Thursday, September 13, 2007

THANKS TO KOPERBERG

The residents of the mid mountains and the Save Our Hall Group are pleased that our state member of parliament Phil Koperberg is showing an interest in saving our 104 year old Mechanics Institute. In a recent publication of the Gazette he stated the following:

“It (the hall’s demolition) may be unavoidable, but let’s explore all avenues.
“We will try to get quotes (for shifting the hall further back
from the road reserve). “I would hope that every avenue which would enable the building to be saved and road widening to go ahead is explored,” Mr Koperberg said.


We wonder why Councillor Van der Kley is so out of touch with the rate payers in his ward when over $2 million was spent by council on the restoration of the pool at Blackheath, yet for the heritage of Lawson we get nothing.

Will he ever give an explanation?



Contact Mr Koperberg in his capacity as Member for Blue Mountains to thank him for his support.
Address
Mr Philip Koperberg,
Shop 3,
107-109 Macquarie Road,
SPRINGWOOD NSW 2777
Phone (02) 4751 3298
Fax (02) 4751 1245
Email Him Here

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

An Impassioned Plea To Save Our Hall

It dawned on me today how much of an ingrained memory that beautiful old hall really is, as I was driving past the vigil and honking my horn.

I have taken it for granted for so many years, this beautiful old lady, sitting proudly overlooking the north side of my home town.

I, as many others probably take her for granted, as we go about our day to day existence.

But that was the place I watched my sister and her friends practice their Physical Culture classes every Thursday afternoon after School.

I would sit on the front steps of the Hall, watching the cars and trucks whiz by, waiting for my Father to arrive home from work, so I could be relieved from my own vigil, watching the mind-numbing dance routines that unfolded in front of me, for what seemed to a primary school boy, an eternity!

We would go there, at the end of our school terms, to dance the heel and toe polka with our sweaty palmed peers, in our fancy dress pirate outfits, and gorge ourselves sick on lollies and soft drink, late into the summer evenings.

And later, it was to be the first time I would experience the stifling blow of a head-butt at a heavy metal show, and later that evening, the even more stifling experience of a kiss from a girl named Marie, whom I never did meet again.

As simple and embarrassing twee as these experiences are, aren't they the experiences that make us who we are, the times that cement our roots as a community?

I believe so, and as the lucky community that we are, the residents of the Mid Mountains, I want my baby son to be able to grow up here, and to be able to share the collected wealth of experience that we have here.

I hope that we can save this beautiful gift that was given to us so many years ago, to re-invigorate her, and make her a part of our future for many many years to come.

Yours Sincerely,

Michael Whye.




David Jenner was a boy projectionist in the 1950s at the Lawson Literary Institute as it was then known. The following are some of his memories of those times.

The hall was leased on Saturdays and Wednesdays at that time for the purpose of showing films, and was very well attended because television had recently been introduced but had not yet made inroads into the habits of the film going public.

I don't want to sound too self-indulgent, but I really had some of the happiest times of my life there as a 14-15 year old. The lessee was Eric Ellis ,who also ran the movies in Glenbrook School of Arts, and sometimes the running times of the films had to be staggered because the same print would be shown at both locations on the same day!

Sometimes this meant literally waiting for the next reel to arrive from Glenbrook by car while in the middle of the Saturday matinee. The seating was movable to allow for dances and other functions to take place and the screen was behind curtains at the back of the stage so plays and other entertainments could happen in front of it when necessary. Our biggest success at that time was a musical called "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" which had not yet screened at Katoomba and had continuous sessions all day at Lawson.

I was told later in the afternoon that there was a queue outside for the evening show stretching all the way outside past the police station next door and right up to the park on the corner. When the audience was finally seated (some on chairs taken from the room behind and placed down the aisle spaces) all that could be seen from the projection box was a sea of heads.

It was probably a fire trap but nobody seemed to worry! Lollies were sold in the side extension at interval. Matinees consisted largely of Westerns and the Marx Brothers were always popular. Children did not like musicals and whenever someone opened their mouth to sing there would be a stampede for the toilets on either side of the stage. Electric radiators mounted on the walls provided heat in the winter months. People who had not been before always seemed to think the front looked "A bit like a church".

Film projection at that time was a very laborious process with very hot and messy arc lights and of course every reel had to be rewound the minute it came off the machine.The temperature in that small room was sweltering in summer and often the small half moon window above the front porch could not be opened because it let light onto the ceiling inside.

On one occasion the large valve amplifier had smoke pouring from it and I really didn't know what to do because Eric was out posting bills on the numerous billboards around town and if the show was stopped there was the thunder of all those stamping feet down below and the inevitable shout of "Put a penny in it!"On one weekend bushfires were raging outside and all hands were needed so the show had to be cancelled.

The movie was a comedy very aptly entitled "Phfft!"

It would be very sad to see this building go because so many people seem to regard it with such affection.I think the facade is an integral part of Lawson and maybe it could be moved back to front a newer building behind it.

