53-758: York Town Hall is a heritage listed town hall in York, Western Australia , located in Avon Terrace . At the time of its construction, it was claimed to be the largest public hall in Western Australia, with an interior floor space measuring 100 by 50 feet (30 m × 15 m). Constructed in 1911, it is an example of Edwardian opulence. Architecturally, while it may be considered to be in Federation Free Classical style, with its "spectacular potpouri of architectural styles" and its "soaring columns topped with
106-595: A 10-acre site north of the town (on which they had built the first house, by the end of September 1831) and took a grant over a 4,000 acre block to the south which they established as a farm, later called Balladong Farm, after the Ballardong Noongar, the Aboriginal occupiers of the area. Later, part of the land to the south came to be called Bland's Town or Bland Town. Bland was resident magistrate from 1834 to 1842. In 1836, John Henry Monger Snr arrived and bought
159-550: A 20-year-old officer of the 63rd Regiment, led a small party in the first exploratory journey over the Darling Range , during the winter months of 1830 into what was later to be known as the Avon Valley. He returned with a report of "park-like lands with scattered trees", and after a second expedition, Lieutenant-Governor Stirling concluded that there appeared to be 1,000 square miles of "the finest imaginable sheep-land". As
212-527: A cutter and gig with parties continuing on foot from 13 March. In late March, Success moved to Sydney , arriving there on 15 April. Stirling arrived back in England in July 1828, promoting in glowing terms the agricultural potential of the area. His lobbying was for the establishment of a free settlement – unlike penal colonies at New South Wales , Port Arthur and Norfolk Island – in
265-632: A decorative pediment and above the main entrance, a high semi-circular window in Romanesque manner", its features are so exaggerated that it is more in Victorian Mannerist style. It was designed by Wright, Powell and Cameron (the firm headed by James William Wright ). The lobby has a sweeping staircase constructed by local craftsmen from jarrah timber salvaged from the Mechanics Institute building, which had been demolished to make way for
318-402: A few settlers arrived and additional stores were dispatched. By 1832 the population of the colony had reached about 1,500. Aboriginal people were not counted at that time, but in the south west have been estimated to number 15,000. The difficulty of clearing land to grow crops was so great that by 1850 the population of settlers had increased only to 5,886. This population had settled mainly around
371-627: A follower of Arts and Crafts Style which came out of the Arts and Crafts Movement inspired by William Morris and John Ruskin . The railway station building (built in 1885), is one of the earliest Federation Arts and Crafts buildings in Australia and could be a Cotswold cottage from Bibury in Gloucestershire, that William Morris considered the ideal in house design. The Old York Hospital has similarity to William Morris's own home, Red House and
424-574: A lack of Dutch exploration from then on. In 1801, the French ships Géographe captained by Nicolas Baudin and Naturaliste captained by Emmanuel Hamelin visited the area from the south. While Géographe continued northwards, Naturaliste remained for a few weeks. A small expedition dragged longboats over the sand bar and explored the Swan River. They also gave unfavourable descriptions regarding any potential settlement due to many mud flats upstream and
477-516: A privately run settlement were also started with a consortium of four gentlemen headed by Potter McQueen , a member of Parliament who had already acquired a large tract of land in New South Wales . The consortium withdrew after the Colonial Office refused to give it preference over independent settlers in selecting land, but one member, Thomas Peel , accepted the terms and proceeded alone. Peel
530-450: A result, Stirling decided that the new district should be thrown open for selection and this was done by Government Notice on 11 November 1830. By December 1830, 250,000 acres had been allotted, and in January 1831, 80,000 acres. Before the end of 1831 a further 6,030 acres in small lots had been taken up. In September 1831 Dale escorted the first party of settlers to the district, reaching
583-535: A shepherd called Knott. Bunbury initially tried to cover up Knott's death to avoid further conflict. In July 1837 Bunbury was again sent to the York district after the spearing deaths of two young settlers called Chidlow and Jones. In the ensuing violence soldiers and settlers killed at least 18 Ballardong Noongar people. In 1840, the York Agricultural Society was established, which became very influential in
