Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall |
|
|---|---|
Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall in 2015.
|
|
| Location | 124 Oberon Street, Oberon, Oberon Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1936–1937 |
| Built for | Catholic Church |
| Architect | Agabiti & Millane:
|
| Architectural style(s) | Inter-war Art Deco |
| Official name: Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall; Magna Theatre (1950s) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 December 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1680 |
| Type | Public hall |
| Category | Community Facilities |
| Builders | H. A. Taylor |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall is a special building in Oberon, Australia. It used to be a cinema and a dance hall. Today, it is used as a craft store and an auditorium.
This historic building was designed by Agabiti & Millane, either Bolton Millane or Virgil Cizzio. It was built between 1936 and 1937 by H. A. Taylor. In the 1950s, it was also known as the Magna Theatre. The hall is now privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 5, 2003, because of its important history and unique design.
Contents
History of Oberon
First Peoples
Long before Europeans arrived, Aboriginal people lived in the Oberon area. Many ancient tools and items found here show their strong connection to this land. Early explorers also saw Aboriginal people living here all year round.
The Gundungurra and Wiradjuri peoples were the main groups in this region. They called the area around the Fish and Campbells Rivers "Burra Burra." European settlers started arriving in the 1830s.
European Settlement
In 1813, explorer George Evans crossed the Blue Mountains. He was very impressed by the green lands around Oberon. He saw it as a great place for grazing animals.
By the 1820s, permanent settlers began to move into the Oberon area. They received land grants near the Fish and Campbells Rivers. The population grew even more when gold was discovered. Later, silver, copper, and gemstones were also found.
Oberon was first called Bullock Flat by the early settlers. But in 1863, when it became a village, it was renamed Oberon. This name comes from Shakespeare's play, King of the Fairies. Since the 1930s, the area has been important for its timber industry. A railway link helped transport timber and grow the region's industries.
Today, the eastern part of the Oberon area includes national parks. These include Jenolan Caves and Kanangra-Boyd National Park. These beautiful areas are part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall was built between 1936 and 1937. The local Oberon Catholic Church built it on land given by the Gilmore family. The Gilmore family was a well-known pioneer family in the area.
Malachi Gilmore (born around 1844) came from Ireland in 1872. His brother, Michael, owned land near Oberon. Malachi often visited and helped manage the property. He also bought a large piece of land in the center of Oberon. He passed away in Redfern in 1921.
In 1936, Malachi's family divided his land. They gave a large part of it to the Catholic Church. This land was for building a community hall.
Reverend Dr. Gummer organized the hall's construction. The local community raised money to pay for it. The architects were Bolton Millane or Virgil Cizzio from Agabiti & Millane. This Sydney firm was known for designing Catholic churches. H. A. Taylor, also from Sydney, was the builder.
Construction started in August 1936 and finished in 1937. The hall was built with red bricks from the Bathurst Brick Company. It was designed to be both a community hall and a cinema. It could seat up to 500 people. The hall officially opened on February 22, 1937.
Les Anstiss was likely the first person to rent the hall. He showed movies on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Later, Herb David, a local film collector, took over the business. He even had a traveling movie show that went to Rockley. Movies were shown at the hall until the 1970s.
From 1937 to 1977, the hall was a very important place. It hosted many local balls, dances, parties, and plays. It was a central part of the town's social and cultural life. A local historian, Philippa Gemmell-Smith, said the building was hugely important. She noted that people in Oberon were quite isolated until the 1950s. So, their social life often happened around this building.
In 1964, the Catholic Church offered the hall to the Oberon Shire Council, but they said no. The next year, Herb David, who had rented the hall for a long time, bought it. He renamed it the Magna Theatre. After Herb David passed away, the Oberon Shire Council again decided not to buy the hall.
In 1985, Betta Wool bought the Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall. They used it to store wool. They also rented the front part of the building to an arts and crafts shop. In 1987, the front of the building was restored. It even won a "Heritage and Conservation Award" for its great restoration work.