I'm one of the few people who remember the old swimming pool at Wilson Park before it was "concreted in" and this is a prime example of what happens when utility is allowed to predominate over all else.

It may be more hygienic but is about a third of the size of the old one and of course makes the surrounding pavilions look rather sad overlooking so much concrete!

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Why Does This man Want To Demolish Our Old Hall


Councillor Van Der Kley is the only ward Two Councillor elected to represent the wishes of the people in this ward who isn't interested in saving OUR hall.
He isn't interested in hearing from the people in this ward about this issue.
He isn't interested in this historical landmark building.
He has voted for demolition.
ASK HIM WHY ?

Councillor Van Der Kley
6 Murray Avenue
WENTWORTH FALLS NSW 2782
02 4758 6254 (fax/ph) (w)
02 4757 2376 (fax/ph) (h)
0427 805 810 (mobile)
email: cvanderkley@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

WE NEED THE HALL...Plea To Council

Will this be ignored as well?

To The Blue Mountains City Council

Katoomba NSW 2780 2 - 6 - 07



Dear General Manager and Councillors,

On behalf of The Brook Community Theatre, we, the committee, make an urgent plea to be granted use of the Mechanics’ Institute at Lawson, as our venue, the Woodford Uniting Church Hall that we have occupied for the past twenty-one years, is now on the market.

The Brook was founded by Seamus Rothsey, and Elizabeth Watson in 1982 as a non-profit, self-funded and independent organisation run by volunteers.
The Brook staged its first production, ‘The Happiest Days of Your Life’ at the Woodford Hall in 1986, and to this day has been true to its policy of keeping theatre live in the mid-mountains, with the involvement of the local community of all ages, both on and off the stage.

The Brook has also been true to Seamus’ intention of maintaining professional standards, and has enjoyed a fine reputation for quality theatre in over sixty productions. We also conduct Drama Classes for children and teenagers every week, culminating in student performances, with many gaining additional theatrical experience in Brook pantomimes at the end of the year.

We are currently rehearsing two one-act plays, one of which was the winner of our competition launched two years ago to encourage new works by local writers.

We are preparing for two more productions this year, and three in 2008. Our not having a secure venue does not dampen our commitment and determination to continue the success story of our much loved theatre company.

We cannot emphasise enough the importance of the Brook Community Theatre as being of both cultural and social benefit to the mid-mountains community.

It is our understanding that the Mechanics Institute had been recently renovated, and would therefore be most suitable as a performance space for our theatre company, and for other cultural groups such as The Mudlarks, whose current venue, the Woodford Uniting Church, is being sold, and the group is also desperate for rehearsal and performance space in the mid-mountains.

Members of our Committee have recently inspected the Mechanics’ Institute, and certified it as a perfect venue for our Company, and implore the Council to preserve this building as a much needed performance space and an essential part of the Blue Mountains history.
The future of theatre groups such as ours will depend on the preservation of the Mechanics’ Institute.

Yours Faithfully,

Leila Wedd

Artistic Director

On behalf of the Committee of
The Brook Community Theatre Group Inc.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR SAY.


Long Time Resident Saddened by Council Decision.
Mrs. Patti Louden now aged 87 has had a very long connection with Lawson going back over seventy years. She has spent most of those years in her home in Sayers Street .


Mrs. Louden was asked how she felt about the prospect of the Mechanics Institute / Community Hall being demolished for the widening of the highway and to share some memories about it.



"Before I married I would often come to dances on Friday nights at the hall during the war years to raise funds for the war effort, we had such a wonderful time. I would leave work at 5.30 pm and travel by steam train on Friday evenings, it usually took about 3 hours to get here then from Sydney.The entrance to the dances cost 1 shilling, and I remember it was always packed out.

The Hall was really the focal point of the community in Lawson and I have many happy memories of various functions, dances, special occasions and so on. The hall was used by many community groups, it was used by the C.W.A. for many years and other groups. I remember it being used for Christmas Carols for some years, it was wonderful.

Of my many happy times at the hall I particularly remember it being used on the weekends as a movie theatre. I remember seeing the film 'Going My Way', there were many others, but i can't recall them now.

I feel very strongly that the hall should somehow be moved and be used again for the whole community as it was intended, after all it belongs to the people of the township. Although it looks small from the highway it is really quite large inside. I remember the enormous kitchen / supper area and attending functions such as the C.W.A. and my daughters attending many school and other functions there as they were growing up.

I feel that we should be keeping the old hall as it has such important historical connections with many people in Lawson. Of course I realise that the highway is in desperate need of being widened but I would like to see the hall retained regardless.

I have no memory of much community consultation over the years regarding what would be done with the hall when the highway eventually is re- built. Maybe there was something in 'The Gazette' over the years but I don't recall much being said about it.

I would feel very sad to see this important building demolished considering the connections it has with so many people over the years."





From the website of the Mid Mountains Historical Society




Appalled By Council . Raoul O'Brien Lawson.