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#1732886963732636-466: A splendid wildflower garden behind Faversham House , as well as Avon Park , next to the town on the river, and Peace Park. The York Agricultural Show and The York Festival are normally held in September and October each year. For a town of its size, there are more heritage buildings in York than in any other town in Western Australia. not only that, the entire town has been declared a "Historic Town" by
689-814: Is in Victorian Rustic Gothic style. The coming of rail in 1885 brought the Victorian Filigree style Imperial Hotel (1886). Gold rush buildings include the Federation Warehouse style York Flour Mill (1892), now a café and gallery, at the entrance to York and many of the buildings in Avon Terrace . The Western Australian Bank building, designed by JJ Talbot Hobbs and the Masonic Hall (designed by James William Wright ), are in Victorian Academic Classical style. Most of
742-646: Is one of the most admired Arts and Crafts buildings in the State. The former York Primary School (1886) also repeats a motif from Red House (the flèche). Federation Free Style buildings (the commercial equivalent of Arts and Crafts style) include the York Post Office (1893), the Courthouse and police station (c. 1896). All are designed by Temple-Poole and are on the State Heritage Register. The centre of
795-686: The Castle Hotel (1905), designed by William G Wolf, who designed His Majesty's Theatre . The York Visitor Centre is located in the Town Hall . Swan River Colony The Swan River Colony , also known as the Swan River Settlement , or just Swan River , was a British colony established in 1829 on the Swan River , in Western Australia . This initial settlement place on the Swan River
848-436: The 10 acres of land immediately north of the town site from Bland and Trimmer for £100 on which the first house in York had been constructed of wattle and daub . Monger opened a hotel by early 1837, constructing in 1842 a "long, low building" opposite the hotel for a store, and "every three months his wagons would journey to Guildford or Perth for supplies". In July 1836 Lieutenant Henry William St Pierre Bunbury of
901-846: The 2000s it was refurbished and renovated, and the stage was renovated in 2019. The building is: York, Western Australia York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia , situated on the Avon River , 97 kilometres (60 mi) east of Perth in the Wheatbelt , on Ballardong Nyoongar land, and is the seat of the Shire of York . The name of the region was suggested by JS Clarkson during an expedition in October 1830 because of its similarity to his own county in England, Yorkshire . After thousands of years of occupation by Ballardong Nyoongar people,
954-410: The 21st Regiment was sent to York to respond to rising levels of violence between colonial settlers and Ballardong Noongar people. His mission was "to make war upon the native". After many individual skirmishes and killings of Ballardong people, rumours of an attack on the natives, in which "several ... were wounded, and one woman was killed", were reported. In response to this, Ballardong people speared
1007-463: The Avon valley on 16 September. They immediately set about the construction of huts, the preparation required for their stock and the cultivation of new land. Dale proposed an area two miles south of the summit of Mt Bakewell as the site for a future town to serve the district. In September 1833 a garrison of eight troops of the 21st North British Fusiliers was stationed at York. Rules and regulations for
1060-463: The National Trust of Australia. The streets of York are lined with buildings both big and small that evoke the essence of the nineteenth century. The main street, Avon Terrace , remains almost exactly as it was in 1911, the year that the spectacular Town Hall was constructed. But behind the main street lie a wealth of historic houses and cottages and places of interest each with its own story and of
1113-541: The State Government decided that the line should run through Northam because the distance to Yilgarn was 15 miles shorter and £500 cheaper. The 1968 Meckering earthquake damaged a number of buildings and resulted in removal of the Royal Hotel. Between 1968 and 1971, due to the general downturn in rural activities, and a progressive reduction in railway operations in favour of Northam, many York businesses closed and
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#17328869637321166-402: The State. More than 200 buildings or sites in York are heritage listed, most within the town itself. Many of York's older homes and buildings have now been restored and, while some have retained their original use (e.g. the York Post Office ), others have been adaptively re-used with success, such as the former York Primary School (1886). The Principal Architect , George Temple-Poole , was
