The way we treat the buildings in the heart of our town directly reflects on us as residents. By treasuring these architectural gems we declare to others that this place is special to us and as such it deserves to be treated with respect.
Located approximately 400km south of Perth in Western Australia, the Manjimup region now hosts a population of around 7000 people. The town was established in 1910 as the timber and farming industries prospered, bringing mill workers and dairy farmers along with a variety of other industries. Following a section of the newly extended railway from Bridgetown, Giblett Street began as the main street in town. Post-WW2 productivity resulted in a large number of buildings being erected along the main street, built in the then-topical style of Art Deco (“Manjimup Townsite Overview”, 2010).
Sadly, Manjimup has since struggled with the decline of the butter industry, the disappearance of the tobacco industry and the collapse of the timber industry. A large portion of the population moved away, causing the town to struggle with its once prosperous identity as a lucrative farming and timber region. Manjimup is still struggling to find its feet, and many of the remaining CBD buildings have deteriorated with neglect (“Manjimup Townsite Overview”, 2010).
The Art Deco buildings within the CBD are rich with architectural history and worth. The buildings form a collection that stands as the best remaining example of Art Deco structures in such concentration in Western Australia (Lawe Davies, 2009). The Giblett Street precinct in the town’s centre contains over forty Art Deco buildings with the major point of architectural interest being focused on the buildings’ parapets. Although individually each example may appear simplistic or even unremarkable, when viewed together they become notable due to the abundance and variety of styles. A feature, which prompted Lawe Davies to say, “The heritage value of the street is greater than the sum of its parts” (Lawe Davies, 2009).
Lisa Hannaford, former resident and design specialist, has recently focused on Manjimup's Art Deco buildings in her thesis for her Masters of Design at Edith Cowan University. The aim for this project is to create a comprehensive colour palette designed to unite and highlight the Art Deco buildings’ facades within the CBD of Manjimup. If a colour palette for the town of Manjimup is specified, we can encourage an organised colour application that will enhance and emphasise the architectural worth of the town. By painting the facades of the Art Deco buildings with harmonious colours we can create a neutral background, allowing an unbiased platform for the signage to exist. This will improve the streetscape allowing a clear reading of the businesses within, and with clever application, the treatment of colour will reveal the charming features of the
architecture.
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