Pipe Organs in WA
 
 
 
 
 

ABC Sound Broadcasting and Television Studios, Perth
The pipe organs of Western Australia



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The ABC studios, 187 Adelaide Terrace

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The Basil Kirke Studio

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The organ console

Property
Name of institution   ABC Sound Broadcasting and Television Studios
Type of institution0   Television Studio
Street Address   187-193 Adelaide Terrace East
City   Perth
State   Western Australia
Postcode   6000
Country   Australia
Name of building   ABC Sound Broadcasting and Television Studios
Name of room   The Basil Kirke Studio
Dates of the building   1960
Register of Heritage Places   Registered 11 Apr 2008
Heritage Place number   14911
Architect   Phillip Griffiths
Builder  

Special architectural features and fittings   The heritage listed building originally constructed in 1960 was for 50 years the home of the ABC in Perth and was the the epicentre of WA's broadcast media. The Basil Kirke studios in the centre piece of the building with 10 metre high ceilings was the first in-house sound recording studio in Australia.

The place was the first complete broadcasting complex built for the Australian Broadcasting Commission and was the first time in Australia that studios for radio and television broadcasting and recording, and sound recording, were developed on one site at the same time. The place exhibits the simplicity of line and form typical of the Post-War International style, demonstrating the modernist ideals in architecture at the time of its construction, and is a good and highly intact example of the style in Western Australia.

The Basil Kirke Studio is the largest sound studio of its type and acoustic quality in Western Australia, and it exhibits the modernist principles of the time of its construction in the honest and unmasked use of materials, and simplicity of presentation, in features such as the brick patterning and timber panelling. The place is associated with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) which used the Basil Kirke Studio for rehearsals, recordings, broadcasts and concerts until it was relocated to the Perth Concert Hall, and continued to use ABC Sound Broadcasting and Television Studios Perth for administration purposes until 2004.

The place is associated with renown Western Australian artist Robert Juniper, who was commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Commission to create the broadcasting-themed mural at the entrance, the first such commission by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. The Robert Juniper mural is a rare remaining example of a commissioned piece of post-World War II public art retained in situ.

The place is associated with several West Australian broadcasting identities. In particular it is associated with Basil Kirke, who was manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Western Australia from 1932-36 and 1952-1958, and who was instrumental in the establishment of ABC Sound Broadcasting and Television Studios, Perth. The place is the public face of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in Western Australia from its construction in 1960 until it was superseded by a new facility in 2005. It was constructed at the same time the medium of television came to Western Australia, ushering in the beginning of a new era of communication, and rendering previous facilities used by the ABC obsolete.

Other location information   The first radio station in Perth was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) in 1932. It was located on the corner of Hay and Milligan Streets, then relocated to Stirling Gardens on St Georges Terrace after the ABC began running it where they occupied the Stirling Institute after the Returned and Services League moved to Anzac House on St Georges Terrace. This building had to be adapted for its new purpose. In 1942 the Federal Government bought a property on Adelaide Terrace for government purposes during WW2. After the War it was decided that it would be ideal to build a new studio facility on the property. These studios were originally used for radio but as technology changed, television studies were also built on the place. Studio space for recording orchestral works was also included in the building and the largest studio was the home of the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. A house “Rosehill’ built in c1874, for G. F. Stone who was the Attorney General, already located on the site and this was demolished in 1954.

Construction work on the site for the new studios began in 1958. The studios were completed in 1960 and were known as the Rosehill Studios. Further buildings were built to accommodate advances in technology in television and radio.

The buildings were occupied until 2005 when a new studio complex was constructed in East Perth. The buildings covered the site between Adelaide Terrace and Terrace Road, with the radio buildings located at the front of the site, and the television building at the rear (Terrace Road). A large antenna was located on the roof of the television building located along Terrace Road. In 2010 the television buildings were demolished due to the approval of three high rise residential towers and three low rise apartment buildings on the site. The administration and radio buildings located along Adelaide Terrace were retained, although a section of the Radio building was demolished along the former carpark. The Robert Juniper artwork and foundation stone are still in situ. These buildings were designed in the International Style with large expanse of windows on the façade. The Concerto apartment tower is accessed through the Administration building on Adelaide Terrace which has been altered at ground level, while the others are accessed on Terrace Road.

Name of contact  
Mailing Address  
Telephone  
Email  
Other contact information  

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Previous organ(s)
Date of previous organ   None
Detail of previous organ  
Dates when key work has been undertaken  
Dates of any moves that have taken place  
Variations from original design of organ  
Information on previous organ  
Information about comparable instruments to previous organ  
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Case description   Free standing, moveable.

Placement in room   Casework in Philippine Mahogany Mounted on steel dolly.

Builder's name   F.J. Larner & Co.

Opus number  

Date of completion/installation   1978

Construction materials  

Number of manuals   Two (2)

Key compasses   CC-g

Number of keys   56

Key material  

Pedal compass   CC to f

Number of pedals   30

Pedalboard type  

Pedalboard material  

Type of chests   Slider

Type of key action   Mechanical

Type of stop action   Mechanical

Couplers   Hitchdown pedals
Positive - Great
Positive - Pedal
Great - Pedal

Tremulants  

Accessories   

Console type   Integrated drawstop

Stop label material  

Placement   Flat jambs

General design  

Playing aids  

Divisions   Great, Positive, Pedal

Wind pressures  

Stop list  
GREAT
Gedeckt 8'
Octave 2'
Mixture II
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POSITIVE
Gedeckt 8'
Spitzflute 4'
Quint 1 1/3'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Regal 8'
Cymbalstern
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PEDAL
Flute Bass 8'
Principal 4'
Sordun 16'
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Total number of stops   12

Total number of ranks   12

Total number of pipes   594

Dates when key work has been undertaken on current organ  

Dates of any moves that have taken place to current organ   Removed and relocated to Edith Cowan University 1982.

Information on current organ  

Comparable instruments to current organ  

Assessment of organ and current status   No longer at this location

Other organs by this builder   There are many organs by John Larner in Western Australia. Please refer to Western Australian Organs Builders Index

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Document control Original entries J R Elms, OAM, Gazetteer of Western Australian Pipe Organs, 1971, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
This entry D B Duncan 27 November 2008.
Information from Heritage Council of Western Australia.
Information from WA TV History.