Melrose Hall

Item details


Name of item:	Melrose Hall
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Community Facilities
Category:	Hall Public
Primary address:	169 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains, NSW 2750
County:	Cumberland
Local govt. area:	Penrith

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
169 Great Western Highway	Emu Plains	Penrith		Cumberland	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	This modest public building is significant in Emu Plains for its historic association with the provision of a hall for community uses with the park reserve, a role that continues to this day.
	Date significance updated: 04 May 06
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Metcalf and W. Green
Builder/Maker:	Huon of Lawson
Physical description:	The item is a community hall on the Great Western Highway at the eastern end of Emu Park. The rendered brick façade of the building is dated ‘1934’ and named ‘The Melrose’ in the gable. The simple front façade is an example of the Inter War period characterised by its symmetrical design and rendered string courses and window label moulds. The front elevation has a central entry porch with a flat roof. The side elevations have brick buttresses and are simply detailed. Original timber framed sashed window are extant at the front and rear portions of the building. Additions to the side of the building have aluminium framed windows. The roof over the main hall is gabled, has exposed eaves, and is sheeted in corrugated metal. The external walls are finished in a speckled thick paint. The building is set with a triangular shaped reserve excised from Emu Park, and the building is orientated to the apex. There is public car parking space to the rear and side, while one side has a row of mature trees. Located adjacent a bend in the alignment of the Great Western Highway the hall is a prominent townscape element.
	Date condition updated:20 Dec 91


Current use:	Community hall

History


Historical notes:	The hall was officially opened on 21 December 1934 as a community hall. The building was constructed by Mr Huon of Lawson to the design of Messrs. Metcalf and W. Green. The cost of construction was meet by government relief funds.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Municipal government-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The building as a community hall demonstrates an important phase in the development of community services in the area.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The façade of the building is an example of Inter-war period architecture set against the treed backdrop of Emu Park.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The hall continues to function for community uses.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The building is unique in the Emu Plains locality for its historic and continuing community uses.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	Albeit a community hall, the scale and façade detailing of the building is representative of many rural and semi-rural council structures erected around 1930.
Integrity/Intactness:	High externally
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number
Local Environmental Plan	Melrose Hall	EP-20	20 Dec 91	180
Local Environmental Plan	Penrith Local Environmental Plan 2010	73	22 Sep 10
Heritage study	Melrose Hall	EP-20	04 Jan 87
Heritage study		2260073	01 Nov 07

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
	0	EP-20			No
Penrith Heritage Study Review	2005	EP20	Paul Davies Pty. Ltd.	Paul Davies Pty Ltd	Yes

References, internet links & images

None

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2260073

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