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Subiaco Community Centre
Demolition of the Subiaco Community Centre began on Monday 13 January 2025, and was expected to take three weeks. Originally built as a Senior Citizens’ Centre in 1967, it had provided a range of community services for some fifty years, including health and aged care services, as well as Meals on Wheels.
Upon researching the history of the building, I saw a PerthNow article which stated that in May 2023, the City of Subiaco had decided to sell the under-utilised community centre for the purposes of establishing four lots on the property. Funds received from the sale would help redevelop Subiaco’s civic precinct, which encompasses “the library, museum, administration building, Rankin Gardens and Memorial Clock Tower”.
Submissions received from local residents showed that many were fed up with the “relentless pace of development”, prompting council officers to turn the site of the community centre into a pocket park.
A local resident out late one night walking his dog, informed me that there were calls for it to become a dog park. A news article on the Subiaco Council’s website mentions the ‘future pocket park’ and a government employee later told me that a small housing estate was planned in its place.
01 - December 2024
Underutilised
With maintenance costs exceeding more than $40,000 in the 2021-22 financial year, the community centre only generated an approximate $14,000 in the same period. Clearly the centre wasn’t viable and with the presence of three other community centres nearby (Tom Dardour, Palms and Shenton Park Community Centres), it wasn’t hard to question ideas for repurposing the building or an alternative for the site.
History
Whilst serving as a councillor for Subiaco, Rose Fuhrmann was said to have been a “strong advocate of building senior citizens’ facilities”, which helped come to the decision to construct the Subiaco Senior Citizens’ Centre. Evelyn Parker, Subiaco’s third female councillor, continued her legacy by becoming the foundation secretary of the management committee and maintained a strong association with the Senior Citizens’ Centre for more than ten years.
Designed by architect Kenneth Broadhurst, the new civic building featured a hall, kitchen, reading room, television room and service rooms. Subiaco Mayor Joseph Hyam Abrahams officially opened the centre on 7 October 1967.
The Lemon-scented gum tree (corymbia citriodora) was said to be planted when the centre was built and would be preserved during demolition and development of the new park.
In 1991, the Subiaco Senior Citizens’ Centre underwent extensions, which saw it provide more services and double the capacity for members and visitors.
02 - January 2025
Dilapidation
Mayor David McMullen stated the decision to demolish the community centre was decided by the council in March 2024, citing ‘dilapidated’ to justify the removal of the building.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘dilapidated’ as being “decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse”. Either Mayor McMullen hasn’t had much of a look at the building or he’s sitting on a confidential building report to back up his questionable depiction of what appears to be a rather fine building with no obvious structural damage, obvious asbestos risks, white ant infestation or anything of the like.
Community Centre
The facility wasn’t available for the use of social functions, such as weddings or parties due to its close proximity to residences in the area but could be hired out for “meetings, seminars and other events”.
At the time of its closure, a number of community organisations were using the community centre, including a women’s boxing group, church group and Wildflower Society.
Before merging with the Shenton Park RSL at the Shenton Park Community Centre, the Subiaco building was also the base for the Subiaco RSL.
