Post 1970, Australia, Western Australia,Geraldton, Birdwood House, 1980

1980
Overview

View of Birdwood House in Geraldton

Historical information

Birdwood House, Geraldton, comprises a single-storey brick hall with a corrugated metal roof and decorative fixtures and fittings, and an associated granite war memorial, both evidencing the Inter-War Free Classical style with Inter-War Georgian Revival details, in a landscaped setting, It is an early Returned Services League (RSL) hall, being one of the earliest known extant purpose-built RSL halls in Western Australia and one of four from the inter-war period still in use by the RSL. The place was named in honour of William Riddel Birdwood, later Baron Birdwood, the much-respected British General who commanded Australian and New Zealand forces from 1914 to 1918. The choice of name is indicative of the very high esteem with which he was held in Australia following World War I.

It is a landmark public building on an elevated corner site, with a distinctive corner war memorial, raised entry porch, demonstrating elements of several Inter-War architectural styles, including Free Classical and Georgian in its external presentation and Art Deco in its interior detailing; the place was constructed in 1935 as the first permanent home in Geraldton for the RSL and its preceding associations. The place is valued by community members who attend Anzac Day services, having been the centre of Anzac Day commemorations in Geraldton since 1935.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-P1900.2400
Item type
Year
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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