Headquarters Building, Keswick Barracks

Headquarters Building, Keswick Barracks
Headquarters Building, Keswick Barracks
	Location of Headquarters Building, Keswick Barracks in South Australia
Location	Anzac Highway, Keswick, South Australia, Australia
Coordinates	34°56′38″S138°34′57″E / 34.9438°S 138.5824°E Coordinates: 34°56′38″S138°34′57″E / 34.9438°S 138.5824°E
Commonwealth Heritage List
	Official name: Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks
Type	Listed place (Historic)
Designated	22 June 2004
Reference no.	105308

Last updated May 15, 2020

Headquarters Building (Building 32) is a heritage-listed office building at Keswick Barracks, Anzac Highway, Keswick, South Australia, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004 and the former Register of the National Estate on 28 September 1982.^[1]^[2]

History

In 1854, a Militia Act was passed in South Australia, giving the Government the power to call out a force of 2000 volunteers. This early military force was based at the Mounted Police Barracks off Kintore Avenue in Adelaide. A military parade ground was located in the area now occupied by the north and east wings of the South Australian Museum. A permanent military force was authorised in 1878, and in 1884 a force of one officer and 20 men was raised. As early as 1889, the unification of Australia's colonial military forces was suggested. With the Federation of Australia, South Australia's defence force, along with the other colonial defence forces, was taken over by the Commonwealth.^[1]

As the development of a Commonwealth public works department took some time, the responsibility for constructing and maintaining Commonwealth Government buildings in South Australia, specifically post offices, customs and defence buildings, was initially given to the South Australian Public Works Department.^[1]

In 1912, a contract was let for the construction of a Military Headquarters at Keswick in South Australia for a cost of 21,990 pounds. Contracts were also let for the Royal Australian Field Artillery Barracks at 14,565 pounds and for stables, gun park, barn, farriers shop, gym, quartermasters store and sick horse bay for 12,999 pounds. The Headquarters Building was completed in 1913 and was the first substantial Commonwealth building to be constructed in South Australia.^[1]

In 1940, an additional storey was constructed on the flat roof of the Headquarters Building. The architect for this work was W. H. Hanal. In 1969 the boiler house and toilet block on the western side of the building were removed. Keswick Barracks continues to be used for defence purposes.^[1]

Description

The Headquarters Building is a three-storey brick building in the Federation Academic Classical style is on the northern corner of the Keswick Barracks site. The facade features two large towers, placed at either end of the building, and a central section with a segmental pediment, containing a coat-of-arms. The towers and the central section feature stucco detailing that imitates rustication. A two-storey colonnade runs between the towers and the central section.^[1]

The building is in good condition. It has been used as a military headquarters since completion and has therefore undergone few alterations. An extra floor was added in 1940, but this reflects the development of the army during WWII, and is therefore of significance. A boiler room and toilet block was removed in 1969. (1992)^[1]

Heritage listing

The Headquarters Building, Keswick Barracks, built in 1912-13, is significant as the first substantial Commonwealth building constructed in South Australia. It was built as part of a Commonwealth program to expand defence infrastructure following Federation and it has been used for defence purposes since it was completed. The Headquarters Building is a central building at Keswick Barracks, one of the first significant barracks to be established in Australia after the formation of the Australian Army. Keswick Barracks has remained the headquarters of the Army in South Australia.^[1]

The Headquarters Building is important as a good example of an early twentieth-century purpose-built military headquarters. Constructed in the Federation Academic Classical style, the building demonstrates attitudes to the design and planning of military buildings in the Federation period.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Australian Army land warfare branch of Australias defence forces

The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. Formed in 1901 through the amalgamation of the Australian colonial forces following federation, it is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) commands the ADF, the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA). The CA is therefore subordinate to the CDF, but is also directly responsible to the Minister for Defence. Although Australian soldiers have been involved in a number of minor and major conflicts throughout Australia's history, only during the Second World War has Australian territory come under direct attack.

The Grace Building is a heritage-listed building of the Federation Skyscraper Gothic style that houses a bar, hotel, cafe and restaurant and is located at 77-79 York Street in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia.

The Sydney Mint in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is the oldest public building in the Sydney central business district. Built between 1811 and 1816 as the southern wing of the Sydney Hospital, it was then known as the Rum Hospital. In 1854 a mint was established on the site with the hospital building used to house mint staff as well as providing a residence for the Deputy Mint Master. A coining factory was built at the rear. Both of these structures have exceptional heritage significance and have been associated with major events in the colonial history of New South Wales.

