Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall |
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| Location | Elizabeth Street, Narrandera, Narrandera Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Attributed to Ernest Rees Laver |
| Owner | NSW Trade and Investment - Crown Lands Division |
| Official name: Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall; The Dome; Narrandera Showground complex | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 August 2015 |
| Reference no. | 1952 |
| Type | Exhibition Building |
| Category | Community Facilities |
| Builders | Englebert Albert Schuller/Charles Bundock |
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The Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall is a special old building located on Elizabeth Street in Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia. It's known for its unique design and is sometimes called The Dome because of its shape. The building was finished in 1902. It was built by Englebert Albert Schuller and Charles Bundock. People aren't entirely sure who designed it, but some believe it was Ernest Rees Laver or Charles Bundock. This historic hall was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on August 10, 2015, which means it's officially recognized as an important part of the state's history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hall's History
Narrandera started as a small town by the Murrumbidgee River in the 1860s. It grew a lot when the railway lines reached it in 1882 and 1884. By 1901, Narrandera was a busy town with over 2,200 people. It was known for its farms and industries like timber, wool, and flour mills.
The First Shows and the Showground
The very first agricultural show in Narrandera happened in 1882. It was a big success! Soon after, the Narrandera Pastoral and Agricultural Association was given land for a showground. More land was added over the years, making it a large area for events.
Building During a Tough Time
The 1890s brought a big economic problem and a severe drought, known as the King Drought (1895-1903). The worst year was 1902-03. Even with these challenges, Narrandera decided to build the Industrial Hall for their 1902 show. This was a brave move, showing how strong and hopeful the community was.
The Narrandera Argus newspaper reported that the 1902 show was "Successful Beyond Anticipation." There were many more entries in the "Industrial Arts" section, which included things like needlework, cooking, drawing, and photography. Building the new Industrial Hall likely helped encourage all these extra entries.
Why the Hall Was Important
Agricultural shows were huge events back then. They brought people from all over the region, often by special trains. The Narrandera Show was a chance for the community to show off its skills and products. The Industrial Hall was built specifically to display the amazing art, crafts, cooking, and school projects made by the women and children of the area. It showed everyone how talented and resilient the community was, even during a difficult drought.
Changes Over the Years
Originally, exhibits were shown on wooden benches. In 1956, special wooden and glass display cabinets were built for the hall. Today, only one of these original cabinets remains along the eastern wall.
There was also another building next to the Industrial Hall, built before 1910. It was not as well-made and was taken down in the 1950s or 1960s.
Who Designed It?
The person who designed the Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall is a bit of a mystery. Some people say it was Ernest Rees Laver, a well-known architect who worked in Narrandera. Others believe it was Charles Bundock, who was also a builder of many important buildings in the town. Laver designed the showground's grandstand, which was built the same year but later burned down.
The Industrial Hall is the only building at the Narrandera Showground that is considered important enough to be listed on the state heritage register. Other buildings were built much later.
What the Hall Looks Like
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The Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall is a small, single-story building with eight sides, making it an octagon. It has a unique bell-shaped, domed roof made of corrugated iron. The building is about 11 meters tall to the top of its dome. It used to have a metal ventilator, a mini dome, and a flagpole on top, but these are now missing. The roof edges are supported by curved wooden brackets.
The building's octagon shape isn't perfectly equal on all sides. It's more like a square with its corners cut off.
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The hall has windows on its four shorter sides. These windows are set high up, about 2.4 meters from the ground. This creates lots of wall space inside for displays. The windows have colorful glass in their upper parts.
There are two doors. The eastern door is old and slides open. The western door is a newer roller door.
Inside, the walls are made of vertical wooden boards at the bottom and horizontal boards higher up. The domed roof is supported by curved wooden ribs, which create a striking look. The high walls, tall windows, and open ceiling make the inside feel very spacious and bright. This was perfect for showing off all the exhibits.
A special wooden and glass display cabinet is still attached to the eastern wall. This is a piece of the original cabinets built in 1956. Other cabinets were likely removed because of termites.
An information board inside the building says it cost 367 pounds to build in 1902. It also mentions that it's the only building of its kind still in use in Australia. Another similar building in Queensland burned down many years ago.
Condition and Changes
The building is in fair condition today. Over the years, it has had some repairs. In the 1970s, it was re-supported because it had started to sink. Steel rods were added to help keep it stable. The roof ventilator and flagpole were removed in the late 1980s because they were damaged. The outside of the building was painted in 1993.
Even with these changes, the hall still looks much like it did when it was built. It clearly shows its original unique design.
Why the Hall is Special: Heritage Listing
The Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site for the whole state.
A Rare and Unique Design
This hall is special because it's a very rare example of its kind. It's the only building with this specific design known to exist on a showground in New South Wales. Its octagonal shape and bell-shaped dome make it stand out. Inside, the high ceilings and exposed wooden structure create a beautiful and bright space that was perfect for exhibitions.
The building's design is an example of the "Federation Free Classical style." This style was popular around 1890-1915 and used classic shapes in a fun, playful way. It usually appeared in big city buildings, so finding it in a small, wooden rural hall like this is very unusual.
A Symbol of Strength During Hard Times
The Narrandera Showground Industrial Hall is also important because it shows how strong and determined the community was. It was built in 1902, during the worst year of the Federation Drought (1895-1903). This was a very difficult time for Australia, especially for farmers and rural towns.
While many communities were struggling, the people of Narrandera decided to build this unique and ambitious hall. It was a way for them to celebrate their district, its people, and their hope for a better future, even when things looked bleak. It showed their positive spirit in the face of a long and severe drought.
Community Connection
The hall has been used by the Narrandera community as a display area for over a hundred years. The repairs and painting done over the years show that the community values this building very much.
Learning from the Past
The hall can also help us learn more about the history of New South Wales. It provides a rare look into how a rural community, especially its women and children, contributed to the town's success during a time of great difficulty.