1219-556: The Swan River Colony for Britain on 2 May. Parmelia arrived in Cockburn Sound on 2 June carrying Stirling and his party, and HMS Sulphur arrived on 8 June carrying members of the 63rd Regiment and families. Three merchant ships arrived shortly after: Calista on 5 August, St Leonard on 6 August and Marquis of Anglesea on 23 August. A series of accidents followed the arrivals which probably nearly caused
1272-602: The Swan River area with himself as its governor. As a result of these reports, and a rumour in London that the French were about to establish a penal colony in the western part of Australia, possibly at Shark Bay , the Colonial Office assented to the proposal in mid-October 1828. In December 1828, a Secretary of State for Colonies despatch reserved land for the Crown, as well as for the clergy, and for education, and specified that water frontage
1325-401: The Swan River. His ships could not sail up the river because of a sand bar at its mouth, so he sent out a sloop which even then required some dragging over the sand bar. They sailed until reaching mud flats probably near Heirisson Island . They saw some Aboriginal people but were not able to meet any close up. Vlamingh was also not impressed with the area, and this was probably the reason for
1378-504: The Town Hall was York's swan song. Two and a half year's later the world was at war and York never recovered the confidence that was expressed in the construction of the Town Hall." The cost of construction was £9,027 for which the Council borrowed £7,000, and for many years, the Council struggled to pay the debt on the loans. It was designed to be large enough to generate income from renting
1431-469: The Town Hall. During construction the last of six large steel principals in the main section of the hall still had to be secured firmly but lunchtime came and the workmen took lunch. During lunch a willy-willy brought down the unsecured principal and with it, the other five. All had to be completely replaced. The Town Hall was opened on 30 November 1911 by the newly elected Labor Premier John Scaddan . Historian Tony Clack comments: "...the erection of
1484-833: The Victorian Romanesque style Anglican Holy Trinity Church (completed in 1854), designed by Richard Roach Jewell ; St Patrick's original church (1859–60); St Patrick's Church (designed in the Gothic Revival style by the former convict architect Joseph Nunan and completed in 1886); and the Uniting Church Chapel constructed in Victorian Georgian style (1854) and the Uniting Church in Victorian Academic Gothic style (1888). The Catholic Presbytery
1537-415: The abandonment of the expedition. Challenger and Sulphur both struck rocks while entering Cockburn Sound and were fortunate to escape with only minor damage. Parmelia however, under Stirling's "over confident pilotage", also ran aground, lost her rudder and damaged her keel, which necessitated extensive repairs. With winter now set in, the settlers were obliged to land on Garden Island . Bad weather and
1590-420: The area was first settled by Europeans in 1831, two years after Perth was settled in 1829. A town was established in 1835 with the release of town allotments and the first buildings were erected in 1836. The region was important throughout the 19th century for sheep and grain farming, sandalwood, cattle, goats, pigs and horse breeding. York boomed during the gold rush as it was one of the last rail stops before
1643-583: The assignment of town allotments at York were gazetted in September 1834 and allotments were advertised for sale from July 1835. A township did not begin to appear until 1836. In July 1836 York comprised two houses, a barn, an army barracks and some out-houses, with about 50 acres of cleared land. The town grew slowly at first due to difficulties with the local aboriginals, as well as problems associated with using English farming techniques in an unfamiliar climate. In 1831, Revett Henry Bland settled in York, and with his business partner, Arthur Trimmer , leased
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1696-578: The city of Perth is now located were Dutch sailors. Most likely the first visitor to the Swan River area was Frederick de Houtman on 19 July 1619, travelling on the ships Dordrecht and Amsterdam . His records indicate he first reached the Western Australian coast at latitude 32°20', which is approximately at Warnbro Sound . He did not land because of heavy surf, and so proceeded northwards without much investigation. On 28 April 1656, Vergulde Draeck en route to Batavia (now Jakarta )
