It is called a museum because it holds a collection of amazing historical items related to our district that have been collected by donation and acquisition over time, since the formation of the Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society in 1970.
But, what about the building. The grand Public Hall on Albury Street in Murrumburrah opened in 1912. Visitors always ask: “what was this building?”. The answer? The society aims to include information about the building, and its significance, on a panel in the foyer for the appreciation of visitors.
The following history tells us about the ideas and engagement of the community through to the opening:
The Murrumburrah Signal reported on the ‘strong’ public feeling of having the proposed Hall built as a Public Hall, and that a public meeting was to be convened.
“We have seen the plans of the new building, for which the tender of Mr. J. G. Taylor of Hunters Hill, has been accepted. The contract price is £1,997 10s and the building will be one of the best on the Southern line. The auditorium is to be 60 feet long by 35 feet wide with a stage 18 feet wide, thus making the total length of the building 78 feet. There will be two spacious dressing rooms at the side, making an easy approach to the stage. Underneath the main Hall will be a basement 48 ft. by 28 ft. which will be available as a supper room etc. The whole of the appointments is to be up-to-date, including a costly piano, ample and artistic scenery, comfortable sitting accommodation, steel ceilings and fireproof stage. A special feature of the Hall will be the best dancing floor in the State and equal to the famous Paddington Town Hall. The architect, Mr. A. Allen, of 82 Pitt Street was the designer of the Paddington Hall and has guaranteed that the floor will be at least equal to that. We understand that Mr. Taylor will commence work as soon as the bricks are obtainable. The external appearance of the Hall will be of artistic and not too elaborate design, and will be another monument to the advance of Murrumburrah.” [Murrumburrah Signal 5 October 1911, p1]
The public meeting was held in October 1911 for the people to decide to build the Public Hall and School of Arts. The Mayor (Ald. Heggaton) asked Mr. Foley to explain the position on behalf of the shareholders.
Mr Foley said the position was that certain gentlemen had formed themselves into a company to build a Hall, and 17,000 or 18,000 shares were subscribed, plans drawn, tenders were invited. The provisional directors were elected, and preparations were made to register the company; but some of the townspeople approached the directors and suggested that the Hall have a School of Arts added. The directors then refrained from registering the company and said they would be only too pleased to fall in with the idea. To further assist the movement, they had sent the plans back to the architect and he had added the necessary accommodation for the School of Arts, which would add about £700 to the cost of the building making the total about £2,700.
Mr. Bourke was giving them a valuable block of 66 feet of ground for £300 and the meeting endorsed the action of the shareholders in handing over the Hall to be built as a public concern, and that the necessary accommodation be added for a School of Arts.
The directors were willing that the land be transferred to trustees, and that not less than ten responsible persons should be guarantors for the amount required to complete the building. Of these guarantors five would be Trustees. The public were to elect a committee, and the directors suggested that six out of the ten should be guarantors. He was also instructed to add that the directors would put no obstacle in the way of the public taking over the movement if it was their wish to do so, and that they would assist the movement with all in their power. The contractor, Mr. Taylor, had suggested that £100 could be saved by making the top storey of the building 9 inch, instead of 14-inch brickwork.
The prevailing tone of the meeting was a unanimous desire to carry out the proposal in a manner that will reflect credit on the town, and the liberal promises of support made, leave no room for doubt that the movement will be a complete success.
A committee were selected:- Messrs Newton, Shaw, O’Brien, Foley, Denning, Menlove, Lazzarini, Watson, Worner and Gale. Mr. Shaw was elected convenor. The committee of ten were to interview the shareholders and arrange all details and report to a public meeting.
