The adaptive and imaginative reuse of the historic Katanning Roller Flour Mill into the Premier Mill Hotel has been recognised across three categories at the 2019 Western Australian Heritage Awards, receiving the prestigious Gerry Gauntlett Award.
Heritage Minister David Templeman said the Premier Mill Hotel is an outstanding example of how adaptive reuse and conservation of the state’s industrial heritage can promote tourism and economic development in regional areas.
“The former Katanning Roller Flour Mill has been creatively conserved and gives visitors the chance to stay in an old grain silo, a packing room or enjoy a beverage in the mill’s old machine room.”
Mr Templeman also commended Rail Heritage WA which received the Judges’ Award – The Professor David Dolan Award – for its excellent, ongoing work to preserve WA’s important rail heritage.
He said contributions by individuals in the heritage sector are valuable and also acknowledged Peter Snow who received the award for voluntary individual contribution for transforming the Albany whaling station into a unique heritage tourism operation.
“The high standard of heritage works showcased at the 2019 Western Australian Heritage Awards is to be applauded and I congratulate all the worthy winners.”
Other winners included the Shire of Leonora for the conservation of Gwalia’s historic precinct and RPS Australia for the Fitzroy Crossing Pioneer Cemetery project supporting the repatriation of ancestral remains.
Here is a full list of the winners of the 2019 Western Australian Heritage Awards
Voluntary Individual Contribution
Winner: Peter J Snow, Albany
Professional Contribution – individual
Winner: Patsy Vizents, Rottnest Island Heritage Officer (former)
Professional Contribution – organisation
Commendation: RPS Australia (for Fitzroy Crossing Pioneer Cemetery repatriation project), Fitzroy
Contribution by a Community-based Organisation
Joint Winner: Busselton Jetty Inc
Joint Winner: Jaycees Community Foundation Inc
Joint Commendation: Chapman Valley Historical Society
Joint Commendation: Pickering Brook Heritage Group
Contribution by a Public or Private Organisation
Winner: Shire of Leonora (for Gwalia conservation)
Commendation: Town of East Fremantle (for Town Hall conservation)
Heritage Practices by a Local Government
Commendation: City of Wanneroo
Interpretation Project
Winner: Perth Railway Precinct (Yagan Square)
Commendation: Woodman Point (Woodman Point Quarantine Station Heritage Trail)
Heritage Tourism Product
Joint Winner: Heritage Perth Weekend
Joint Winner: Premier Mill Hotel, Katanning
Conservation or Adaptive Reuse of a State Registered Place
Joint Winner: Katanning Roller Flour Mill (the Premier Mill Hotel) and
Joint Winner: Swanbourne Hospital Conservation Area (Montgomery House)
Joint Commendation: Rottnest Island Limestone Sea Wall
Joint Commendation: Exchange Hotel, Kalgoorlie
The Gerry Gauntlett Award
Winner: Katanning Roller Flour Mill (the Premier Mill Hotel)
The Judges’ Award: The Professor David Dolan Award
Winner: Rail Heritage WA, Bassendean