1749-411: The company of his young companions, at 11:30 pm, a 16 year old Terrance Rowan stood on the railing of the dress circle balcony, overbalanced and crashed to the dance floor some 15 feet (5 m) below. He landed head first and broke his neck, and died early next morning. The clock was installed in 1952 and the building extended up Joaquina Street in 1997, completing the architect's original vision. In
1802-470: The following years, holding annual shows to the present day. The York Racing Club was established in 1843. Both societies continue today. A shortage of labour was a problem for the farming community, particularly at harvest time. A sandalwood boom in the late 1840s lifted the town. At the request of the influential York Agricultural Society, from 1851, convicts were transported to the Colony and relieved
1855-597: The generation of people who lived in them. With its hamlet Bland's Town, York has buildings from each decade from the early settlers (1830s and 1840s), the convict period (1850s and 1860s), the coming of rail (1885), the Gold Rush (1887 to 1900), and the Federation boom, culminating in the York Town Hall (1911). Faversham House , overlooking the north end of Avon Terrace, is one of the grandest surviving Colonial homes in
1908-494: The hall to travelling picture-show men and was utilised as a picture show venue early in its history. In 1926, the Town Hall was condemned by the Public Health Department and was closed down, due to a settling of the foundations. To remedy this, expensive steel reinforcing was introduced to support the walls, and steel braces and ties were installed on the roof trusses. In 1933 at the annual St Patrick’s Ball, in
1961-452: The labour shortages. As " ticket-of-leave " men, they constructed many of the early buildings. Solomon Cook constructed a flourmill in 1851 and then steam engine in 1852 to power his mill. York was connected by rail in 1885. Following the discovery of gold in the Yilgarn in 1887, the town was teeming with miners, all alighting from the train and preparing to make the long journey across
2014-637: The main street, Avon Terrace , has Victorian or Federation Free Classical buildings, including the Co-op (IGA) (1888 façade), the York Motor Museum , and Dinsdale's Shoe Emporium (1887) designed by Wright, with a cluster of Federation Romanesque buildings at the north end, including the former Fire Station (1897). Early 20th century buildings include the stunning Federation Mannerist (or Edwardian Opulence) style Town Hall (also designed by Wright, and built in 1911), and an exemplar of Federation Filigree style,
2067-513: The mainland because of the many reefs. They then travelled north and subsequently found the wreck of Vergulde Draeck (but still no survivors). They gave an unfavourable opinion of the area partly due to the dangerous reefs. The Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh was the next European in the area. Commanding three ships, Geelvinck , Nijptangh and Weseltje , he arrived at and named Rottnest on 29 December 1696, and on 10 January 1697 visited and named
2120-503: The new colony arrived back in England in late January 1830. They described the poor conditions and the starving state of the colonists, deemed the land totally unfit for agriculture, and reported (incorrectly) that the settlers had abandoned the colony. As a result of these reports, many people cancelled their migration plans or diverted to Cape Town in South Africa, or to the more well-established New South Wales colony. Nevertheless,
2173-529: The picturesque Avon River and up Mt Brown. The main attractions in the town include: The main attractions outside the town include Australia's oldest racecourse. In addition to the historic Faversham House the town has four historic hotels: Settlers House , the York Palace Hotel , the Imperial Hotel and the Castle Hotel . The town is popular with walkers, cyclists, and photographers. York offers
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2226-456: The plains to the goldfields. In the 1880s the question as to whether or not the railway line to the Goldfields should be run through York or Northam was the subject of bitter debate. "Tradition is that State Parliamentarians became so tired of hearing the rival Northam/York arguments that they suggested that representatives of the two towns decide the issue by a game of cards." In December 1891,
2279-547: The population reduced to some extent. York is located in the valley between Mt Bakewell and Mt Brown, known to the Ballardong Noongar as Walwalling and Wongborel. On the road to York in Spring are canola fields which draw many tourists. In addition to its heritage and Arts and Crafts buildings and other architecture (refer below), the town features the York Motor Museum , the Courthouse complex, galleries, bric-à-brac and book shops, skydiving and paragliding, and walks along