[Excerpts from the Murrumburrah Signal 16 October 1911) p2]
The Mayor (Ald. R. D. Heggaton) performed the ceremony of laying the Foundation Stone of the Murrumburrah Public Hall and School of Arts. During his address he said “It is not a place of amusement alone, for in our reading room and library the facilities will be afforded to young men and young women to increase their store of knowledge. The hall will have a floor space of 60ft. x 35ft., and will seat about 450 people; the stage will be 20ft. x 35ft. and the two dressing rooms 12ft. x 12 ft. will be on the same level as the stage floor. The library will by 16ft. x12ft. and the reading room 20ft. x 12ft. 6 in. In these two rooms will be placed one of the finest and most complete libraries to be found in an Institute outside the Metropolis, and all the latest papers and magazines. Above the library and reading rooms will be a billiard room 20 ft. 4 in. x 35 ft.’ In the basement of the hall there will be a supper room 35ft. x 35ft. which will seat about 150 persons; a kitchen properly fitted with stove, copper, sink etc, and a servery between the kitchen and supper room.”
“In this bottle underneath the Stone I am placing a copy of the “Murrumburah Signal”; a parchment, stating when the hall was erected and containing the names of the Aldermen; and some coins of the realm of this year’s coinage and of the reigns of King Edward and Queen Victoria.”
Mr. Taylor, the Contractor, presented the Mayor with a very handsome silver trowel with ivory handle suitably inscribed.
The Mayor then laid the stone which is of freestone with a marble plate bearing the inscription.
This stone was laid by R. D. Heggaton, M. B., J. P., March 2nd 1912”.
The Harden District Band played “Advance Australia Fair.” Mr. P V. Spliet took several photographs of the group. On the dispersal of the gathering, the Band played the National Anthem. [Murrumburrah Signal Monday 4 March 1912, p]
In preparation for the fitting out of the Public Hall and School of Arts, the Committee of the Murrumburrah School of Arts met in Watson’s Hall on Tuesday night. Present: Mr B. R. Denning, (President), and Messrs Lazzarini, Shaw, Simpson, Newton, Menlove, Reid, Iredale, Woodward, O’Brien and the Secretary Mr. W. Worner.
A letter had been received from the Colonial Secretary stating that the Hall had been licensed under the “Public Hall and Theatres Act”. The Treasurer reported a credit balance was £447 14s 9d. The Committee considered the estimates of furniture etc, made by the various sub-committees. The Library Committee recommended the purchase of £75 worth of books (a list provided). The Piano Committee recommended the purchase of a Ronisch piano for the present at a cost of £73 19s, and later on when the committee sees its way clear to get a better piano. The Billiard Room Committee recommending the purchase of a table from Heiron and Smith, and other furnishings, seats etc, at a total cost of £145 8s 2d, and General Purposes Committee recommended purchases to the amount of £129 19s 1d. The total amount of estimates was £498 6s 3d including scenery, seats and other items not in the former mentioned. Arrangements were then discussed about the Ball ticket costs and other preparation.
Mr. Shaw proposed that the Committee apply to the Municipal Council for the Public Library, now at the Council Chambers, and ask Council for shelving and blind within the Public Library – carried. [Murrumburrah Signal 11 July 1912, p2]
The Murrumburrah School of Arts and Public Hall, erected at a cost of £3800 was opened with a ball on Wednesday night and a juvenile dance on Thursday. The Mayor (Dr. R. D. Heggaton) performed the opening ceremony.
The building contains a reading room, library, billiard room, hall 80ft. x 35ft., basement room 35ft., x 35ft., dressing rooms, etc., and is splendidly finished in every detail, from plans drawn by Mr. W. J. Allen, architect, Sydney, and approved under the Public Halls and Theatres Act.
There were 125 couples at the ball, which was one of the most successful functions ever held in the district. There was a large gathering at the juvenile ball; the total takings were over £80.
[Burrangong Argus, Wednesday 28 August 1912, p2]
From those early days the Public Hall has been host to theatrical performances, cinema, meetings, grand balls, political events, annual general meetings of various clubs & associations. The School of Arts Committee was very energetic with several sub committees organising events of their own and for other organisations.
The Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society has been the incumbent of this Public Hall since the 1970s. Currently we have static displays with various themes and plan to have a change in the way items are displayed to tell more of a story for locals and visitors alike.
Come on down to the Museum at Murrumburrah and marvel at the building and its collection – currently open on Saturdays 11:30am to 3:30pm and on Sundays 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
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