Heritage Places

Heritage Place Details

LOCATION
Map Show Map
Address 221 Wakefield Street ADELAIDE
Locality
Accuracy H - high level confidence
Development Plan ADELAIDE Council
Polygon Type B - Building footprint
DESCRIPTION
Details (Known As) Office (former Our Boys Institute Building) [facade only]
Registered Name Facade of Former "Our Boys" Institute Building
Significance The former Our Boys Institute building is of heritage significance because of its association with the Our Boys Institute movement. Modelled on and supported by the Adelaide Branch of the YMCA, the OBI fostered the physical and mental health of 13 to 18 year old boys and was a forerunner of the various youth groups which flourished in the first half of the twentieth century. Constructed for the OBI in 1897 the building housed various lecture and games rooms, a library and reading room, a large gymnasium, indoor running track and swimming baths at the rear. Built at a total cost of over 4,000 pounds, all raised by public subscription, and staffed by volunteer instructors and officials, the OBI Building illustrates the commitment of a group of prominent South Australian businessmen to the physical, moral, and spiritual development of boys and young men. As well as offering self-improvement classes and a variety of sporting activities, the Institute also ran an annual camp for its members, and assisted them to find employment. The OBI occupied the building until 1961, when it amalgamated with the Youth Clubs Association of South Australia to become the South Australian Sports Club (OBI) Incorporated, based at Woodville. Designed by F W Dancker in the Venetian Gothic style, of which there are few other examples in Adelaide, the building exhibits a high quality of design, and its elaborately detailed three-storey sandstone facade is of particular note. The remainder of the building, which has been substantially altered, is not included in the listing. [Adapted from: Flightpath Architects Pty Ltd 'Conservation Plan for 219-223 Wakefield Street Adelaide (former Our Boys' Institute)' October 2005]
Subject Index Community facilities - Public Hall; Miscellaneous - Office [Miscellaneous]
Class State
STATUS
Status Code REG - Confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register
Status Date 24-JUL-1980
REFERENCE
LGA Adelaide
State Heritage ID 10890
Heritage Number 1365
SECTION 16 INFORMATION
Section 16
PLAN PARCEL & TITLE
As listed in the SA Heritage Register
Plan Parcel & Title Information CT 5799/369 F181570 A728

Disclaimer

While due care has been taken to ensure that the SA Heritage Places Database accurately reflects the South Australian Heritage Register and listings of Local Heritage Places in Development Plans, the State of South Australia does not accept liability for the use of the SA Heritage Database for any purpose. Users should consult the Department for Environment and Water - Heritage South Australia to confirm the listing of State Heritage Places and the relevant Development Plan for Local Heritage Places/Contributory Items.

In the majority of cases, the maps of State Heritage Places on this web site show the footprints of the most significant structures on a registered Place. However, sometimes they simply indicate the complete area of land comprising the Place. Work is proceeding to further refine the mapping of such places. It is also important to note that development control is not limited to the registered structures but extends to their setting and structures nearby (what is termed ‘development affecting’ a State Heritage Place). Hence it is vital that exact details of the listed place and implications for any proposed development be discussed with Heritage South Australia staff, as they cannot be deduced solely from the information on this web site. The inclusion of a place in the SA Heritage Register gives no right of public access. Permission to visit properties must be sought from the owners. The accuracy of the mapping of State Heritage Places is not guaranteed. Please contact Heritage SA ( https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/sa-heritage-register) if you believe there is an error.


GIS files

To access downloadable GIS files, go to Data.SA.