Burt Memorial Hall

Septimus and Louisa Burt decided to erect a memorial to their son Lt Theodore Burt, who was killed in action in France in 1916, aged just 23 years. After speaking with the Archbishop of Perth, the Burts decided to build a church hall adjacent to St George’s Cathedral. By the time the building was completed, another of their sons, Francis, had also been killed in action.

The new building was designed by architect George Herbert Parry, and Sir John Forrest, a friend of the Burts, laid the foundation stone for Burt Memorial Hall on 26 October 1917. The Hall was officially opened on 12 June 1918 in front of a ‘large and representative gathering of churchmen and citizens of Perth’. It was much praised by the West Australian.

In his monthly letter published in West Australian Church News, the Archbishop approved of the design of the new hall:
Now that the hall is finished we see what a beautiful building it is, how well it stands near the Cathedral, and how good from an architectural point of view it is. In fact it has already been of great use.

Over the years, Burt Memorial Hall has served as an important church and community venue, hosting many events including art shows, religious services and lectures and children’s Sunday School classes. On the upper floor, the large hall is still used for a variety of functions.