Cactoblastis Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cactoblastis Memorial Hall |
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Cactoblastis Memorial Hall, 2006
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| Location | Warrego Highway, Boonarga, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 – 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Official name: Cactoblastis Memorial Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 September 1993 |
| Reference no. | 601273 |
| Significant period | 1936, 1963 (historical, fabric) 1936– (social) |
| Significant components | memorial – hall |
| Builders | Jack Schloss |
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The Cactoblastis Memorial Hall is a special building in Boonarga, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of history. This hall was built in 1936 to celebrate something amazing: how a tiny moth helped save Queensland from a huge problem – the prickly pear plant! It's a unique memorial, as it's dedicated to an insect.
Contents
A Story of Moths and Prickly Pears
This wooden hall was finished in 1936 in Boonarga, a small town near Chinchilla. The hall was built to honor the cactoblastis moth. This moth played a huge role in getting rid of the prickly pear plant in Queensland and New South Wales. This happened during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
The Prickly Pear Problem
The prickly pear plant first came to Queensland around 1843. It was brought as a garden plant. By 1862, it was already growing in the Chinchilla area. It spread very quickly, especially in places with large land areas and few people.
The prickly pear became a serious problem. In 1893, the Queensland government called it a "noxious weed." This means it was a harmful plant. By 1900, about 10 million acres of land were covered by prickly pear. By 1920, this had grown to an amazing 58 million acres! About half of this land was so thick with prickly pear that it couldn't be used for farming or anything else. Trying to remove it with machines or chemicals was too expensive. It cost more than the land was worth.
Finding a Solution
In 1912, the Queensland government set up a special research station. It was in Dulacca, right in the middle of the prickly pear problem. Dr. Jean White-Haney was the scientist in charge. This research was seen as a big scientific experiment. It was quite unique at the time. Scientists from all over the world watched its progress.
In 1925, 3,000 cactoblastis moth eggs were brought from South America. These eggs were split between a lab in Sherwood and the Chinchilla Field Station. The Chinchilla station was one of four places in Queensland that raised and shared these insects. The first prickly pear plant was destroyed by a cactoblastis moth in Chinchilla in September 1926. By 1933, the last large area of prickly pear in Queensland was gone. The Chinchilla Field Station closed at the end of 1936.
A Community's Thanks
After the prickly pear was gone, areas like Chinchilla became rich again. The land could now be used for farming and dairy. People in Boonarga first talked about building a hall in July 1934. A public meeting was held, and a committee was formed. Mrs. Fahey, a local resident, gave the land for the hall.
In October 1934, the committee decided to name it the Boonarga Cactoblastis Memorial Hall. This was to honor the cactoblastis moth. Money for the hall was arranged through the Bank of New South Wales. Several Boonarga residents helped by promising to pay if needed.
The committee asked for bids to build the hall in June 1935. The hall was built by a local builder, Mr. Jack Schloss. It cost £435. The hall officially opened in February 1936. Godfrey Morgan, a member of the Queensland Parliament, opened it. A big dance was held to celebrate!
Over the years, the hall has had some changes. In 1963, a second side section was added. A new dance floor was put in around 1985. Today, the hall is still used for dances, meetings, and other community events.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Cactoblastis Hall is a single-story wooden building. It sits on low wooden stumps. It has a sloped roof made of corrugated iron. The hall is about 12 kilometers southeast of Chinchilla, next to the Warrego Highway. It's set back about 35 meters from the road.
The building is mostly square. It has a main dance room in the middle. There are also side sections on the southeast and northwest. The dance room has a simple gable roof. This roof changes shape to form shallower skillion roofs over the side sections.
The outside of the building is covered with weatherboards. It has wooden doors and different types of windows. The original windows were double-hung sashes. Newer windows often have glass or metal louvres. On the back, you can see where the southeastern side section was added later. Some windows and weatherboards from the original wall were reused in the new part.
The main entrance is in the middle of the front. It has a wooden porch with a gable roof and a weatherboard fence. A ramp has been added to one side of the porch. Above the doors, there's a large sign with the town's name, the hall's name, and the year it was built. This sign replaced the original one. Another sign nearby shows that the hall is used by the Queensland Country Women's Association.
Inside, the main dance room has an open roof structure and a wooden dance floor. There's a stage at one end. A metal beam has replaced the original walls that separated the dance room from the northwestern side section. A large opening connects the supper room (in the southeastern side section) to the dance room. There's a ticket office in one corner, a kitchen in another, and toilets in a third corner.
Why the Hall is Important
The Cactoblastis Memorial Hall was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 21, 1993. This means it's recognized as a very important historical place.
- A Unique Part of History: This hall shows a special part of Queensland's history. It celebrates how a scientific effort successfully controlled the prickly pear. This was a huge economic event for the state.
- One of a Kind: It's very rare! This is the only known building dedicated to an insect. This makes it a truly unique part of Queensland's heritage.
- A Great Example: The hall shows what a typical wooden hall built for a small farming community looked like.
- Important to the Community: The hall has been used continuously since 1936. It has a strong and special connection with the Boonarga community. It's a central place for their social and cultural life.
Images for kids
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Cactoblastis moth
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Cactoblastis larvae feeding on the prickly pear
