Rechabite Hall, Perth

{{Short description|Heritage-listed building in Perth, Western Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Rechabite Hall

| image = Rechabite Hall, Perth, January 2021 02.jpg

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| caption = The Rechabite Hall in January 2021

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| building_type = Heritage listed building

| location = Perth, Western Australia

| coordinates = {{coord|-31.948658|115.859864|type:landmark_region:AU|name=Rechabite Hall|display=inline,title}}

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{{Infobox designation list

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| designation1 = State Register of Heritage Places

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| designation1_type = State Registered Place

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| designation1_date = 20 December 2002

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| designation1_number = {{SRHP|2155}}

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Rechabite Hall is a heritage-listed building in Perth, Western Australia, located at 224{{nbsp}}William Street.{{cite web |author1=Heritage Council of Western Australia |title=Rechabite Hall |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/5852f849-a1a6-46dc-8a7f-4e10f780caaa |website=inHerit |publisher=Government of Western Australia |accessdate=12 January 2020 |date=31 December 2016}} It has operated as The Rechabite since 2019. It was constructed in 1924 for the Independent Order of Rechabites{{snd}}a friendly society and part of the temperance movement{{snd}}and was a popular dance hall in the 1920s.{{cite news |last1=Wynne |first1=Emma |title=Grand temperance hall reopens, albeit with four bars, after extensive restoration |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-18/restored-perth-temperance-hall-reopens-with-four-bars/11710090 |accessdate=12 January 2020 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 November 2019}} It was also used for balls, exhibitions, church services, conferences, annual meetings, school productions, and as an election polling station.{{cite news |last1=Acot |first1=Kent |title=Rechabite Hall revival to turn historic Perth landmark into music bar |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/rechabite-hall-revival-to-turn-historic-perth-landmark-into-music-bar-ng-ya-119627 |accessdate=12 January 2020 |work=The West Australian |date=2 October 2016}}{{Citation | author1=Young, Louise | title=Rechabite Hall, 224 William St., Perth | publication-date=1990 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34771868 | accessdate=12 January 2020 }}

The hall was also a theatre venue and live music venue until it was damaged by a fire in 1980. The street level remained in use as shops. The building closed in the early 2000s in a state of disrepair. In the interim, performances were still held there in the early 2000s.{{Citation | author1=Vickery, Lindsay | author2=Masel, Talya, (director.) | author3=Aislabie, Jett, (performer.) | author4=Fiebig, Taryn, (performer.) | author5=Broadbent, Andrew, (performer.) | author6=Grandage, Iain, (performer.) | author7=Green-Armytage, Emily, (performer.) | author8=Ipkendanz, Jessica, (performer.) | author9=McCusker, Kathryn, (performer.) | author10=Mahoney, Tos, (performer.) | author11=Mason, Rick, (designer.) | author12=Tanner, Paul, (performer.) | author13=Travers, Cathie, (performer.) | author14=Vickery, Maxwell, (performer.) | author15=Visosevic, Tania, (performer.) | author16=Wilson, Vikki, (designer.) | author17=Tura New Music (Firm) (production company.) | title=Rendez-vous, performed at Rechabites Hall, Northbridge | publication-date=2001 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192603238 | accessdate=12 January 2020 }}

The building was listed on the City of Perth's heritage list in 2001, and on the State Register of Heritage Places in 2002. In 2016, approval was given for a {{AUD|3{{nbsp}}million}} refurbishment, and it re-opened in November 2019 as four venues: a rooftop bar, a basement club, a performance hall and an eatery.{{cite web |last1=Strano |first1=Taylah |title=The Return of The Rechabite |url=https://rtrfm.com.au/story/the-rechabite/ |publisher=RTRFM |accessdate=12 January 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Tullio |first1=Adam Di |title=The Rechabite reboot: Arts guru launches Northbridge entertainment hub |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/the-rechabite-reboot-arts-guru-launches-northbridge-entertainment-hub-20200104-p53os0.html |accessdate=12 January 2020 |work=WAtoday |date=4 January 2020 |language=en}}

Rechabite Hall was designed by architect Edwin Summerhayes, as his last major work, in the Inter-War Free Classical style. The facade, entry foyer and hall are particularly noteworthy examples of the style; other significant architectural features include the entry hall's mosaic tile floor, main jarrah staircase, and the main hall's vaulted ceiling – extensively lined with pressed metal embossed decorative patterns. The hall is in a generally sound condition, with a moderate degree of historical integrity and authenticity. Damage from the 1980 fire is evident, and there have been some internal modifications made in the basement and the northern shopfront.{{cite web |author1=Heritage Council of Western Australia |title=Register of Heritage Places - Assessment Documentation: Rechabite Hall |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Admin/api/file/36003e75-cb9b-fadb-a24d-eeb823649040 |publisher=Government of Western Australia |accessdate=12 January 2020 |format=PDF |date=20 December 2002}}