CWA Rest House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CWA Rest House |
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| Location | Yapunyah Street, Barellan, Narrandera Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1924–1924 |
| Architect | George William Welch |
| Official name: CWA Rest House; Country Womens Association hall; Country Women's Association meeting rooms | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 18 November 2011 |
| Reference no. | 1876 |
| Type | Hall Country Women's Association |
| Category | Community Facilities |
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The CWA Rest House in Barellan, New South Wales, is a special building with a rich history. It was built in 1924 and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's an important part of the state's history and should be protected. It was designed by George William Welch and served as a meeting place and a "rest house" for the Country Women's Association (CWA).
Contents
Barellan and its History
Early Days of Narrandera and Barellan
The Wiradjuri Aboriginal people were the first to live in the Narrandera area. They have a deep connection to this land. Later, in the 1800s, European explorers like Charles Sturt passed through. Settlers soon followed to farm the rich land near the Murrumbidgee River.
In the 1850s, many gold miners travelled through on their way to the gold fields. Paddle steamers started using the Murrumbidgee River for transport in 1858. The village of Narrandera was officially named in 1860. It grew even more when a train line connected it in 1881.
Barellan is a smaller town in the Riverina region. It was officially named in 1909, a year after it got its own railway link to Temora and Sydney. The railway helped the area grow, changing from large grazing farms to many smaller farms growing grain and fruit. Famous people from this area include Aboriginal tennis champion Evonne Goolagong and former New South Wales Governor, Marie Bashir.
The Country Women's Association (CWA)
What is the CWA?
The Country Women's Association (CWA) of New South Wales was the first group of its kind in Australia. It started in Sydney in 1922. The CWA is a group that helps women and children living in country areas. It's not linked to any political party or religion.
The CWA's main goal was to make life better for women in rural areas. They wanted to create a "home away from home" where women could relax, let their children play, and hold meetings. These "rest rooms" became a source of pride for many communities.
How the CWA Grew and Helped
The CWA grew very quickly. By 1924, just two years after starting, there were 120 branches and 4,500 members. They had already helped fund and set up 21 rest rooms. By 1953, they had 28,000 members and 517 branches!
The CWA did many important things. They supported health services for children, helped with reading clubs, and supported groups like Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. They also helped the Flying Doctor Service. From the 1930s, they became known for their handicrafts and cookbooks.
During World War II, the CWA helped the war effort. They entertained soldiers and knitted clothes for them. A big project was making camouflage netting for the army. Many women were already busy running their farms while their husbands were away fighting.
After the war, the CWA helped new migrants settle in Australia. They met ships and helped families find their feet. They also started to encourage Aboriginal women to join their groups. The CWA has always worked hard to get better facilities for country communities, like schools, medical centres, and social activities.
The Barellan CWA Rest House Story
Building the First Rest House
The Barellan CWA Branch started on 15 August 1922. It was one of the very first CWA branches in New South Wales. The women decided they needed a place for rest and refreshment. At that time, Barellan only had one seat in the main street. Summers were very hot, and women needed a comfortable place to go while their husbands were in town for business.
To pay for the building, the Barellan CWA held many events. They had socials, card parties, dances, and a bazaar. People often held these events on nights with a full moon so everyone could drive their horses home safely.
By November 1923, plans were ready for a weatherboard Rest House. The architect, G. W. A. Welch from Leeton, offered his services for free. The building cost 520 pounds. The Barellan CWA was very proud to have raised 400 pounds themselves.
The Rest House was ready in July 1924. Members held a tea party to thank everyone who helped. They also served afternoon tea to the public every Saturday to help pay off the remaining debt. By May 1929, the building was completely paid for!
More Community Projects
After their success with the Rest House, the Barellan CWA decided to build a hospital for the town in 1929. It was a big project, especially since the Great Depression started soon after. They worked hard for many years to pay it off. The hospital was eventually given to the Hospitals Commission in 1938.
In 1934, they set up a Baby Health Centre inside the Rest House. A nursing sister visited twice a month to help mothers and babies. This service later moved to the Community Health Centre.
