s, it is associated with prominent Western Australian architect Tony Brand, and his pioneering use of the Bȇton Brut construction method which demonstrated a high degree of innovation at the time,” the council said.

“The place makes a significant contribution to WA contemporary architecture.

“The place also has social significance to the Hale School community and the wider WA community in its dual function as a school hall as well as a war memorial.”

The memorial hall is already part of the City of Stirling’s municipal Inventory of heritage listings and was identified by the Australian Institute of Architects as a significant work of 20th century architecture.

While the internal structure of the building has been demolished as the memorial hall undergoes redevelopment to expand the seating capacity to 1,650, the Brutalist elements would be retained.

The newly constructed stage, changerooms, staff room, metal framed curtain and studies hubs did not contribute to the significance of the place, according to the council’s assessment.

Two audio-visual productions inspired by the memorial hall have been released in recent years.

In 2021, Julia Jurel wrote and directed a play titled My Hall as homage to the Hale School building.

The Old Haleians’ Association also produced documentary film Memoirs of Memorial Hall in October 2021.

The public consultation period over the proposed Hale School Memorial Hall heritage listing closes on February 2.