Thornleigh School of Arts

Details

PhotographerRobert WheatleyDetailsThornleigh School of Arts was constructed on land purchased by the School of Arts Committee from the Haymarket Permanent Land, Building and Investment Company after an intnse period of fund raising by the ladies of the district. By November 1890 construction was underway at a cost to the community of £500. The hall was 48 feet by 24 feet with a stage, reading room and a library, with a gallery built above. The ceiling 18 feet high, was lined with varnished red and white pine. An ornamental iron fretwork hung from the proscenium. Furniture costing £60 was purchased together with a piano also costing £60. The Haymarket Building Company donated £100 to the committee by way of a refund for the cost of the land and the government also donated £100. The remaining £400 had to be raised from hall rentals and from money raised at stalls.
Various types of entertainment were held in the School of Arts with balls being the most popular. Details of the various balls, the dresses worn by lady guests and the various suppers served can be found in the pages of the Cumberland Arus. Ferns from local gullies were used to decorate the hall on many occasions. Guest speakers were invited to attend functions and Mr J G Edwards gave a talk titled 'Around the World' in aid of the building fund.
However, the hall went out of the hands of the Hall committee after going hrough a very trying time caused by financial problems. It seems that during the years of the Depression the hall was rarely used as people did not have the money to attend functions and subsequently there was no money to pay for its upkeep. Even the Licence expired. As a means of solving thee problems billiard tables were installed but payments on the tables fell into arrears and the whole property c1930 was claimed by the firm who had supplied the tables. Inspection of the property continued but Mr Thomas Roach JP, a respected member of the Thornleigh community, resigned in 1936 because of what he regarded as bullying by the Fire Board Officers who came annually to inspect the property.
After the building was reclaimed, by the firm who ha supplied the billiard tables that did not generate the hoped for income, the Progress Association endeavoured to revive the old institution. After two years of continual work they reached a point where the building could be returned to the community.
For a time in c1960 the property was owned by the Department of Education.
Ownership of the School of Arts was transferred to Council in 1967 and for a short time it was known as the Thornleigh Community Centre. In order to allow for the widening of Pennant Hills Road the building was demolished and Council appeased the community by building a new Community Centre on the site of Thornleigh Public School.
'An A-Z of Thornleigh: Then and Now' HSHS (2019) pp.163-166Date takenNovember 1965LocationThornleighGeotag^[1]KeywordsSchool of Arts ThornleighThornleighPennant Hills Road, Thornleigh

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Thornleigh School of Arts

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