York Fire Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids York Fire Station |
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York Fire Station in 2018
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| General information | |
| Location | 31°53′15″S 116°46′06″E / 31.8876°S 116.7682°E |
| Address | 151 Avon Terrace |
| Town or city | York, Western Australia |
| Construction started | 1897 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Christian Mouritzen |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 11 December 1998 |
| Reference no. | 2860 |
| References | |
| York municipal inventory | |
The York Fire Station is an old building in York, Western Australia. It was first built in 1897 as the offices for the York local government, called the York Municipal Council. The building is made of red bricks with some decorated areas.
A designer named Christian Mouritzen created the building. It was built in a style called Federation Free Style. This style is a simpler version of the Arts and Crafts Style. After the York Town Hall was finished in 1911, this building was sold. It was then changed to be a fire station. Today, it is used as a bookshop.
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How York Got Its First Council Building
York became a municipality (a local government area) on March 4, 1871. The first election for its council members was held soon after. For 26 years, the council meetings were held in other buildings. These included the Odd Fellows Hall and the Mechanic’s Institute.
In the early 1890s, the council offices were in a different building nearby. William Dinsdale became the mayor of York in 1896. He thought that York needed its own council building. He believed a full town hall was not needed yet.
Finding the Land for the Council Chambers
The land where the building stands was once part of a church property. It was given by the government in 1852. This land was for John Smithies to start a mission. The mission aimed to train Aboriginal children for farm work.
In 1886, a church leader offered the land to the Council. But it took until 1893 for the Council to buy it. They paid £200 for the land. The government also gave a grant of £520 to help build the new council offices.
Building the York Council Chambers
The architect for this building was Christian Mouritzen. He was born in Denmark and came to Perth in 1892. He worked as a draughtsman, drawing plans for buildings. He helped with several important buildings in Western Australia. These included schools, hospitals, and post offices.
Mr. J Butterley won the job to build the new council chambers. His price was £425.2.0. Mayor Dinsdale laid the first stone for the building on March 18, 1897. This special trowel used for the ceremony was later given to the Shire of York in 2018.
The building was finished by July 1897. The governor, Gerard Smith, officially opened it on September 8, 1897. He saw the three rooms for the council. The governor wondered if the building would soon be too small for York. He thought the town would grow quickly.
First Meetings in the New Chambers
The first council meeting in the new building was in August 1897. Mayor Dinsdale welcomed the council members. He hoped that the town would grow enough to need a larger Town Hall later. But for then, he said the new building would be fine.
The council used this building until 1911. That's when the new and much larger York Town Hall was completed.
From Council to Fire Station
After the council moved out, the building was put up for sale in 1912. William Thomas Davies, who was also a council member, bought it. At that time, the property had the main three-room brick building. It also had a back verandah, stables, a harness room, and a toilet.
The York Volunteer Fire Brigade Moves In
The York Volunteer Fire Brigade had started in 1910. In October 1912, they moved into this building. The Prunster family played a big part in helping the fire brigade move. Joseph Herman Prunster was an early member. He later became the fire brigade captain for seven years.
At first, the Fire Station was rented from Davies. The cost was 25 pence per week. Then, in 1914, the WA Fire Brigades Board bought the building for £700.
Changes to the Building for Firefighting
The fire brigade first built a garage for their vehicle. This was added onto what used to be the mayor’s office. They put the words "Fire Station" on the front of this new part. You can still see it clearly from Avon Terrace.
The front room of the building was changed into a bedroom. This meant someone could stay at the station overnight.
In 1921, a reel house was added to the north side. This cost £150. It was used to store the water hose cart. In 1928, the first motorized fire engine arrived. It was a T-model Ford called "Motor 36."
This first motor engine was replaced in 1941 by a new motor pump. This also was a T-model Ford. Because of this, the engine room needed to be made bigger. The back wall was removed and extended. This work was probably done by volunteers. Later fire engines included a Dodge, an Austin, and a Bedford truck.
By 1951, a kitchen was added to the building. It had a Metters No 2 stove. The old jarrah wood bell tower was replaced in 1952. The fire bell was replaced by a siren in 1955. This building served as the York Fire Station for 77 years.
What Happened to the Building Later?
In 1989, a new fire station opened in York. So, the Fire Brigades Board decided to sell the old building. The Shire of York (the local council) agreed to buy it. They talked with community groups about how to use it.
The building was transferred to the Shire of York in November 1989. It cost $8,588.73. A group of community members was formed to manage it.
In 1991, the building, now a Community Centre, received a grant. This money was from Lotteries Commission. It was used for repairs and changes. More grants in 1993 and 1995 helped with more renovations.
Many community groups used the centre over the years. These included a Toy Library, playgroups, and groups for pottery and yoga. It was also a meeting place for senior citizens. The local newspaper office was there too.
The Shire of York sold the building in January 2014. The current owners bought it in March 2015. It is now home to Barclay Books, a bookshop.
Why This Building is Important
The York Fire Station building is important for its history and design. It has been recognized by several groups.
- The National Trust of Australia (WA) listed it in 1985. They recognized its architectural skill, historical value, and importance to the environment.
- It was added to the York Municipal Inventory in December 1995.
- The building became a permanent entry in the State Register of Heritage Places on December 11, 1998. This means it is officially protected as a heritage site.
- It is also listed in the Fire & Rescue Service Heritage Inventory. This happened on August 30, 1997.
