Architecture of Pinjarra
Post Office
In 1891 a group of local settlers called for
the building of a post office in Pinjarra. The first post
office was established in 1868 and operated out of Mrs
Sutcliffe's cottage. Mrs Sutcliffe was to become the town's
post mistress for 25 years. In 1895 the Vicorian style Post and
Telegraph Office was built to a design by Government architect
George Temple-poole.
Court House
The town's original courthouse was an
attractive single storey building with verandah and shingle
roof, built in 1887. Eventially a petition was presented to the
Premier of Western Australia in 1891 to replace the Court
House, however this was rejected and the available funds were
used for roads and other facilities.It was finally demolished
in the 1920's and replaced with this courthouse in
1935.Pinjarra's first court proceedings were Petty Sessions
held in the house of licensed publican Mr W.E.Oakley in the
1840's. The final sitting of the Magistrates Court was held in
December 2002, when the Court was closed.
Former Road Board Office
From the mid 1870's until 1935 this building
was the office of the Murray Road Board. The role of the Road
Board was primarily concerned with the development of roads
between the Murray district and major trade centres.It was
built using locally made bricks and is one of the 13 original
Road Board offices in the State.
Old Blythwood
This grand old building with its beautiful
gardens overlooks the flats of the Murray River 3km south of
Pinjarra. The Old Bythwood was built in 1860 by the McLarty
family and was used as a family home and a coach inn . The
family would often provide overnight accomodation and a hearty
meal for weary travellers. The house was also used as the local
Post Office until 1868. By the turn of the century the Inn had
ceased operation and the Old Blythwood remained a family
homestead. In 1974 the Old Blythwood was presented to the
National Trust for use as a house museum and is open to the
public two days a week or by appointment.
Edenvale
In 1888 Edward McLarty built Evenvale for his
family who had been living at Liveringa since the mid 1870's.
This elegant 17 room residence with wide verandahs remained the
home of the McLarty family until after the death of Sir Ross
McLarty in 1962. Sir Ross was Premier of Western Australia from
1947 to 1953. The State Government, with the assistance from
the Commonwealth, acquired the residence because of its Western
Australian political history from 1894-1962.In the later years
Edenvale was running into disrepair and was very close to being
demolished had it not been for the vigorous protest of the
Pinjarra residents. It was taken over by the Murray Shire
Council and housed the Pinjarra Public Library for a time.
Old Butcher Shop
The Old Butchers Shop is a small one room
building which was used to supply the town with meat from the
McLarty family farm. The building is made of jarrah
weatherboard and has a pitched corrugated iron roof and is
located between Edenvale and Liveringa.
Old School House
The old schoolhouse was completed in 1896 and
was designed by government architect George Temple-Poole. The
project also included a four-roomed teacher's cottage nearby.
The building was constructed of locally baked mud bricks, and
had two classrooms added in 1921.A new school was built in 1938
and this building was later purchased by the Anglican
Church.
St John's Anglican Church
This church is reputed to be the fifth oldest
church in Western Australia. Building was carried out during
1861 and 1862 by a local settler, Anthony Cornish. (The
building was consecrated in 1863.) A vestry was added a few
years later, and a porch in 1879. The cost of the building was
just over 300 pounds, it included a shingle roof, pews and
pulpit some of the carpentry was carried out by the Fremantle
prisoners. The building was subjected to flooding and there is
a plate on the south wall which marks the flood level.The first
rector was the Reverend James Price.
Pinjarra Suspension Bridge
The Pinjarra Suspension Bridge was constructed by the
Australian Army's 22 Construction Squadron as a training
exercise. The material for it's construction were provided by
Alcoa of Australia. It was officially opened on 10th November
1985, by the Hon Wendy Fatin MP, the then Member for Brand. The
bridge stretches across the Murray River, providing a
pedestrian link between the town centre and the residential
areas on the eastern side of the river. A very popular tourist
attraction, the river banks have been landscaped and picnic
barbeque facilities are available. Watch out for the geese!
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