29 - Kingstown Barracks - Room 3 Dressing Room

Kingstown Barracks - Rooms

Timeline

1941

May 28 – A report is received from Kingstown Barracks that Gunner W233743 Wesley Augustus Fitch RAA has accidentally been killed (AWM2020.71.7560).

June 10 – An inquest is held on the Island into the death of Gunner Fitch by Assistant Coroner Mr J Stack (AWM2020.71.7560).

July 16 – A Field Dental Unit arrives from the mainland to establish a dental clinic at Kingstown Barracks (AWM2020.71.7560).

1943

January 06 - Army sections located at Kingstown Barracks under 15 Aust Fortress Company:

39 Aust Works Section – Works Section less detachment
60 Aust Works Section – Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Section
87 Aust Depot Section – Depot Section (AWM2020.71.3763)

1950

November 20 – Kingstown Barracks will be “completely modernised up to regular army standard” for the site to be used as the Australian Regular Army’s WA recruit training centre, with work to be undertaken by the Department of Works. Despite being located on an island, Kingstown Barracks “will be inline in every detail with mainland barracks” and completely self-contained, to avoid any interference with the island as a holiday resort.

Room 3 - Dressing Room

Timeline cont...

1969

April 04 - Kingstown Barracks is listed on as Classified by the National Trust.

1984

July – After 30 years of the Army battling to keep the Kingstown Barracks and associated facilities on Rottnest Island, they finally agree to hand over their 56 hectare site (243 acres in 1967) to the State Government on January 1, 1985. The barracks have been used on a continual basis since the early 1950s for training the Australian Regular Army, A reserve units and Special Air Service Regiment. Nine married quarters located at the east end of the barracks have also been used by soldiers and their families as holiday homes since (3).

1986

Kingstown is developed as a Centre for Environmental Education (1).

1987

November - The Kingstown Centre at the Kingstown Barracks celebrates their one hundred thousandth visitor in November 1987. The centre is described as "run on a somewhat restricted basis in order to keep to its charter of providing for education and family needs".

1993

June 22 - Kingstown Barracks is permanently listed on the Register of the National Estate.

1994

June 30 - An Art Deco Significant Building Survey is completed on the Kingstown Barracks.

2000

A conservation plan is completed on the Kingstown Barracks.

2002

October 01 - Kingstown Barracks is registered on the State Register.

References

(1) Oliver Hill Battery Conservation Assessment for Rottnest Island Authority - GB Hill & Partners Pty Ltd (November 2005).

(2) Ralph Hoare Architect: Kingstown Barracks Conservation Plan June 2000.

(3) Rottnest Island Management Plan – Volume 1 The Plan (August 1985)