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MEMORIAL HALL

The Memorial Hall est.1923

A Returned Serviceman’s League was formed in 1919, shortly after World War I had ended. One of the first considerations was the commemoration of those who gave their lives. A Memorial Hall was decided upon, it would house the Honour Roll, also known as the Honour Board.
Tommy Stewart called for names and townsfolk were active supporters of fundraising efforts. Architect George Herbert Parry designed the building and the project had some large donors (Michael Corbett of Telyarup being one of them) and a loan of ₤2000 from Mr Andrew Moir.

GNOWANGERUP MEMORIAL HALL            #1
 

   OPENING OF THE MEMORIAL HALL        #2
 

In addition, the Premier of WA introduced an Enabling Bill into Parliament to allow the Agricultural Hall and the old Road Board Office to be sold and the proceeds devoted to the Memorial Hall. (Gnowangerup Star, 17 November 1923.
As the project was so well supported financially, within 6 months of the idea being raised - the Hall had been built.
The citizens could use the hall, with the proviso that the front room on the left side would remain permanently for the RSL, and should the RSL use the hall for their own function, they could use it at no cost.
In February 1923, the foundation stone was laid by Mr Michael Corbett, his family had the ceremonial trowel in their possession for many years, however sometime around the 1980’s it went missing.


      OPENING OF THE MEMORIAL HALL       #3
 

The hall was built by Perth builder, Mr Cresswell, at a cost of just over 3,000 pounds. (Approximately $2 million in today’s money)
Local stone was used in the construction of the hall which took six months to build and was opened in August 1923 by the Governor, Sir Frances Newdegate.
A mounted Honour Guard escorted the Governor.
This was seven members of the 10th Light Horse Regiment - Albert Freegard, Leo Treasure were two of the members.
Arthur Dawson played the ‘Last Post’ and Margot Davies presented Lady Newdegate with a bouquet of flowers.
From 1929, movies were held twice weekly in the Memorial Hall. The projector room was located immediately above the main entrance, and accessed from outside the hall by climbing a wooden staircase.
The ticket office and tea room was located at the front on the right hand side, a square hole cut into the entry door for ticket sales.
The RSL Ladies Auxilliary used the RSL Room for several years, moving to the ‘Cloak Room’ in the 1930’s following a disagreement with the men of the RSL.

      THE FOUNDATION STONE       #4
 


     INTERIOR VIEW TO THE STAGE DECORATIONS        #5
Note:    GUNS ON THE WALL AT THE RIGHT

 

A Repertory group was formed in Gnowangerup around 1930.
The stage was well equipped with dressing rooms at the rear of the hall, and initially a piano stood next to the stage on the right hand side.
Two guns, souvenired from WWI were fixed to the wall to the right of the stage.
From 1923 to 1942, the room on the right-hand side of the main entrance to the hall was the Gnowangerup Roads Board office.
The Gnowangerup Library remained in the building until the present library was built in the 1960’s
ANZAC services were first held in the hall before the War Memorial was built, and the hall is used to this day for gatherings after the ANZAC service.
The Hall has been hired for movies, dances, cabarets, live performances, for R.S.L. Dinners, school concerts, Rotary and other Gnowangerup club functions, debutante and other balls, meetings, fashion parades, exhibitions and cabarets.
The repairs and maintenance of the hall are the responsibility of the Gnowangerup Shire.

June Eastwood: "Guns at right (from First World War) were taken down when war broke out again in 1939 and never returned".
June suggested c1939 for this photo of the stage decorations.
Glen Oliver: “The machine guns were allocated to Gnowangerup by the War Trophy Committee around 1921. In 1923 they were "to be cleaned and inscribed- War Trophy 1914-1918".
Bob Foster:  "I recall the two guns that were displayed in the Memorial Hall – a German Spandor and a British Vickers Machine Gun. During WWII the guns were used for training due to the shortage of weapons. The barrel of the German gun was converted to a Vickers so it would take available ammunition".
 


 THE GNOWANGERUP MEMORIAL HALL         #6
 

In the 1960s renovations were made to the Memorial Hall. From the stage back was extended and widened and this allowed the stage to be the full width of the original hall

 EXTENSIONS TO THE HALL          #7
 

    EXTENSIONS TO THE HALL          #78
 

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:              

 

                                  Image:            5             June Eastwood
                                                         7, 8        Gordon Freegard

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024