{{Short description|Former military barracks building in Perth, Western Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Swan Barracks | ensign = | ensign_size = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = [[Perth]], [[Western Australia]] | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = | image = File:Old_Swan_Barracks,_Western_Australia.jpg | alt = | caption = Swan Barracks in 2006 | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = | coordinates = {{coord|-31.94882|115.86228|format=dms|type:landmark_region:AU-WA|display=inline,title}} | gridref = | image_map = | image_mapsize = | image_map_alt = | image_map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = <!-- government department such as the MoD or the United States DoD --> | operator = [[Australian Army]] | controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force --> | open_to_public = Yes, since decommissioning | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US --> | built = {{Start date|1896}} | used = {{#expr:1992-1896}} years | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = | events = | current_commander = <!-- current commander --> | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = [[5th Military District (Australia)|5th Military District]]<br/>[[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]] | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> }} '''Swan Barracks''' was a military establishment in Francis Street, [[Perth]], Western Australia. The heritage [[listed building]] is located between Museum and [[Beaufort Street]]s.
==Military use==
The barracks began as an unnamed [[drill hall]] constructed in 1896 prior to the [[Federation of Australia]]. An administration building was later constructed in a style described by the heritage register as "a romantic interpretation of a fortress".<ref name="ABC Architectural mishmash">{{cite news |last1=Horsley |first1=Lorraine |last2=Wynne |first2=Emma |title=Architectural mishmash: the history of Perth's Old Swan Barracks |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-03/perth-old-swan-barracks/6277372 |access-date=23 May 2021 |work=ABC Radio Perth |date=3 March 2015}}</ref>
Upon [[Federation of Australia|federation]] the barracks was used by the [[Australian Army]], and became the headquarters of its [[5th Military District (Australia)|5th Military District]]. An ordnance store was added to the complex in 1905.<ref name="ABC Architectural mishmash" /> The barracks was named in 1928.<ref>{{cite news|date=10 January 1928|title=Swan Barracks|volume=XLVII|page=7 (Home (Final) Edition)|newspaper=[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia)|The Daily News]]|issue=16,442|location=Western Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78954275|via=National Library of Australia|accessdate=22 May 2021}}</ref>
Swan Barracks was a military headquarters during the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47166248 |title=Voluntary Service. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=57 |issue=17,253 |location=Western Australia |date=23 October 1941 |accessdate=22 May 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Additional wings were added to the eastern and western sides of the complex during the early years of the war.<ref name="ABC Architectural mishmash" /> It was the headquarters of the [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]].
The Australian Army used the complex throughout the [[Cold War]]. In 1992 the Army units stationed at Swan Barracks were relocated to [[HMAS Leeuwin (naval base)|Leeuwin Barracks]] in [[Fremantle]]. The complex was sold in 1999.<ref name="ABC Architectural mishmash" />
==Heritage listing and civilian use==
The Swan Barracks complex was added to the heritage list in 1985 and the state heritage register in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heritage Council |title=Swan Barracks |url=http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/0da9ae51-4d05-4f4c-9af2-8ccc27c790fa |website=inHerit |publisher=Government of Western Australia |access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
The buildings have served a number of uses since decommissioning, including as a backpacker [[hostel]] and a private college.<ref name="ABC Architectural mishmash" />
==References== {{commonscat|Swan Barracks}} {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Barracks in Australia]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Perth, Western Australia]] [[Category:Military installations in Western Australia]] [[Category:State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Perth]] [[Category:Military installations established in 1896]] [[Category:Military installations closed in 1992]]