BREEZAThe records show that the New South Wales Government made a block of land available for a School of Arts in Breeza on 21 December 1910. The block measured "two roods" and was at the corner of Edward and Howarth streets. Those mentioned in the grant as the trustees of the block were John Perry, Samuel Hartley Hill, Samuel Bowden, Richard Bowden and Walter Court. Obviously, planning for a School of Arts had preceded the grant although the land provided did not meet with universal approval. Mr T. Phillips of Piallaway commented: "I think the site is very objectionable position in more ways than the wetness of the land. Firstly, the population will increase on the western side of the railway, more than on the eastern. Secondly, the building will be too near the railway gates for drovers of cattle to get the stock across the line for trucking purposes." Despite these objections, it would appear that a building of some kind was erected on the site soon after the land became available. This building was subsequently replaced by the hall which currently stands on the site. It was erected at some time during the 1920s as a joint effort on the part of local residents and the local Shire Council. Its Storyit is not known if a School of Arts, as such, ever functioned in Breeza. The "School of Arts" building may have been little more than a public hall, managed by a group of trustees who maintained it by charging fees for its use. Written records show that a School of Arts meeting, chaired by a Mr Tubman, was held in August 1916 and attended by ten people. Other records show that the rental fees for the hall in 1923 were "£1 for a full night and ten shillings for half a night." Groups wishing to hold meetings were charged one shilling and threepence an hour but "benefits and religious services" were free of charge.
Its Later UseIn 1953, long after the hall had ceased to be managed as a School of Arts, it and the land on which it stood were purchased by the Breeza Sub-branch of the R.S.L. The hall still stands but is only occasionally used. Gunnedah Shire Council is currently the trustee for both the land and the building. Its Significance to the CommunityNot enough is known about the Breeza School of Arts to assess its significance to the community. The indications are that is served primarily as a public hall for social functions. There are no records of library or reading room services, nor of facilities for games or general recreation. There is a delightful, unsubstantiated story that in the very early days of Breeza, an unlicensed "grog shop" hotel styled itself "The School of Arts", presumably on the basis that the education of all those who patronised it would be greatly broadened!
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