Beverley District Road Board Office 1908-1914
By 1840, much of the York Beverley road had become impassable. The Colonial Secretary rejected calls for major works based on the sparse population and claiming Beverley was a township “in name only”. In 1843 an Act was passed ”to provide for the construction and management of roads and other national communications in the Colony” whereby local boards of directors were appointed to determine works and funding.
Beverley’s 1st board comprised: John Smith (Yangedine), Henry de Burgh (Goonderding) and Stephen Parker (Northbourne). As a voice on district works, the board of directors was a forerunner to the road board. It was a difficult task.
In 1867, a group of landowners, merchants and farmers from York and Beverley districts delivered a memorial to the Governor over the state of the roads, calling for a railway. The York Road committee was formed 7 months later, and a subcommittee was formed to ensure the situation was equitable to Beverley. The original boundaries of the Beverley Road District were proclaimed under legislation - the district extending east to the South Australian border.
In 1871 the Legislative Council enacted the Roads Act to create municipalities.
The first Beverley District Roads Board polling day was on 22 February 1871. Charles Smith was elected Chairman.
In 1892, Beverley residents petitioned Premier Forrest to have the town declared a Municipality; it was gazetted in 1892, and earliest meeting was 1894. The Municipal Council worked with the District Road Board until in 1913 although the inefficiencies of two bodies was evident.
Although the District Road Board was formed in 1871, its location is not known, until this building in 1908. It is a modest example of Federation Free Classical Architecture.
It was only used as the office of the Beverley District Road Board for less than 6 years, when they merged with the Beverley Municipal Council to form the Beverley Road Board and moved to the Mechanic’s Hall (No. 2) in 1914.
The Beverley District Road Board Office building is a fine example of Federation Free Classical architecture that makes a significant contribution to the historic streetscape of Beverley
Beverley’s 1st board comprised: John Smith (Yangedine), Henry de Burgh (Goonderding) and Stephen Parker (Northbourne). As a voice on district works, the board of directors was a forerunner to the road board. It was a difficult task.
In 1867, a group of landowners, merchants and farmers from York and Beverley districts delivered a memorial to the Governor over the state of the roads, calling for a railway. The York Road committee was formed 7 months later, and a subcommittee was formed to ensure the situation was equitable to Beverley. The original boundaries of the Beverley Road District were proclaimed under legislation - the district extending east to the South Australian border.
In 1871 the Legislative Council enacted the Roads Act to create municipalities.
The first Beverley District Roads Board polling day was on 22 February 1871. Charles Smith was elected Chairman.
In 1892, Beverley residents petitioned Premier Forrest to have the town declared a Municipality; it was gazetted in 1892, and earliest meeting was 1894. The Municipal Council worked with the District Road Board until in 1913 although the inefficiencies of two bodies was evident.
Although the District Road Board was formed in 1871, its location is not known, until this building in 1908. It is a modest example of Federation Free Classical Architecture.
It was only used as the office of the Beverley District Road Board for less than 6 years, when they merged with the Beverley Municipal Council to form the Beverley Road Board and moved to the Mechanic’s Hall (No. 2) in 1914.
The Beverley District Road Board Office building is a fine example of Federation Free Classical architecture that makes a significant contribution to the historic streetscape of Beverley