This article describes the current structure of the Australian Army. It includes the army's order of battle and the headquarters locations of major units. Members of the Australian Army also serve within joint units of the Australian Defence Force which fall outside the direct command of the Australian Army.

Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Victoria Barracks is located in the suburb of Paddington, between Oxford Street and Moore Park Road. It is just north of the Moore Park, the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Football Stadium. Victoria Barracks houses the Headquarters Forces Command.

The Army Museum of Western Australia is a museum located in an historic artillery barracks on Burt Street in Fremantle, Western Australia. The museum was established in 1977 and has three Victoria Crosses on display.

The Albury railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Railway Place, Albury, New South Wales, Australia, adjacent to the border with Victoria, in Australia. It was designed by John Whitton and built from 1880 to 1881. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Middle Head Fortifications is a heritage-listed former defence establishment and military fortifications and now public space located at Middle Head Road, Middle Head, Mosman in the Mosman Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as the Middle Head Military Fortifications or The Old Fort. The fortifications consist of the Outer Middle Head Battery located at the end of Old Fort Road, the Inner Middle Head Battery located at the end of Governors Road, and the Obelisk batteries reached by a path from the corner of Middle Head Road and Chowder Bay Road. The fortifications at Middle Head formed part of Sydney Harbour's defences. The property is owned by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Georges Head Battery, also called the Georges Head Military Fortifications, is a heritage-listed former military fortification located on the Georges Head on Chowder Bay Road, Georges Heights, in the suburb of Mosman, in the Mosman Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia.

Keswick Barracks is a barracks of the Australian Army in Keswick, South Australia. The barracks are located on Anzac Highway adjacent to the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. The base is separated from the Showgrounds by the Seaford and Belair railway lines.

Annerley Army Reserve Depot is a heritage-listed barracks at 158 Dudley Street, Annerley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1914 to 1954. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005.

Gona Barracks is a heritage-listed barracks at 3, 7,12, 25 & 26 Gona Parade, Kelvin Grove, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1914 to 1960s. It is also known as Kelvin Grove Military Reserve and Kelvin Grove Training Area. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005.

Kissing Point Fortification is a heritage-listed fortification at 38-40 Howitt Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Peter Scratchley and Major Edward Druitt and built from 1891 by A McMillan and then from 1939 to 1941. It is also known as Jezzine Barracks. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.

North Ward Defence Complex is a heritage-listed barracks at 46 Oxley Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1885 to c. 1942. It is also known as 11 Brigade Administration Support Battalion Headquarters Company and Oxley Street Defence site. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 August 2006.

Prison Barracks Precinct is a heritage-listed prison precinct at Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

Queenstown Post Office is a heritage-listed post office at 32-34 Orr Street, Queenstown, Tasmania, Australia. It was designed by the Tasmanian government's Public Works Office and built in 1902, with the tower added in 1909. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

The Small Arms Magazine is a heritage-listed former military installation at Murray Avenue, Gallipolli Barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

School of Musketry is a heritage-listed former military installation at 431 Lloyd Street, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

Enoggera Magazine Complex is a heritage-listed military installation at Inwood Road, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

Remount Complex is a heritage-listed former military installation at Wynter Road, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland, Australia. The former Remount Complex is an important group of early twentieth century Australian Government defence buildings at the former Enoggera Army Camp, now known as Gallipoli Barracks. A group of five buildings, the Remount Section is a significant link to a famous, almost legendary, tradition of the Australian military: mounted units such as the Light Horse.It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks (Place ID 105308)". Australian Heritage Database . Department of the Environment . Retrieved 15 May 2019.
↑ "Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks (Place ID 6580)". Australian Heritage Database . Department of the Environment . Retrieved 15 May 2019.

Bibliography

Miller P, 1994, Thematic history of defence in Victoria, unpublished NEGP report for the Australian Heritage Commission by Australian Construction Services.
O'Keefe B and M Pearson, 1998, Federation: A National Survey of Heritage Places, Australian Heritage Commission.
Danvers Architects, Building 32, Keswick Barracks, Conservation Plan, prepared for Australian Army, 1992.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks , entry number 105308 in the Australian Heritage Database published by the Commonwealth of Australia 2019 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 15 May 2019.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[ahd-105308-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks (Place ID 105308)". Australian Heritage Database . Department of the Environment . Retrieved 15 May 2019.

[ahd-6580-2] "Headquarters Building 32, Keswick Barracks (Place ID 6580)". Australian Heritage Database . Department of the Environment . Retrieved 15 May 2019.