WALCHAAlthough no date of origin is contained in the Statistical Register of New South Wales, it is believed that a School of Arts was established in Walcha in 1874. An old map of the town describes a block of land at the corner of Fitzroy and Meridian streets as an "addition to the School of Arts" but no information is available as to whether this land was ever used in any way for that purpose. The only building known to have housed the Walcha School of Arts stood at the corner of Fitzroy and Derby streets. It was a weatherboard building which, at one time at least, had a large hoarding above the awning with the inscription "Literary Institute". Its StoryLittle is known about the Walcha School of Arts during its first twenty-five years of operation but a useful newspaper record from the Walcha Witness of 6 October 1900 provides an account of the School's "Twenty-sixth Annual General Meeting", held in that year. By then, the School of Arts had 46 members and it would appear that its main activities centred around its library and reading room. The retiring President, Mr J. Harrison, noted: "Our funds did not warrant us spending a very large amount in purchasing new books but we are pleased to report a very fair increase in the number of books and periodicals issued to members, being 1,564 as against 1,431 last year. The Free Public Library continues to supply a box of books every four months." The Reading Room, at the time, housed a number of newspapers and periodicals thought likely to be of interest to members including the following: The Agricultural Gazette Apart from its library and reading room functions, the premises of the Walcha School of Arts were often used for other activities such as concerts, musical evenings, dances, electioneering, and the meetings of "a multitude of clubs and societies supported by Walcha citizens." It also housed a billiard room but it is not known if that was an original facility or a later addition. The Walcha School of Arts survived until 1947 when it was closed through lack of patronage. Mrs Helen "Nell" Brazel, its last librarian, was later to write: "For many years, the Literary Institute catered for the readers of Walcha. It also provided a billiard room, reading room and a room for meetings. It was run by a committee and was a well-patronised place. Then came World War Two and most of the young men went to war. The billiard room was the main source of revenue and very soon the takings dropped off. Eventually it wasn't paying its way." A School of Arts committee structure was retained for a time but in due course, only Mrs Brazel and Mrs Alice Bloomfield remained to operate the reading room. Mrs Brazel, who went on to serve as the town librarian, relates that "after a lot of negotiating, the Institute was sold". Before the sale, which took place in 1947, representatives of the University of New England were invited to look over the books and to take any which might be of use to them and a large number found their way into the University Library. Its Later UseThe ownership of the Walcha School of Arts building and its contents were vested in its subscribers and its Committee and could only be distributed in a manner allowed for by the School of Arts Enabling Act, and with the approval of the Minister responsible for administering the Act. The winding-up process was in train by April 1948. The assets of the "Literary Institute" included three billiard tables with balls, cues and marker boards, six card tables and four other tables, book shelving and miscellaneous fittings. The Walcha Youth Club was keen to acquire the use of a portion of the building and for a time, the Municipal Council considered the possibility of purchasing both the building and the land. The building and land were eventually bought for £3,250 at public auction, on 23 February 1952, by the Commonwealth Oil Refineries Pty Ltd. The Parents' & Citizens' Association of the local school received one third of the proceeds with the balance shared equally between the Walcha Branch of the R.S.L., St Patrick's Catholic School, the Walcha Red Cross, the Walcha Hospital, and the Municipal Council (for a children's playground). The new owners placed an advertisement in the Walcha News of 26 June 1952 inviting offers for the purchase and removal of the building but it would seem that no such offers were forthcoming. The awning, awning posts and hoarding were removed and a new brick frontage was added to the building to suit a new use as a service station. It is likely that the rest of the building is part of the original School of Arts. The site is presently occupied by Walcha Pumps & Irrigation which continues to sell motor fuels, along with its other products and services. Its Significance to the CommunityWhile little detail is available of the operations of the Walcha School of Arts, it would seem that it served an important community function from its establishment in 1874 until the mid 1930s. This function centred around the provision of reading services and library borrowings, together with the provision of social and entertainment facilities, particularly a billiard room. Its community function declined during the period from the mid 1930s until 1947 and was ultimately to include only a library service. The School of Arts ceased to have any further community significance after the sale of its land and building in 1948.
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