The value of war memorial and community halls in Australia can never be under-estimated.
They have seen young men and women march off to war, and been there for those who return.
They have hosted bush dances and debutante balls, bridge clubs and badminton contests. In doing so they have helped raise funds for all manner of groups and organisations.
The community halls are part of the glue that holds Australia together. Especially in the smaller towns where they rely on a sturdy band of volunteers to benefit the wider community.
Buderim War Memorial Hall has been all of this … and more.
A weekend celebration to commemorate 100 years as a community hub saw an historical reenactment of the opening in 1924 adjoining the School of Arts Hall.
The first Buderim School of Arts Hall was opened on 16 November, 1888, built of local timber by the citizens and had many uses local meeting place, church services and dances.
By the early 1920s the town was growing as a farming and tourism centre, and a larger hall was needed.
Buderim’s new School of Arts was duly opened by Mr W Bertram MLA, Speaker of State Parliament, acting on behalf of the Premier.
The re-enactment as part of the 100-year celebrations saw Kennedy Fox as Mr Warren, State Member for Murrumburra, and James Kluck as Mr Bertram, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,
and Robert Grant as chair of the organising committee in 1924.
The 100-year celebrations highlighted the number of groups and associations connected to the hall today.
Buderim War Memorial Community Association president Errol Richardson said the celebrations were very special.
“They commemorate the establishment of the memorial to those who served and died to defend our values and way of life, as well as the 100 years of community events and
activities held since it was built.
“The hall is at the heart of our community spirit,” Mr Richardson said. “We are so pleased that 100 years ago the hall was constructed and the BWMCA formed as a living memorial for all those
who made our way of life possible.”
BWMCA honorary life member John McMahon took over as chair of the committee in 1974 and served for 46 years.
He said a community was only as good as the people in it and in the 1970s-1990s they were absolutely the best.
“You are sitting in what is left of the original hall because in the big renovation of 1989 from the stage forward is new and everything from the back wall through the foyer is new
The hall originally faced out to the main street until 1966 when the brick extension was added and the hall moved to be parallel to Church Street.
One of the wonders of the hall is the ceiling with only two boards that do not run the whole length.
There were inside walls running both sides, with the veranda on the eastern side used as a supper room.
Jim Hennell was one of those volunteers who worked on it at the time.
Over a cup of tea and scone with cream and jam he told me they took out the wall of the supper room so that the main area could be extended.
The veranda had no lining on the ceiling so in the spirit of things they went down King Street and felled some pine trees then took the timber to the sawmill where the post office now stands. They dressed the timber and it was brought back to hall where the tradesmen with the volunteers installed it in an afternoon.
It was all done within about 400m each way of the hall and with volunteers, putting a further emphasis on local.
The program for the weekend of celebrations included a variety showcase concert on the Friday night, A Centenary Celebration – a line-up of choirs, theatre and live music. Performances included the Sunshine Statesmen Choir, Buderim Male Choir, Oriana Choir, acoustic duo 13 Ticks, and the Hot Ginger Chorus as Buderim Youth Theatre (BYTES).
Saturday morning saw a vintage car procession through Buderim’s main streets, the launch of the Living Memorial Fundraising, history and photographic displays, showcase of BWMCA affiliated groups, Open house in the library and the billiards and snooker rooms.
A Spirit of Buderim art display was held at the Buderim Craft Cottage.
A Supper Dance on Saturday night provided a journey of music and dance from 1924 to 2024 featuring the Moreton Bay Big Band and Merrymakers Dance Club.
“The spirit of the community at Buderim makes your hair stand on end,” Errol Richardson said.
“It’s a centre for cultural and community activities … that’s been the theme all the way through.
“A living memorial, that’s the way we refer to it.”
Buderim has proven over many years to be a giving community and the hall is the centre of it, but it’s also a living entity.
Through the BWMCA it gives information and service generally promoting the idea of the spirit of community in Buderim.
Not so different to the vision held by residence when they gathered the funds to construct the first school of hearts in 1888 and then the new hall in 1924.
SNIPPETS FROM THE PAST
When the new hall was constructed in 1924, the first hall was sold for removal to a local farmer Mr. J Fulton for £76.
