Birtwistle Local Studies Library
In October 1987 an historic brick building in the centre of Armadale was saved from demolition by a remarkable feat of relocation.
The building was the first purpose-built Armadale School erected in 1899 and was moved whole and intact on a sunny Sunday from Third Road, Armadale to its new home in the Minnawarra Historic Precinct.
This was the first successful move of an intact brick building on public roads in Australia’s history and was coordinated by a group of caring and determined community members, helped by volunteers, businesses, council, and other people who loved a challenge and their district’s history.
The details of this difficult move were first addressed at a technical meeting in August 1987 between members of the Armadale School and Congregational Church Relocation Trust, councillors, city engineers, transport experts and local historians.
They worked out the details on how to lift the 80-tonne school, place it on the specialist ginka trailer to transport it safely downhill to the Minnawarra Historic Precinct and to position it on its new foundations. Preparation for the move was all important.
To strengthen the school building prior to the move steel framing was fitted to support the roof structure along with more steel girders inserted under the base of the school. Twelve tonnes of steel were used in the process adding much more weight to the already heavy load. A special polyurethane core was injected into wall cavities for additional strength and bonding.
Meanwhile at the new site next to History House Museum foundations had already been poured ready for the school’s arrival.
With everything in readiness and thanks to businesses donating equipment worth more than $3 million, the process of lifting the school building on to the transport trailer began on Saturday 10th October 1987. Four 50 tonne cranes took almost 2 hours to get the school into place on the 48-wheel self-levelling jinker trailer provided by Kanny’s Transport Company.
The building now secured on the trailer stayed at the school site overnight with the big move beginning at 6:30am on Sunday 11 October 1987.
Moving day drew a large crowd of onlookers keen to see the nine-metre-high load make its way from Third Road to Minnawarra Park.
Three prime movers were used to slowly ease the trailer off the school site and on to Prospect Road.
The journey required some curbing to be removed and required help from the State Energy Commission to manage the power lines along the one-kilometre route. Tree branches impeding progress also had to be removed. Moving slowly and steadily the procession with its valuable cargo arrived at the Minnawarra Historic Precinct at 4:30pm having taken 10 hours to complete the short journey.
Having arrived safely at its new location the school building was lifted on to its new concrete pad next to History House Museum and the Old Armadale Congregational Church building which was being rebuilt brick by brick in the new Minnawarra Historic Precinct.
Both buildings were officially handed over to the City of Armadale on Anzac Day (25 April) 1988, completing a remarkable community project.
