Laurieton School of Arts facts for kids

The Laurieton School of Arts is a special old building in Laurieton. It's known as a heritage-listed "School of Arts," which was a place for learning and community events. Today, it's used as a community hall and a local centre.

You can find it at the corner of Laurie and Bold Streets in Laurieton, New South Wales, Australia. A Sydney architect named James H. Bolster designed it. The building was constructed between 1911 and 1912 by E. Bacon from Taree. The local council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, now owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, meaning it's an important historical site.

History of the Laurieton School of Arts

The current School of Arts building is actually the third one in Laurieton. The first building was destroyed by a strong storm on 5 May 1898. A second building opened soon after, on 7 September 1898. Sadly, it burned down on 30 August 1910.

Around 1910, Laurieton was a busy town. It had about 700 to 800 people living there. There was a school with around 160 children. The town also had churches, timber mills, a hotel, and several shops.

Less than a month after the second building burned down, work began on the new one. The foundation stone for the current building was laid on 20 May 1911. It was opened just five months later, on 8 September. James H. Bolster, an architect from Concord, Sydney, designed this building. The 1911 building is still standing today and looks much like it did when it first opened.

People at the time called the new building "a grand structure." They said it was one of the best Schools of Arts north of Newcastle. It had a large hall, a glass skylight, a library, a reading room, a billiard room, and other spaces.

The timber for the building came from Robert Longworth's mill in Laurieton. Longworth was a key person in getting the building constructed.

In 1916, memorial trees were planted around the School of Arts. The building continued to be a major part of community life. It was a place for entertainment and culture until the 1960s.

Movies and Famous Visitors

Movies were shown in the hall starting in 1918. By 1947, films were shown twice a week. A special projection box was added above the entrance for the movie projector. In 1957, a new film format called Cinemascope was introduced. However, in 1959, movies stopped being shown there when the Laurieton Plaza cinema opened.

The School of Arts also hosted famous people. In August 1944, the American entertainer Bob Hope held a concert there. This happened after his flying boat had to make an emergency landing nearby. In 1955, Australian actor Chips Rafferty visited the hall for a screening of his latest film.

Community Activities and Changes

Many older residents remember the hall being used for all sorts of events. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were:

• Balls and dances for teenagers.
• Amateur talent shows.
• Tap dancing classes.
• Shows by famous musicians like Slim Dusty.
• Political meetings.
• Bingo and card nights.

The hall was used so much that its wooden floor wore down. It had to be replaced in the 1980s.

In 1954, a hairdresser's salon opened in part of the building. The hairdresser also managed the billiard room. In 1956, the billiard room was leased to the Country Women's Association (CWA). They used the room until 1980.

By the 1960s, things started to change. Television arrived in town, and people's entertainment habits shifted. The number of people using the hall began to drop. The building was repainted in 1965. The library, run by volunteers, continued to operate until 1981.

In 1981, the local council, Hastings Council, took over managing the building. They also opened a local office in the old billiard room. The library moved to new premises in Laurieton in 1992. Over the years, the building has had renovations. These included replacing the roof, gutters, and some windows.

What the Building Looks Like

The School of Arts building is made of timber. It has painted wooden weatherboards on the outside. It also has casement windows and a galvanised iron roof with Dutch gables.

The main entrance porch faces Laurie Street. The other rooms, like the library and billiard room, are on a lower level with an entrance from Bold Street.

The building still has its original rooms and layout. These include:

• A large hall with a stage and two dressing rooms.
• A supper room with a kitchen and servery (a place to serve food).
• A billiard room.
• A library and a separate reading room.
• A central hallway connecting most of the rooms.

The building is very well preserved. Both the outside and inside have had only small changes. It looks very similar to how it did when it opened in 1911.

Key Changes Over Time

• 1919: Concrete steps were added.
• 1954: A hairdresser used part of the building, and new doors and windows were added.
• 1956: The billiard room closed and was used by the CWA.
• 1965: The outside of the building was painted.
• 1975: The library expanded into other rooms.
• 1981: The council took over management, and major repairs were done, including a new roof.
• 1996: The ticket office was moved from the hall.

Why it's a Heritage Site

The Laurieton School of Arts is a very important heritage building in New South Wales. It was built in 1911 and is a rare example of a School of Arts that is still almost completely original. It shows how important these buildings were in New South Wales. Its timber construction and design show how buildings were made before World War I. It also has strong links to the cultural life of Laurieton in the early 1900s.

The Laurieton School of Arts was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 for several reasons:

• It shows the history of New South Wales: This building is a great example of how Schools of Arts developed. It has a hall, kitchen, library, reading room, and billiard room all together. It shows how important these centres were in the early 20th century.
• It has links to important people or groups: The building has a fun local connection to the famous American entertainer Bob Hope. It also has ties to many of Laurieton's early families.
• It's a beautiful and well-designed building: The School of Arts is a good example of Federation style architecture. It shows the high quality of timber building design from the early 1900s. The inside, with its original timber lining, is also very special. It's a landmark building in the town.
• It's important to the community: This building played a huge role in the social and educational life of Laurieton from 1911 until the 1950s. It was the town's library and cinema for many years. It hosted countless community activities. The people of Laurieton still value it as a reminder of their past and a centre for entertainment.
• It helps us understand history: The building provides valuable information about how timber buildings were constructed in the early 20th century.
• It's a rare example: The Laurieton School of Arts is a rare and well-preserved example of a complex School of Arts building in New South Wales. Its original timber interiors are especially unique.
• It represents a type of building: The building's high-quality timber design shows the skills common in timber towns on the North Coast. It's a good example of Federation style architecture and typical School of Arts design for its time.