In 2001, a Flickerfest Short Film Festival was held at the hall. The Oberon Council also named the Malachi Gilmore Hall as one of the two most famous buildings in the area.
When the hall first opened, people described its unique design. It was said to be inspired by the ancient Pharos pylon of Alexandria. This made it a very bold and modern-looking building for its time. Many people thought it looked futuristic. It quickly became a landmark in the region.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall stands out on the main street of Oberon. Its front, called the façade, is very striking. It shows off the Inter-war Art Deco style. This style was popular between the two World Wars.
The façade is made of concrete and has many curved and rectangular shapes. It looks like steps reaching up to the sky. The design mostly emphasizes horizontal lines. But there's also a tall, central vertical pier that goes up almost 14 meters. The windows have metal frames and form a grid pattern. They are also stepped to match the façade. A large curved wall is made of glass bricks. The building's name is written on the front in a cool, stylized way.
Inside the front part of the building, many original features are still there. There's a foyer with a fireplace, a gallery, and cloak rooms. The main hall has walls decorated with plasterwork. Some of the original Morene Art stucco work is still visible. The floors in the foyer and main hall are made of West Australian jarrah hardwood. Below the main hall, there are "supper rooms" with concrete floors. These open out to a large parking area at the back. The foyer is about 65 square meters, and the main hall has about 279 square meters of dancing space. It's interesting that the hall was built in reverse of the architect's original plans!
Some changes were made in the 1980s. Walls were added that separated the front part of the building from the main hall. For example, a wall now blocks the view from an upstairs area into the main hall. This viewing area is now partly an office. Also, a part of the stage was cut out to make space for an elevator. This elevator helps move goods from the back parking area.
Experts say the hall's auditorium (the main hall) looks quite different from its fancy façade. The hall itself is a simpler country hall with a stage. But the front of the building is very special. It's described as a unique mix of a modern "picture palace" front and a "Modern Movement" style. Some even say it has a bit of a Frank Lloyd Wright influence. It's considered very unusual and even futuristic for its time.
The hall's unique design has been recognized by many heritage groups. It's listed on several registers, like the Oberon Shire Council LEP and the Register of the Art Deco Society.
Condition of the Hall
After its front was restored in 1987, the outside of the hall is in good condition. During this restoration, the old glass bricks were replaced with new ones. Inside, the building has been changed a bit to be used as a wool store. But it is still mostly intact and in good condition.
Changes Over Time
The hall was finished in 1937. The front of the building was restored in 1987.
At some point, the original supper room and kitchen were changed into a stage and a lower section.
In 1985, when it was bought to store wool, new internal walls were built. These walls separated the foyer from the main hall. They also divided the balcony area from the main hall. A large hole was made in the stage to lower wool bales. Two new toilets were also put in.
Why the Hall is Important
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is a great example of the Interwar Art Deco style in regional areas. This style was popular in the 1930s.
The hall was designed by Bolton Millane and finished in 1937. Its front has curved walls, geometric windows, and glass bricks. It also has an uneven, stepped design. These are all typical features of 1930s "picture palaces."
The Gilmore family gave the land for the hall to the Catholic Church. The local community raised money to build it. From 1937 to 1977, it was a community center for everyone in Oberon. It hosted many balls, dances, parties, and plays for 40 years. Because of this, it played a huge role in the social life of the town.
The hall is in a very noticeable spot on Oberon's main street. It is a well-known local landmark. It adds a lot to the look of the street. Its unique design has been called "unique," "unusual," "eccentric," and "futuristic" by experts.
The Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall is also important because it is a rare and very unusual example of the Interwar Art Deco style. It shows a special part of the Art Deco movement in New South Wales. After its front was restored in 1987, the building is still in great shape, both inside and out.
The hall is a good example of a community hall and cinema. Many such buildings were built in the early to mid-20th century across New South Wales. While the inside of the hall is like many country halls, its amazing front makes it a very special and unique building.