2332-438: The required repairs meant that Stirling did not manage to reach the mainland until 18 June, and the remaining settlers on Parmelia finally arrived in early August. In early September a major disaster occurred: Marquis of Anglesea was driven ashore during a gale and wrecked beyond repair. The ship did not break up, as had been expected, but instead survived to become Western Australia's first prison hulk . The first reports of
2385-460: The sand bar (the sand bar wasn't removed until the 1890s when C. Y. O'Connor built Fremantle harbour). Later in March 1803, Géographe , with another ship Casuarina , passed by Rottnest on their way eventually back to France, but did not stop longer than a day or two. The next visit to the area was the first Australian-born maritime explorer, Phillip Parker King in 1822 on Bathurst . King
2438-401: The southwestern coastline at Bunbury , Augusta and Albany . Edward Gibbon Wakefield used the Swan River Colony to illustrate the importance of combined labour and the danger of a dispersed population. In his Letter from Sydney , published anonomously in 1829, and later in his England and America , published in 1833, Wakefield criticised the Swan River land grants for failing to encourage
2491-441: The town has fine examples of a dozen other Victorian and Federation architectural styles, virtually uninterrupted by modern buildings. The Victorian Georgian style buildings include the old sections of Settlers House and the Castle Hotel . The Convent School House (1872) is a Victorian Tudor building, the same style as many of Perth's early buildings and also probably designed by Richard Roach Jewell . York churches include
2544-496: The walk to the goldfields. Today, the town attracts tourists for its beauty, history, buildings, festivals and art. The Ballardong people, a sub-group of the Nyoongar , occupied the land before European settlement. With the increasing population of the Swan River Settlement in 1830, it became evident that suitable land would have to be discovered for the growing of crops needed to provide necessary food. Ensign Robert Dale ,
2597-565: Was allocated 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres), conditional on his arrival at the settlement before 1 November 1829 with 400 settlers. Peel arrived after this date with only 300 settlers, but was still granted 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres). The first ship to reach the Swan River was HMS Challenger . After she anchored off Garden Island on 25 April 1829 and then in Cockburn Sound on 27 April, Captain Charles Fremantle declared
2650-562: Was also the son of former Governor Philip Gidley King of New South Wales . However, King also was not impressed with the area. The founding father of Western Australia was Captain James Stirling who, in 1827, explored the Swan River area in HMS ; Success which first anchored off Rottnest , and later in Cockburn Sound. He was accompanied by Charles Fraser , the New South Wales botanist. Their initial exploration began on 8 March in
2703-580: Was shipwrecked 107 km (66 mi) north of the Swan River near Ledge Point. Of the 193 on board, only 75 made it to shore. A small boat that survived the wreckage then sailed to Batavia for help, but a subsequent search party found none of the survivors. The wreck was rediscovered in 1963. In 1658, three Dutch Republic ships, also partially searching for Vergulde Draeck visited the area. Waekende Boey under Captain S. Volckertszoon, Elburg under Captain J. Peereboom and Emeloort under Captain A. Joncke sighted Rottnest but did not proceed any closer to
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#17328869637322756-508: Was soon named Perth , and it became the capital city of Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. On 6 February 1832, the colony was renamed the Colony of Western Australia , when the colony's founding lieutenant-governor , Captain James Stirling , belatedly received his commission. However, the name Swan River Colony remained in informal use for many years. The first recorded Europeans to sight land where
2809-471: Was to be rationed. The most cursory exploration had preceded the British decision to found a settlement at the Swan River; the most makeshift arrangements were to govern its initial establishment and the granting of land; and the most sketchy surveys were to be made before the grants were actually occupied. A set of regulations were worked out for distributing land to settlers based on land grants . Negotiations for
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