TROVE TUESDAY 28TH MARCH, 2017.. 'SCHOOL OF ARTS' AUSTRALIA

Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

Is that a name you are familiar with? If not, you're not alone... after all, it was founded in 1833 as a non profit organisation with the aim of making a difference through learning. It was also known as the Mechanics' Institute and is known as the oldest continuous lending library in Australia.

There is a lot more about this particular institute on Wikipedia...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Mechanics%27_School_of_Arts

It was a great step forward when  the first dedicated building was established. Prior to it's inception in Pitt Street, Sydney, in 1837, meetings had been held at various places around the city. There were to be many changes ahead. 

From TROVE...

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW / 1876 - 1954)  Thu 3 Feb 1898  Page 7 

School of Arts Buildings were built across the country... they varied enormously in size, some started out small and were added to as funds permitted. Around our home town other School of Arts were in Raleigh, Coff's Harbour, Bellingen and Dorrigo, to name just a few..

They were used for so many purposes including town meetings, meetings for numerous organisations, for libraries, for council offices, even for the visiting bank officers. Weddings and all manner of receptions were held in them, as well as dances and balls, flower shows, concerts, travelling shows, e.g. such as Col Joye and Judy Stone, the hypnotist, Ron Rico, Slim Dusty and so many more.

Some were used for showing the early picture shows. There were even boxing bouts in some, including Coffs Harbour.

When we left our small town, in 1960, like many others who were well known in the town, we were given a farewell evening.. a few speeches, some entertainment, including my young brother whistling "Bimbo" while smiling... his party trick, encouraged by Dad's great friend, Stan Morris. Then there was the supper, provided by the community who 'brought a plate'. I don't recall what my parents were presented with as a farewell gift, but I do recall my father and mother being very embarrassed, as they didn't expect it. My Dad's family had been in Urunga since 1927.. his sister lived there still till her passing in 1987.

These are just a few examples of how popular they were, and in many cases still are...

The Raleigh Sun(Bellingen, 

NSW/1898-1918) Fri 26 May 1911.

Urunga.

From Our Correspondent

On Saturday last in the School

of Arts the Oddfellows' Minstrel

Troupe, under the conductorship of

Mr. Claude Hefren, played to an ex-

ceptionally large house and was a

complete success. The performers

were as follows Mr. W. Smedley

(centre man), F. Atherton, W. Kay,

R. Wilson, and C. Larsen (corner

men). The above artists caused

considerable amusement which was

well appreciated by the audience.

Mr. M. J. McGrath (Secretary) must

be congratulated on the success of

the concert, also the performers who

performed their parts very well in-

qeed, especially R. Wilson and F.

Atherton. Mr. Claude Hefren acted

as conductor and stage, manager. The                              

concert ended with a very laughable

farce, called "The Telephonograph"

which had the house in fits of laugh-

ter. The proceeds amounted to about

£20. Very creditable to the per

formers.

A lucky escape for the Urunga School of Arts

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW / 1876 - 1954)  

Thu 28 Nov 1929  Page 7  URUNGA BLAZE

      

Coffs Harbour Advocate (NSW / 1907 - 1942; 1946 - 1954)  Tue 7 Jun 1949  Page 7 

The School of Arts was run by trustees, the group changed over the years but it was always in the good hands of community minded citizens...

1911... trustees

1925.. trustees  Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW / 1915 - 1954)  Sat 24 Sep 1927  Page 2  URUNGA

In later years, the original School of Arts became the Urunga Museum and was shifted from it's first position to another site.. the large hall that was added many years ago, remains where it was opposite the              bottom of the school, across the road from the War Memorial.

  From the Bellingen Urunga Museum..

Photo courtesy of Lynne Sanders-Braithwaite

 Long may the now museum bring back memories to all who love history, especially that of Urunga. For me, it will always be the School of Arts and the memories of the very first library I ever saw will stay with me always.

 I would love to hear if your community has a School of Arts and what it is/was used for... Feel free to leave a comment below...