Graman War Memorial Hall

About

The Graman War Memorial Hall is a pine timber building, built by local volunteers in 1954–1955. It is dedicated to people who served in the First and Second World Wars from the Graman and Cherry Tree Hill District. The hall is kept in a good working condition by the committee. It is a typical country hall with a front entrance, timber walls, a front gable with high small windows and a galvanised iron roof. It has several small entrance ways to the side. The building has been extended with an enclosed verandah, to provide a small meeting area and supper space for dances and other functions. Following the Second World War there were many movements in country NSW to establish war memorial halls. In the case of Graman, a Hall Committee was formed and action was taken to raise the necessary funds. Fundraising efforts began as early as 1948, with events such a race meeting held around May that raised sixty four pounds towards the hall (The Inverell Times, 10 May 1948). In November 1950, the chairman of the Graman Memorial Hall Fund, G.D. Ross, arranged a public meeting about the hall. He urged people to attend "in an endeavour to raise sufficient funds in order to make a start on the proposed hall ... it is imperative that there should be a good roll up" (The Inverell Times, 10 November 1950). Three years later, the honorary secretary of the committee, E. New, advertised a "monster meeting" at the Graman Hotel on 30 June 1953. The advert in The Inverell Times, 24 June, strongly declared, "we want the enthusiastic support of the whole district." This meeting may have been successful, as on 13 July, the Times reported the hall would be a war memorial to those who fell in both world wars, with the goal to "erect a building of as high a standard as financially possible, with architectural beauty as the keynote."  The article also discussed that donations were being sought by way of cash and proceeds from sporting events, as the committee hoped to avoid obtaining a loan and the related interest payments. At the time of reporting, there was already 990 pounds cash in hand. The block of land had been donated by Mr R. Bucknell, the owner of the Graman Hotel, who also offered to pay for the survey. In addition, donations of materials had been received, including timber and blocks for the foundation. Local Michael Hobday also offered his services to cut the timber. Over the coming weeks and months, the Times published accounts of various sports and dance events that were held to raise funds.  Work was well underway by mid-1954. The Times, 25 June, published a detailed account of the working bees held to prepare the timber for construction. The timber was felled and then carted to the hall site. It came from two sources, including Mr Peter Matchett's property, 'Mossgrove'.  Three months later, the Times, 6 October 1954, reported the hall's foundations had been laid. Work included pouring "concrete bases for 160 brick pylons ... by voluntary labour" and bricklayers undertaking "specialised brickwork." Volunteers were also using Mr Hobday's sawmill on site to cut the timber. Mr George Thompson was the "carpenter in charge" and had set to work on the superstructure.  The Government Gazette of NSW, 27 May 1955, reported the Graman War Memorial Hall was registered on 4 May. On 8 July, the Gazette published a notice that an application was made by Mr Ernest New of 'Boomboree', Graman, to have the hall registered as a picture theatre.