Storage shed, formerly Pambula RSL Hall, Toalla Street, Pambula

Current status*:	Unlisted.
Name of item:
Former name/s:	Pambula RSL Hall; Pambula Pre-School
Item type:	Built
Item group/collection:	Community facilities
Item category:	Hall – RSL Hall
Street number:
Street name:	Toalla Street
Suburb/town:	Pambula
Local Government Area:	Bega Valley Shire
Property description:
Owner category:	Private
Current use:	Storage shed
Former use/s:	Hall; pre-school;

* Refers to the site's inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Local Environment Plan.


Corporal Ronald Haigh, better known to many as "Ronnie", who
served in the Australian Army during WWII. It was Ronnie who
 donated the land upon which the Pambula RSL sub-branch erected
their club house.
Image courtesy of the George Family Collection.

Significance:

Statement of significance:
Level of significance:	Local



Cars parked outside Pambula RSL Hall on Anzac Day,  C 1964.
© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

 

Pambula RSL Hall in the background behind Jack Walker's truck, C. 1964.

© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

Description:

Designer:	Jack Walker
Builder:
Physical description:
Physical condition:
Construction date/s:	1962
Modifications and dates:
Further comments:

History:

Historical notes: Although the organisation is no longer in existence, the fibro cement sheet building now forming part of the Mitre 10 hardware complex at Pambula was original constructed as rooms for the local RSL sub-branch.   As with so many other small towns and centres across Australia, many of Pambula’s young men rushed to enlist during WWI. The town’s first war memorial was unveiled to commemorate their service in 1918. Manufactured by Wunderlich, the pressed metal roll of honour was erected on the porch of the town’s Post Office.   Ten years later the community began moving towards construction of a more impressive monument to memorialise the contributions of local men during the “Great War”. After Councillor D. W. Hart called a public meeting in November 1928, the community spent the next six years raising the funds needed to construct the marble cenotaph. Made by Bega monumental masons Messrs. Zeiglar and Son, the official unveiling took place in February 1936.   Taking advantage of the large muster of returned servicemen present at the ceremony, Mr. W. Godfrey began enrolling potential members for the Pambula and District branch of the Returned Sailor’s and Soldier’s Imperial League (RSSILA) (now known as the Returned Services League or RSL). By March 1936, the organisation had been officially formed.   The activities of the sub-branch continued throughout and after WWII, with members such as Bill Hardaker, Ronnie Haigh, Jack Walker, Jack Jones, Fred Whant, John Dorl, Ron Ford, Allan George and Jack Bennett meeting in venues such as the town’s School of Arts. By 1956, an auxiliary had also been established, undertaking a range of important activities including catering on Anzac Day, as well as visiting sub-branch members in hospital and holding an assortment of fundraising events.   By the 1960s, the local RSL decided that the time had come to construct their own hall. Member and WWII veteran Ronnie Haigh donated an allotment of land to the cause, while Jack Walker drew up the necessary plans and in November 1962, the Magnet Voice reported that the Pambula RSL had commenced construction of their clubhouse. Hoping to have the project completed entirely with voluntary labour, Ray Rollason took charge of overseeing the construction side of the venture.   After its completion, the building not surprisingly became the centre of the sub-branch’s local activities. A luncheon function was held in the hall each year in Anzac day for local and visiting returned service people, while other activities were also organised on site, including bowls competitions.   Although, for many years, Pambula RSL had been one of the stronger of the local sub branches, membership began to wane towards the end of the 1960s, with the result that it was eventually subsumed into the Merimbula organisation.   During the 1970s, the hall was used for the Pambula pre-school facility. It now forms part of the Mitre-10 hardware complex.



Anzac Day at Pambula RSL Club, C. 1964. Fred Whant pictured in the doorway.
© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

Themes:

Australian theme:	New South Wales theme:	Local theme:
3: Developing local, regional and national economies.	Events – Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurrences.
6: Educating.	Education – Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.
7: Governing.	Defence – Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation.
7: Governing.	Welfare – Activities and process associated with the provision of social services by the state or philanthropic organisations.
8: Developing Australia’s cultural life.	Leisure – Activities associated with recreation and relaxation.
8: Developing Australia’s cultural life.	Social institutions – Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities.




 

At Pambula RSL after the Anzac Day parade, C.1964.
© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

Application criteria:

Historical significance SHR criteria (a)
Historical association significance SHR criteria (b)
Aesthetic significance SHR criteria (c)
Technical / Research significance SHR criteria (e)
Rarity SHR criteria (f)
Representativeness SHR criteria (g)
Integrity:

Pambula district's returned servicemen enjoying the post-march luncheon at
Pambula RSL Club, Anzac Day, C 1964.
© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

Anzac Day at the Pambula RSL Club, C.1964. Pictured are Jean Whant (centre)
with Joanne George, Glenda Dorl and Leonie George.
© The Estate of A. C. “Bubby” George.

Heritage Listings:

Nil

Information sources / bibliography :

Brown, Stella, pers. comm. Delegate Argus Eden Magnet Imlay Magnet Jones, Jack, pers. comm. Magnet-Voice Munn, Chappie, pers. comm. Pambula Voice Southern Record and Advertiser Walker, Jack, pers. comm. Weekly Times Whant, Fred, pers. comm.

Author and date:

© Angela George. All rights reserved.

July 2015