BAAN BAAThe Baan Baa Literary Institute building was erected in 1923 near the corner of Bilbil and Barambah streets in the main part of the village and still stands today, essentially as it was when first erected and in a well-maintained condition. It was constructed of local cypress pine timber, and because of this, it has always been free of any termite infection problems. The roof is of corrugated iron.
The building consists of a main hall measuring approximately 28 metres by 8 metres. The front doors lead into a foyer, approximately 4 metres deep and extending the full width of the building. At the southern end, there is a stage of similar proportions. The ceiling of the building originally contained a decorative latticed insert, remnants of which remain in the front foyer. At some time in the hall's eighty year history, the original ceiling in the main part of the hall was replaced by plain panels. The walls display memorials listing the names of local residents who enlisted in both the First and Second world wars. A supper room measuring approximately 7 metres by 18 meters adjoins the hall on the eastern side and was part of the original construction. A feature of the supper room is a massive fuel stove, set into a kitchen area at its southern end. Its StoryThe Literary Institute in Baan Baa had its origins at a public meeting held in the town on 12th May 1922. This meeting, apparently instigated by the local Farmers' and Settlers' group, was held in what was known as "Kelly's Hall" which stood immediately to the east of the present hall and more or less opposite what is now a vacant lot on the other side of the street. At the time, this vacant lot was the site of the original Baan Baa Hotel which was operated by John Kelly. It was he who built "Kelly's Hall", at his own expense, on the opposite side of the road. The present Railway Hotel was built later, to the east of the original hotel. "Kelly's Hall" was very small, measuring only 9 metres by 6 metres. Despite this, it was said to have accommodated 100 people at a supper on the day that it was opened in 1906. From then until the early 1920s, it served the town as its main meeting venue but by then, had come to be regarded as inadequate because of its small size. The Literary Institute Committee which was set up as a result of the public meeting of 12th May 1922 was an extensive one consisting of no fewer than sixteen members. Mr T. J. Fleming was elected Chairman and also served as the Treasurer. The Secretary was Mr A. Devine. The committee estimated that the cost of erecting a hall would be in the order of £600. A subscription list was opened with the first contributions coming from E. Maunder and T. Devine, who each subscribed £5, and N. Hudson who gave £1. Three trustees, L. W. Kelly, T. J. Fleming and Edward Maunder, were appointed to negotiate a mortgage for the project. Another public meeting was held to decide on whether the building should be constructed in brick or in timber. The new Railway Hotel had just been built using bricks which had been fired from clay found just to the east of the town and it was thought that a similar procedure could be followed for the Literary Institute. In the end, however, consensus favoured the use of timber. Tenders were called on 8 November 1922 and advertised in newspapers in Tamworth, Narrabri and Boggabri. The highest tender of £1,123 came from M. Peterson; the second of £974 was from E. J. Hulbert; and the third of £925 was from H. J. Cole. All were considered to be too high. Negotiations took place with the tenderers and Mr Hulbert amended his figure to £920 (without lighting). This quote was accepted and work began on the building early in 1923.
A quotation for seats for the hall was also considered to be too high and the committee decided to buy "200 feet of dressed timber" and make its own stools. An amount of £33/15/- had to be found, however, to pay for a "Wight Lighting System" which ran on petrol vapour and which provided five separate lights. These were apparently quite bright for it is recorded that local resident, Herb Eyke, later made shades for some of the lights to minimise their glare. Interestingly, the remains of the plumbing for one of the lights may still be seen in the foyer of the building. The Official Opening of the hall was held on 6 July 1923. It was decided to have a plain and fancy dress ball followed by a juvenile ball on the following evening. Tickets were priced at ten shillings and sixpence for a "double"; seven shillings and sixpence for a "gent"; and five shillings for a "lady". Children under the age of 14 were admitted free of charge. The women of the district ran a stall and sports day to start raising money for a piano for the hall. The music on the opening night was provided by Mrs Heagney from Narrabri with local woman, Miss Edie Perkins, performing the honours at the juvenile ball on the following evening. A new committee was elected in July 1924, again with T. J. Fleming as Chairman. When he died some six months later, his place was taken by S. Eather. Fees were set for the rental of the hall at "2 guineas" per night and £1/10/- for a half night. Records of this period provide a good indication of the extensive use to which the new hall was put and the types of functions which were held in it. During 1925, for instance:
From its earliest days, the hall was a popular venue for travelling picture show operators. A projection room was set up at the southern end of the building, at the back of the stage, with the screen positioned against the wall of the front foyer. The Baan Baa Literary Society building has always provided a very valuable community venue for dances, socials, balls, church bazaars, concerts, and school functions. Mr R. I (Dick) Eather recalls: "Up until the 1960s, many balls and dances were regularly held in the hall. Early post-war balls, as I remember them, were happy affairs, the ladies lining the walls while the men congregated outside during dances. Supper was a two-course, sit down affair, usually with two sittings and alcohol was not permitted in the hall. I remember that one C.W.A. Ball was opened by the Spanish Ambassador. Regular Saturday night dances were held to music supplied by piano, violin and drums. Later, they became Cabaret Balls. At one stage, an annual Revue was held, two nights to a packed house." For a number of years, up until the 1980s, the Bank of N.S.W. ran a weekly banking service from the foyer of the building. In earlier times, the foyer was also used to provide limited community library services. Its Later UseThe Baan Baa Literary Institute building was managed by a special committee and trustees until the early 1990s. At that time, it was taken over by a community committee which continues to manage it and to let it out to interested groups. For many years, the upkeep of the hall was funded from the proceeds of a successful annual gymkhana but this is no longer possible because of the increased cost of public liability insurance associated with such events. Little use has been made of the hall in recent times except as the venue for a very well-known and highly regarded annual community ball. The most recent one of these, in 2004, attracted 220 patrons and made use of a specially erected catering marquee. Its Significance to the CommunityThe Baan Baa Literary Institute is an interesting example of a building which has served its community continuously, and in the same way, for the whole of its existence. From its establishment in 1923 until the early 1960s, it was the focal point of almost all of the social activity of the village and its community. Only after this time did its significance begin to decline as sealed roads provided easier and quicker access to the nearby centres of Boggabri and Narrabri, and as television began to change the entertainment patterns of many families. It would seem that the Institute was never envisaged as the base for a community library or reading room. It is slightly unusual also in that unlike many of its counterparts, it never became involved in providing sporting facilities such as billiard tables. From the beginning, the Baan Baa Literary Institute was seen as a community meeting venue and it has always been used as such. There is little doubt that it has served its community extremely well for over eighty years and that it continues to do so, albeit on what is now a much reduced scale.
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