Port Denison hall demolition looming

The Fishermen’s Hall in Port Denison has been fenced off and the Shire of Irwin will start dismantling the historic building as early as tomorrow.

A few community members have parked three cars and a truck around the hall in a last ditch attempt to halt the demolition.

Hugh Campbell, who has lived in Port Denison for more than 35 years, said this was the residents last chance to save the hall.

“We might get fines but if we save the hall it’s worth it,” he said.

“Once it’s gone it’s gone … and we’ve already lost so many old buildings.”

Last week the Irwin Districts Historical Society made an application to the Heritage Council of Western Australia for a protection order on the building, which was built in 1894.

The Heritage Council will consider the request during their meeting on Friday.

However the Geraldton Guardian has been told demolition will start tomorrow.

Earlier this year councillors voted in favour of dismantling the hall and storing the “historically significant timbers” for future use in the Shire.

In a letter to the Shire, the Dongara Professional Fishermen’s Association said they would like to lease the building and develop it into a fishing museum with the historical society.

During September’s council meeting Cr Ian West’s motion to delay demolition until council had time to consider the proposal was lost three votes to five.

A post on the Shire’s Facebook page said workers will start dismantling the hall “shortly”, with works expected to take two weeks.

The Geraldton Guardian contacted the Shire for further comment.