Former York Street law office to have long overdue roof replacement following State heritage funding

One of the last remaining asbestos roofs on a heritage-listed Albany building will be replaced after a project to restore York House was awarded a $40,000 grant. The funding will also cover repairs to windows, external doors, internals walls and remedial work to external walls of one of the oldest buildings in Albany, which is now home to Blush Retail Gallery. The two-storey building was opened as a law office in 1894 and was constructed by the same builders that constructed other heritage-listed building including the Albany Co-operative Society Building, Hillside and the St John’s Church hall. Angie Fryer-Smith said she knew owning a heritage-listed building was a responsibility when she purchased it with her partner Richard Ball more than 15 years ago. She said some work done to repair a window at the rear of the building a decade ago was already showing significant signs of water damage caused by the ailing condition of the roof. “We’ve given the building a lot of love so far, but getting the roof done was just a bridge too far because we haven’t had any funding and we’ve done it all ourselves,” she said. “As I understand it, it’s the last asbestos roof on a heritage building to be replaced. “It’s never been done and has been deteriorating a lot since we bough it.” Cracking as well as evidence of rising damp can be seen on many interior walls within the building. Ms Fryer-Smith said remedial work to ease issues cause by roof’s poor condition so far consisted of a lot of buckets being placed in the original two-storey structures ceiling cavity. She said the work that would be carried out courtesy of the grant funding will “make a huge difference” aesthetically and will also help ensure the building is easier to maintain. She said she was hopeful the work would be carried out within a year. “We’ve got to get the right people that know what they are doing to do it,” she said. The grant is one of 38 projects that will share $1.14 million of funding through the State Government’s 2022-23 Heritage Grants Program. A $10,000 grant will go towards developing an interpretation plan for the Frenchman Bay Whaling Station ruins, which includes the Vancouver Spring and Dam through the Community Heritage Grants. A project to carry out repair works on the former Ballybane Tearooms and the R Bell and Co Store on Stirling Terrace was granted more than $6600. Heritage Minister David Templeman said the State Government was committed to conserving and celebrating Western Australia’s rich and vast history. “These projects provide us with valuable connections to our past and the stories of who we are as Western Australians, that’s why it’s important we invest in these heritage sites,” he said. “Whether it’s a physical roof restoration or the development of historical signage, these projects are vital in preserving and promoting our heritage.”