Marwick's Shed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marwick's Shed |
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Marwick's Shed in 2012
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| General information | |
| Address | 19-21 Newcastle St |
| Town or city | York, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°53′02″S 116°46′23″E / 31.88394°S 116.77303°E |
| Construction started | c. 1876 |
| Renovated | 2012 |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 23 November 2001 |
| Reference no. | 2884 |
Marwick's Shed is a very old building in York, Western Australia. It was built around 1876. This shed was used by William Marwick for his important transport and trading business. His business helped move goods and people in the wheatbelt area.
This shed is special because it's one of the few old buildings of its kind still standing in Western Australia. It's a popular spot in York for photographers and artists. Many people like its "romantic abandoned appearance" and even take wedding photos there!
The shed also had lean-to parts that were used as stables for horses. You can still see old hollowed-out tree trunks that were used as feeding troughs for the animals.
Contents
How Marwick's Shed Was Built
This shed has a unique way of being built. It has a very wide, spreading roof and a double-gabled entrance. This means the roof has two triangular sections at the front.
Inside, the shed uses special columns to hold up the roof. This design creates a huge open space inside. There are no main walls in the middle that carry weight, which was unusual for buildings back then.
The Story of Marwick's Shed
The shed was built on land owned by Samuel Evans Burges. He was the first boss of William Marwick. It wasn't until 1899 that William Marwick's sons officially owned the land.
At first, the shed had many jobs for the Marwick family's transport business. It was used to store goods before they were moved. It also stored and repaired wagons and other equipment. Plus, it kept food for the horses and was a stable for them.
The Gold Rush Years
The shed was busiest during the Yilgarn gold rush. York was a main stop for people going to the goldfields. Prospectors would arrive by ship at the port of Albany. Then, they would travel by train to York. From York, they would start their journey to the goldfields.
Businesses in York that offered supplies, equipment, and transport did very well during this time. But York stopped being the main stop for the goldfields after the railway was extended. This happened in the late 1890s when the train line went from Northam all the way to Coolgardie.
After the Gold Rush
After the gold rush, the Marwick family focused more on farming. The shed became a central place for their farm work on different properties they owned. Over time, the shed was used less and less.
Today, Marwick's Shed holds old and unused machinery. Some of these items are from the family's old transport business. It also stores old household furniture.
Protecting a Piece of History
Marwick's Shed is an important historical building. It is officially recognized and protected by several groups:
- It is listed on the Shire municipal inventory (since December 31, 1995).
- The National Trust of Australia classified it as important (on March 5, 1985).
- It is also on the Register of the National Estate (since March 20, 1978).
- It is a State Registered Place on the State Register of Heritage Places (since November 23, 2001).
