The Battle for the Arch

The Government announced its intention to demolish the Barracks in the early 1960s after the government departments that occupied it moved to the new Dumas House further up the hill.

The Royal Western Australian Historical Society formed a Barracks Defence Council in 1961, and joined the public outcry against demolition in 1966. The Barracks Defence Council battled to keep the arch and five bays of windows either side, or, at worst, keep only the gateway and towers. Meanwhile, demolition of the rest of the Barracks started and the rubble cleared.

Opinion polls were conducted to find out how the public felt about loosing this important landmark. A poll by radio station 6IX received 2,747 votes to retain the Arch and 59 votes for demolition and the West Australian newspaper’s poll recorded 9,681 votes for retention and 1,345 against. Cabinet then authorised a Gallup poll, which showed 49% of votes for retention, 35% against, 11% no opinion, and 5% for moving the Arch elsewhere. The Premier, Sir David Brand, interpreted the results as indecisive and declared Parliament would decide on the Arch’s fate on a non-party basis. The motion to demolish the Arch was defeated in October, 1966, by 26 votes to 18 and the arch remains as we see it today.