Dumas House
Dumas House is an imposing fourteen storey structure described by David Brand (then Premier) at its opening as ‘a big building, and I think, a handsome one’. It was constructed for the State Government of Western Australia during a period of increased prosperity. It was the first of five planned buildings to be located on the site to centralise Government (the Parliament House project), but due to increased traffic and a perception of ‘dominance by the bureaucracy’ the other four were never built.
Originally named ‘Government House’ the building was renamed in 1978 in honour of Sir Russell Dumas, a former Director of Works and Buildings for the Public Works Department that was housed here until its dissolution in 1984. The building is still home to many departments of the State Government of Western Australia; indeed, the current Premier’s office is on level 5 overlooking the Swan River.
An architectural competition was held for the design of the proposed new building, with sixty seven entries received. First prize was won by the Public Works Department Architects G. Finn, E. Van Mens & P. Maidment. Their design required that the site be cleared of all existing buildings, the site filled and levelled. The master plan for the proposed five buildings allowed for progressive development meaning that Hale School and the Old Observatory (now home to the National Trust) were reprieved. However, the smaller buildings associated with the observatory (including the telescope) were demolished to make way for the car park.
Designed in the Post War International style, the building has a concrete encased steel frame with 2 basement levels, fourteen above ground levels and an open piazza at ground floor level. The projecting balconies are an adaptation of the architectural style to suit the Australian climate, providing protection during the summer. From 2015 2018 the building underwent a full façade refurbishment with all new precast concrete cladding, terracotta blockwork, extensive concrete repairs to the underlying structure and replacement waterproof membranes to the podium and balconies. The building is now much as it would have appeared at the opening in 1966, with the repairs strictly following the guidelines of the Burra Charter.
