New announcement. Learn more

District Office (Building 42)

District office and toilet blocks

The former District Office (Building 42) is located on the axis of the entrance to the site. The building is set within an open landscaped area that includes some modern, dilapidated hard landscaping to the south (front), an open square post and rail boundary fence of recent origin and a mixed collection of mature trees and shrubs including both indigenous and introduced species. A track on the northern side (behind) the building accesses a parking area and continues west past the fenced sawmill enclosure to Tuart House (Building 2357). There is a timber framed and clad toilet block (Building 1866) to the west of the District Office (Building 42). There is a second similar toilet block (Building 1697) located on the northern side of the fenced sawmill enclosure on the southern banks of the Ludlow River.

District Office (42; c1920s and c1957)

Heritage Council assessment
The District Office is also referred to as the Tuart Forest Visitors’ Centre and is currently vacant. It is a 4 roomed, timber framed building, clad with stained, square sawn weatherboards with a green Colorbond roof. The front and rear verandahs are located within the simple rectangular outline of the building, while the face-brick fireplace and chimney is expressed externally to the northeast elevation.

The external finishes, including the double hung sash windows, doors, verandah and gable details, are the same to both the original portion of the building and the c.1957 extension, suggesting that it was largely refurbished at the latter date. The external details are simple with little decorative treatment other than the recessed front verandah, which is finished with a horizontal moulded pine dado with vertical moulded panels over. The doors to the office areas at either end of the verandah have a single pane of obscure glass over three, narrow, vertical recessed panels (similar to those found in some of the 1950s houses). The external doors to the rear are simple ledge and brace.

Internally there are a variety of finishes to the main rooms. The former general office has wide Jarrah floorboards, plasterboard ceiling, and plasterboard walls with a timber dado that changes from Jarrah in the back part of the office to more recent softwood panelling in the area visible to the public. A safe is built into the public counter, which appears to have been refurbished with new timber panelling in the 1960s period. A painted brick fireplace with corbelled brick mantle is located at the centre of the north-eastern wall. The former records room in the centre of the building has wide jarrah floorboards and painted timber boards to the walls and ceiling. Built-in pigeonholes and storage cupboards line the north- western and south-western walls. The c.1957 addition has clear-finished pine floorboards, dado and decorative ceiling. A softwood panelled partition separates the space into two rooms. The former radio room, off the rear verandah, was locked at the time of inspection.

Completed works

  • Removal of soil build up around the perimeter of the building
  • Restoration of the front and back verandah flooring
  • Re-stumping
  • Re-connection of the electrical and water services
  • Removal of graffiti
  • Restoration and rehanging of doors
  • Internal repaint
  • Accessible entry ramp and doorways


Future works

  • Settlement room display
  • Roof repairs
  • Restoration of the forestry radio room




Toilet block (Building 1866)

Heritage Council assessment
There is a timber framed and clad toilet block (Building 1866) to the west of the District Office (Building 42).

Completed works

  • Reconnection of water
  • Internal repainting
  • Ceiling repairs
  • Repair of existing cisterns
  • Recladding with new weatherboards


Toilet block (Building 1697)

Heritage Council assessment
A second similar toilet block (Building 1697) located on the northern side of the fenced sawmill enclosure on the southern banks of the Ludlow River.

 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT