Pomona Memorial School of Arts

DETAILS

Description
A School of Arts Committee was formed in 1919, to raise funds for a Memorial School of Arts for Pomona. Mr R. W. Graham’s buildings were used as a temporary School of Arts while fund raising was undertaken. The Pomona Memorial School of Arts was opened in September 1926, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr W. Lennon, in the presence of a large crowd. The School of Arts had been fully funded by proceeds from a Queen competition, which had been held four years prior and realised £300, and donations from the Ladies Auxiliary Committee. The building was free of debt when it opened. It remains in use as a community facility owned by Noosa Council and leased to various groups for their use.

The School of Arts, constructed by contractor Mr R. Wardrop and designed by Rev. B. George, measured 42 feet long by 34 feet wide. The hall space was 34 feet by 22 feet and included a small library. The timber was donated by the Richmond River Milling Company. At the opening event, the building was described as a ‘most suitable, and at the same time, useful edifice to perpetuate the memory of those who fought so valiantly in France, Flanders and other theatres in the late Great War’. The district honour board, with 28 names inscribed, was also hung in the School of Arts building.

An extension including a kitchenette was added in December 1931. The extension was officially opened by Mr B. McKenna, Director of Education, who described it as a ‘splendid building and a credit to the energy and generosity of the people of the district’. During the opening ceremony the local branch of the Country Women’s Association also officially opened a rest room in the building. The building was used as a Court House until the Pomona Court House was built in 1934.Address6,Reserve Street,Pomona

Photograph

Brian Stockwell and Gary Clist, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Cootharaba Honour Roll (Honour Board), 1914-1918

Gary Clist and Brian Stockwell, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

George Pearce and Gail McBurney, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Joe Jurisevic and June Colley, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Joe Jurisevic and Ron Sutton, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Linda Sivyer and Olive Donaldson, Launch, Noosa Remembers, Pomona Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 7 September 2017

Memorial Hall, Pomona, ca 1940s

Memorial School of Arts, Pomona, 1931.

Pomona Memorial School of Arts, 4 Reserve Street, Pomona, ca 1917

Article & Manuscript

Pomona Memorial School of Arts Local Heritage Place Card

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)MemorialsHalls

CONNECTIONS

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