Harold Boas
Encyclopedia
Harold Boas was a town planner and architect
in Western Australia
. Boas designed many public buildings in and around Perth
and was an influential Jewish
community leader.
, Abraham Tobias Boas
(1842–1923) and his wife Elizabeth, née Solomon. After being educated at Whinham and Prince Alfred College
s he was apprenticed to architect Edward Davies between 1899 and 1904 and later studied at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries.
on 29 March 1911.
(1934), the Emu Brewery
(1938), the Adelphi Hotel, London Court
(1937) and the Gledden Building
(1938).
of Western Australia in 1931. He was an inaugural member of the State division of the Town Planning Institute of Australia.
In 1932 Boas stood unsuccessfully for the Western Australian Legislative Council
as an anti-secessionist candidate during the debate prior to the 1933 secession referendum.
He founded and edited the Australian Jewish Outlook, a short lived anti-Zionist monthly, in May 1947. However, the periodical went out of circulation after little more than a year as Boas had overestimated the level of support for it.
He was president of the local branch of the United Nations Association
, representing Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry at the United Nations
conference in Bangkok
in 1950.
(formerly known as "Delhi Square" up to 1975-76) are named in his honour.31.946°N 115.845°W
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Boas designed many public buildings in and around Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and was an influential Jewish
Australian Jews
Australian Jews, or Jewish Australians, are Jews who are Australian citizens or resident aliens. The Jewish community in Australia is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their Australia-born descendants. There is, however, a minority from all...
community leader.
Early life
Boas was born in Adelaide to noted Minister and RabbiRabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Abraham Tobias Boas
Abraham Tobias Boas
Abraham Tobias was a rabbi of a Hebrew congregation in Adelaide, South Australia.-Early life:Boas was born at Amsterdam, Holland, son of Tobias Eliesar Boas, rabbi, and his wife Eva Salomon Levi, née Linse. Boas was educated at Amsterdam Theological Seminary and studied theology under a well-known...
(1842–1923) and his wife Elizabeth, née Solomon. After being educated at Whinham and Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
s he was apprenticed to architect Edward Davies between 1899 and 1904 and later studied at the South Australian School of Mines and Industries.
Move to Perth
In June 1905 he moved to Perth where he initially joined architects M. F. Cavanagh & Austin Bastow and later Oldham, Boas, Ednie-Brown & Partners with whom he stayed for many years. Boas married Sadie ('Sarah') Cohen at the Brisbane Street Synagogue in PerthPerth, Western Australia (suburb)
Perth is a locality covering the central inner-city area and central business district of the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan region. Perth is split between the City of Perth and the City of Vincent local authorities. Perth was named after Perth, Scotland.-Built environment:The dominant land...
on 29 March 1911.
Architecture
With his partners, Boas designed many public and private buildings around Perth including the open-aired King's Picture Theatre (1905), the Nedlands Park Hotel (1907), Radio station 6WF (1924), Edith Dircksey Cowan MemorialEdith Dircksey Cowan Memorial
The Edith Dircksey Cowan Memorial, formerly known as the Edith Cowan Memorial Clock, is a clock tower in Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia. It was built in 1934 as a memorial to Edith Cowan, the first female member of any Australian parliament...
(1934), the Emu Brewery
Emu Brewery
The Emu Brewery was a brewery in Perth, Western Australia, which traced its history to the first decade of the colony. Founded in 1837 by James Stokes as the Albion Brewery, it was located beside the Swan River on a block bounded by Mounts Bay Road, Spring Street and Mount Street...
(1938), the Adelphi Hotel, London Court
London Court
London Court is a three- and four-level open-roofed shopping arcade located in the central business district in Perth, Western Australia. It was built in 1937 by wealthy gold financier and businessman, Claude de Bernales for residential and commercial purposes...
(1937) and the Gledden Building
Gledden Building
The Gledden Building is an Art Deco office building in Perth, Western Australia. The building was constructed on land that had been bequested to the University of Western Australia by surveyor Robert Gledden.-Site and brief:...
(1938).
Public life
Boas served on the Perth City Council during 1914-16, 1926–42 and 1944, representing the South Ward. He was chairman of the State government's Metropolitan Town Planning Commission from 1928 to 1930 and was a member of the Town Planning Association of Western Australia from 1914. Boas chaired the City of Perth's town planning committee in 1930-33 and 1938–42, and was foundation president of the Town Planning InstitutePlanning Institute Australia
The Planning Institute was founded in 1951 and is the only national organisation representing qualified urban and regional planners and other related disciplines in Australia...
of Western Australia in 1931. He was an inaugural member of the State division of the Town Planning Institute of Australia.
In 1932 Boas stood unsuccessfully for the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
as an anti-secessionist candidate during the debate prior to the 1933 secession referendum.
He founded and edited the Australian Jewish Outlook, a short lived anti-Zionist monthly, in May 1947. However, the periodical went out of circulation after little more than a year as Boas had overestimated the level of support for it.
He was president of the local branch of the United Nations Association
United Nations Association
The United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body...
, representing Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
conference in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1950.
Honours
The Harold Boas Gardens in West PerthWest Perth, Western Australia
West Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It is part of the inner mixed zone, and has predominantly office blocks which have displaced residential buildings. There is a high proportion of miners and consultants, and particularly medical specialists, compared to...
(formerly known as "Delhi Square" up to 1975-76) are named in his honour.31.946°N 115.845°W