Guyra Soldiers Memorial Hall

About

The Guyra Soldiers Memorial Hall is dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It is constructed of Armidale blue bricks, with decorative light-coloured bricks surrounding the doorways and windows. It has a tiled roof, two brick chimneys and a curved window frame at the front, which is typical of buildings of the Federation period. It has a gabled porch on the western side and a gabled roofline. At the front, is a brick and decorative metal fence. The hall contains several honour rolls located within the RSL Room, as well as outside memorials..  The origins of the hall date back to 1919. On 30 July, a meeting was held in Mr Helyar's 'Australia' tea rooms to form a sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Imperial League of Australia. Mr H.F. White occupied the chair and about 20 returned soldiers decided to form a branch. Councillor L.P. Dutton, Shire president, placed the Guyra Shire Chambers at the branch's disposal for their meetings until a clubroom was established. Later that year, the Guyra Argus, 11 September 1919, described a well-attended meeting convened by Councillor L.P. Dutton at the Council Chambers on 6 September.  The meeting was called to acknowledge the work of the Red Cross Society at Guyra, who had recently dissolved. Attendees also considered what form the war memorial for Guyra should take. Suggestions included constructing a monument and a hospital. A School of Arts was also put forward and Lieutenant-Colonel H.F. White seconded the motion. The chairman suggested a committee be formed to discuss the proposal, including members of the Red Cross Society, returned soldiers and the general public. The community set out to raise funds by garden parties, sports days and an art union. Armidale architect William Henderson Lee prepared the plans for the building. The tender from the Armidale builder B. Wade for 2,297 pounds was accepted on 26 June 1920. This hall was built on the second site for the building in Guyra. The foundation stone was laid on 16 October 1920 and works were completed in March 1921. The finished building included a School of Arts and reading room, a recreation room and billiard room, containing two tables, one being donated by Lieutenant-Colonel White. The honour roll for the First World War was placed on the northern wall of the reading room. The building was opened by Lieutenant-Colonel White on 29 October 1921. Between four and five hundred people attended the function. Bunting and flags including the Union Jack and the Australian flag decorated the building, as well as the colours of the 33rd Battalion.  The memorials outside the hall and the hall itself are used for various commemorative services held throughout the year.