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School’s out on the Terrace Gina Pickering | Editor National Trust (WA) Old Perth Boys’ School located in the hubbub of St Georges Terrace business throng is both elegant and eye-catching. Its style (Gothic Revival), refreshed limestone facade and new tuckpointing identify it as something special in the city’s heart - and it is. Old Perth Boys’ School is the only mid 19 th century stone building surviving in Perth Central Business. More than a million dollars worth of conservation work has recently been pumped into Perth’s first purpose-built public school. It’s become part of shining gateway to the headquarters of industry giant BHP. Some say it’s a landscape of David and Goliath proportions in which Old Perth Boys’ School is confidently holding its own. The conservation of Old Perth Boys’ School has been a major commitment of the National Trust over the past two years and is unique in many ways. Brookfield Multiplex’s new City Square Development features a 45 level office block, shops, cafes and a heritage precinct which includes Newspaper House, Perth Technical College, WA Trustees, Royal Union as well as Old Perth Boys’ School. TOP The fresh face of Old Perth Boys’ School. G Pickering / NTWA ABOVE An enhanced public space is an outcome of the National Trust (WA) commitment to conservation work. G Pickering / NTWA RIGHT An interpretive element reflects the West Australian Times. G Pickering / NTWA Trust News Australia november 2012 8
now and then Old Perth Boys’ School is a heritage survivor on Perth’s St Georges Terrace. Vested in the National Trust’s care since 1979, it was the Trust’s headquarters through to 1986. The recent program of works is unique in many ways. Finding funds for conservation works is always a challenge and the National Trust took a bold, innovative approach in order to complete the external conservation works to Old Perth Boys’ School. Through the sale of plot ratio (commonly known as “airspace”) to the developer, Brookfield Multiplex, some $960,000 was secured. National Trust CEO Tom Perrigo said the approach illustrates a National Trust ethos and commitment to innovative sustainable outcomes. “In addition, the National Trust (WA) has also contributed an additional $340,000 to project management and architectural services to deliver an enhanced city centre location that’s now available for lease,” he said. National Trust Conservation and Landscape Architects provided guidance for this project which had a set of unique conditions and required stringent meshing with the Brookfield Multiplex requirements. The challenges associated with the project included extensive works adjacent to and within the conservation site. According to National Trust conservation architect Caroline Stokes the extensive use of cement mortar in former conservation of the building was one of the biggest issues of the project. “We ensured all the cement mortar and cement repairs discovered during our exploration of the site received appropriate attention,” Ms Stokes said. “The presence of cement mortar leads to sacrifice of the limestone and so it was a priority for us to ensure it was removed,” she said. The face of Old Perth Boys’ School which greets the city community was scrubbed with soap and water and the new tuck pointing has provided a refreshed finish. Eric Hancock, Conservation Project Officer who was responsible for the extensive stoneworks, said the project offered some real surprises. “One of the highlights was discovering original tuck pointing of the stone work at the back of the building,” Mr Hancock said. “Our archaeological consultants revealed part of the life of Old Perth Boys’ School turning up a collection of pencils, buttons, inkwells and even some long lost marbles,” he said. It is one of a group of heritage buildings which has undergone conservation and adaptive reuse after remaining dormant for many years. Old Perth Boys’ School has links with education dating back to the early days of the Swan Colony and which continued into the 20th century as part of the Perth Technical School. Even one of the principal consultant architects - Alan Kelsall - was a former Perth Technical School student. National Trust Landscape Architect Phil Palmer said research did not reveal any evidence of original ground treatments for Old Perth Boys’ School and a decision was made to finish the forecourt with high quality granite because of its attractive and durable qualities. “A natural granite material with soft earthy tones has been used to pave the surface and complement the limestone,” Mr Palmer said. Old Perth Boys’ School is a survivor. A classroom to many of Western Australia’s most prominent citizens and a significant legacy listed on Western Australia’s Heritage Register. “We have had an opportunity to conserve this truly important heritage place and contribute to the contemporary development in the heart of Perth,” Ms Stokes said. The National Trust worked with a team of consultants from Kelsall-Binet Architects and Wood & Grieve Engineers. Works includes: • A new rainwater and drainage system • Storm water collection • Paint finishes • Structural issues above National Trust (WA) conservation team including (L-R) Eric Hancock, Conservation Project Officer, Caroline Stokes, Conservation Architect and Phil Palmer, Landscape Architect. G Pickering / NTWA Trust News Australia november 2012 9
Page 1 and 2: Volume 5 NO 11 november 2012 trust
Page 3 and 4: 5 10 Navigating your way through th
Page 5 and 6: places An elegant mid-Victorian sur
Page 7: above The Family Dining Room - the
Page 11 and 12: innovation and invention Between th
Page 13 and 14: connections The history revealed is
Page 15 and 16: The reuse project has been conspicu
Page 17 and 18: connections 1 2 3 4 5 6 “The simp
Page 19 and 20: connections Between the lines exhib
Page 21 and 22: now and then A chamber of delight f
Page 23 and 24: now and then The room is now used a
Page 25 and 26: now and then Left: Historical image
Page 27 and 28: places War on Pests at Miss Porter
Page 29 and 30: places Similarly already under some
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