Heritage in peril - a tale of two buildings

Abstract

This is the story of two colonial-period buildings in St Andrew’s, Pembroke, designed and constructed by the British military authorities during the first two decades of the twentieth century. The Recreation Establishment building, better known as the ex-Raffles building, and the former Australia Hall, were both concieved to cater for the social and communal needs of military personel stationed in St Andrew’s barracks. They were certainly not spectacular from an architectural point of view but were dignified and imposing buildings, primarily utiliterian in their external appearance. Both buildings exuded the spirit of rigour, discipline and attention to building construction detail - all hallmarks emanating from the drawing office of the Royal Engineers. For several decades they served their purpose well, as vintage photographs testify. [Excerpt]