A "Younger Set" for younger members was formed in 1935. They added a meeting room to the Rest House in 1941. One of their biggest projects was raising money to buy a piano for the main branch. This piano was bought in 1953 and restored in 2008.
During World War II, Barellan CWA members helped the war effort. They made camouflage nets, spun wool, and knitted socks for soldiers.
Celebrating and Changing
The Barellan CWA has always been active in handicrafts, cooking, and cultural events. In 1972, they celebrated their 50th anniversary. A tree was planted in Evonne Goolagong Park next to the Rest House to mark the occasion.
In 1988, research confirmed that the Barellan Rest House was the *first* purpose-built CWA Rest House in Australia. A special board was placed above the front door to celebrate this. The park next to the building was also named the Bicentennial Garden.
Over the years, the CWA Rest House has been used by many other local groups, like the Golf Club, Red Cross, and Senior Citizens. The building has also been updated over time. Grants and community help have allowed them to replace the roof, paint the building, lay new carpet, and add new chairs and pavers for easier access.
About the Architect
George William Welch was the architect who designed the CWA Rest House. He was born in England in 1887 and moved to Australia in 1912. He lived in Leeton and designed many buildings there, including St Mary's Convent. During World War II, he worked as a camouflage expert. He died in 1959.
What the Rest House Looks Like
The CWA Rest House is built from weatherboard with a gabled roof made of corrugated iron. It has a verandah across the front. When it was first built, it had a large reading room, a dressing room, a store room, and a toilet.
Over time, the building changed. In 1941, the west verandah was enclosed to create a separate meeting room for the "Younger Set." In 1988, the wall between the main room and the Younger Set room was removed. This created one large, L-shaped meeting room. The building now also has a kitchen, store room, and toilet. The two chimneys were rebuilt in 1999. Inside, you can still see the original patterned ceilings and cornices.
Special Items Inside
The Rest House holds many special items from its history:
- The piano donated by the Younger Set in 1953.
- Items from the Baby Health Centre, like baby scales and a weighing chair.
- Old CWA tea cups and saucers from the 1930s.
- Trophies won for cooking and craft activities.
- A framed black and white photo of the Rest House from its early days.
- A plaque from 1988 dedicated to the pioneer members.
- An Honour Roll book from 1988.
The building is in good condition thanks to ongoing care and repairs.
Changes Over Time
- 1928: The back of the Rest House was painted, and a "CWA Rest House" sign was put up.
- 1934: Facilities for a Baby Health Centre were added.
- 1936: A new kitchen, stove, and chimney were built.
- 1941: The west verandah was enclosed to make the "Younger Set" room.
- 1940s: A ramp was added to the front verandah for easier access.
- 1951: Electricity was connected to the building.
- 1953: The Younger Set donated a piano.
- 1972: The 50th anniversary was celebrated with a tree planting.
- 1988: The park next to the Rest House was extended and named the Bicentennial Garden. The main meeting room was made larger by removing a wall. A plaque was unveiled, and a board was placed above the entrance to celebrate it being the first CWA Rest House in Australia.
- Late 1970s: An amplifier system was installed in the meeting room.
- 1993: The Rest House was added to the Register of the National Estate.
- 1999: The roof was replaced, chimneys restored, and the exterior painted.
- 2000: The inside of the building was painted.
- 2001-2002: New blinds and curtains were installed.
- 2004: New carpet was laid.
- 2007: New chairs were bought.
- 2008: The piano was restored, and pavers were laid for easier access.
Why the Rest House is Important
The CWA Rest House in Barellan is very important because it was one of the first buildings specifically built by local country women for the CWA in Australia. It shows how much effort was made to help women and children in rural areas. It's also a great example of how a CWA branch built and changed a building over many years to serve different community needs.
The Rest House also adds to the look of the street with its historic weatherboard style. It has played a big part in the community life of Barellan for almost a century. It represents the strong spirit and hard work of the CWA members who wanted to make life better for everyone in the country.