Magic Lantern Shows comprising photography slides were shown in the School of Arts to good audiences so funds were donated to the school of arts and local lawn tennis club – 22 October 1896.
The Buderim School of Arts was crowded on Wednesday night when the concert was given in aid of the funds of the orchestral society and the Mooloolaba Sports Club. Proceeds mounted to £15.23 – December 1922.
An honour board has been placed in the School of Arts for Buderimites who have enlisted. The unveiling ceremony will take place at an early date – 7 August 1917.
A special meeting of the School of Arts committee was held on Monday night to discuss the tenders received for the erection of the new building and for the purchase of the old one.
Mr H.A. Kuskopf was the successful tenderer for the new building, the price being between 1200 and £1300
Mr J. Fulton handed in an offer of £76 for the old building which was accepted – 9 July 1924.
Buderim’s new School of Arts was duly opened on Saturday attended by Mr W Bertram MLA, Speaker of State Parliament, who officially opened the hall on behalf of the Premier. Mr Bertram stated that he was surprised to learn that such a splendid hall could be erected for the cost of under £1400 and could but extend his congratulations. On Saturday night, the hall was filled when a concert was given … During the interval the winner of a Fairy Queen competition Miss Gertrude Clarke was crowned – 20 November 1924.
The committee of the Buderim School of Arts decided to erect memorial gates at the entrance to the grounds in memory of the fallen soldiers. The work will be completed early in June and will be a very fitting finish to the imposing building. Provision was made for these gates a few years ago when the fence was built. Portion of the money to be expended on the gates was collected for the purpose of erecting a memorial. An invitation has been sent to the Lord Mayor of Brisbane – Alderman JW Greene – who has signified his willingness to perform the opening ceremony.
(The gates have since been relocated to Buderim Recreation Reserve, adjoining Buderim Mountain State Primary School).
Over 100 persons attended a meeting conveyed by Mr RW. McLuskie in the Buderim School of Arts on Monday evening … A committee was formed to undertake the work of looking after the farming properties of those going on active service. – Nambour Chronicle North Coast Advertiser 31 May 1940
During World War II, the old-time dances every Friday night became the social life of the mountain.
It was the most successful way to raise funds for the war effort and as well as the dancing, for a time people enjoyed playing bridge in the hall’s meeting room on those nights.
The success of the dances was due to a group of people who called themselves the Buderim Benefit Committee and who without fail, wet or fine, did all the weekly chores for the dances throughout those years.
From the young pianist and drummer who played for free, the kitchen workers, the door keeper, the MC, the family who organised and made the suppers, the people who donated food stuff for the suppers, everyone gave freely of time and goods.
It was worthy effort and it was a great success. If you ever meet somebody from those years it’s pretty sure they will say “remember those dances, weren’t they great memories?’’
A meeting of the Buderim War Service Association was held in Buderim School of Arts on 7 March 1945 when they were delegates present representing all public bodies in Buderim.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear and address on the proposed scheme for the establishing of a community centre … At the centre, provision would be made for a reading and writing room, recreational facilities in the way of indoor games, billiard table, ping-pong and, if desired, a debating society to discuss current topics. – Edna Richards, Buderim 150 memories.
After World War II in 1966 the first major change since 1924 occurred with the addition of a two-storey brick building facing main street the extension has new spaces for the Queensland country women’s Association library and billiards club.
In 1989 the original hall was separated from the 1966 extension and realigned on the block closer to Church Street. A new entrance foyer and stage were added in the two buildings, joined by a curved corridor. The construction of the deck on the side of the hall, access rooms, air-conditioning and other improvements followed in the ongoing task of making sure the hall remains relevant to the community’s needs. The whole redevelopment was officially by the Queensland Governor Sir Walter Campbell on December 1989 and won the architectural award for local architects Lindsay Clare.
The Buderim Central Park was developed by the Sunshine Coast Council in 2011, creating extended community precinct at the heart of Buderim. The expanded precinct hosts long-standing and much loved and community events including ANZAC Day Service, Jazz in the Park, Christmas Carols in the Park, Easter and Christmas Fairs, and Buderim Garden Festival. The Craft Cottage also hosts shows that attract residence and businesses to the precinct.