Like many of us, I am appalled by this Council's attitude in its attempt to destroy a beautiful and historical building that can be readily be saved at a fraction of the cost in building a new community hall.






My points I wish to add are:

Our local youth group could have a permanent home in this building
with pride.

Personally, I know several groups including painters, drama players and musicians that would regularly use this building for their exhibits and performances.

In a recent cultural strategy workshop organised by the Blue Mountains Council ( co-ordinated by Janne Yardie ) over several months at considerable cost and attended by various artistic / historical cultures including landscape painters / drama schools / dancers/ musicians / writers / youth bands / jazz groups etc., the main recurring complaint from these groups was that there were not enough halls in the Blue Mountains for their activities.

On this basis, why is the Mechanics Institute not in use at the present time and in the future?

Save this Building.

Raoul O'Brien Lawson



Kathy O'Hara
I live in Bullaburra

For ten years I have been working as a theatre technician at the Sydney Opera House.
Because of my trade, I’m often asked to provide technical production for events in various venues in the Mountains.

Just before Easter I had my first opportunity to inspect the inside of the Mechanics Institute during a site visit by Mammoth Movers who were there to appraise the feasibility of moving the hall back.

I am absolutely astounded that such a beautifull and well resourced example of a theatre exists in my home town.
In any other LGA this would be the jewel of the civic crown.

This hall has great acoustics, great aesthetics, and an easily achievable potential to service a very sophisticated range of local and touring performance events, not to mention lending grandeur to a variety of community functions and just generally enhancing our town and LGA

It has more backstage area than the Opera Theatre or the Concert Hall at the SOH. And from what I can see – not an engineer – the costs to have it comply with the current Building Code of Australia, and fire safetly compliance would be a pittance compared with it’s practical and civic value.

I’ve spent the last few days on the phone talking to local performing arts and other community groups and people from related industries. I’ve yet to make one call where the response has been that we can afford to loose this venue. Even the plan of management acknowledges that additional funds must be found to rehouse MM youth services and, as a volunteer at the midmountains neighbourhood centre I can tell you that bookings for the hall there (which does double duty as the Lawson Primary school hall), and the other little meeting rooms are heavy contested.

This is something that Council’s community venues booking officer, who I’ve tried unsuccessfully to contact yesterday and today will verify.

I won't go into the emotional and heritage issues re this hall. You’ve all seen all the reports. On a practical level, on a purely value for money level. We need to keep and cherish this hall.

Thank you for your attention Kathy O'Hara Bullaburra


If you would like to share your memories or make a comment about saving our hall please contact Kevin : email here




Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Council Will Destroy Our Heritage

Some historical facts from the Mid Mountains Historical Society website.


In June 1896, a meeting was held at the residence of Mr. W. Newton that resulted in the formation of a Literary and Debating Society for the Village of Lawson with a membership of eight interested residents and no funds. The first meetings of the new society were held in the old Blue Mountain Inn which had been made available by Mr AW. Wilson. A small library was established and the society began to grow. When Mr. Wilson died a move was made to the 'Coffee Palace' in San Jose Avenue and a 3/4 size billiard table was purchased with assistance from Mr. J.H. Humbly, to attract young men to the society. It proved an instantaneous success and a permanent site was procured for the town through the efforts of the local Progress Committee.

A Mechanics Institution was first established in the Colony of NSW in 1823 under the patronage of the Governor, Sir Richard Bourke and under the direction of a Scottish Minister, Rev. Henry Carmichael. The objects of the institution were similar to those that had been established at the beginning of the 19th century in Scotland and England to provide for the diffusion of useful knowledge, and the awakening of a love of study by means of a library, news and reading rooms, lectures and classes for instruction accessible for the working classes.

From the 1850s
, Mechanic's Institutes spread quickly throughout the towns and cities of Australia through Government support in the provision of sites and some financial support. Sir Henry Parkes had had his early education in such an institution in Birmingham and supported the movement in NSW during his time as Premier of the State. By 1880 there were 76 Schools of Arts, Mechanics or Literary Institutes throughout the state offering a wide range of adult education. The Board of Technical education was established in 1883 to oversee adult and technical education and by 1914 was overseen by the Department of Education. Formalisation of technical education in NSW left local Mechanics Institutes free to pursue a wide variety of cultural and social activities within their communities.

In February 1899
, Lot 17 of Section 1 of the Village of Lawson was set aside and dedicated as the site for a Mechanics Institute and a small timber building was erected on the site by the fledgling Lawson Literary Society. The move to this building provided additional impetus for the institution, which was a focus for social activity in the village and within a short period a public meeting was held to support the formation of a Mechanic's Institute and the erection of a more imposing structure to house its functions. Fund raising activities proceeded with community functions and entertainments being held in the 'Coffee Palace Hall' in San Jose Avenue.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

Why Does This Man Want To Demolish Our Hall


Councillor Van Der Kley is the only ward Two Councillor elected to represent the wishes of the people in this ward who isn't interested in saving OUR hall.
He isn't interested in hearing from the people in this ward about this issue.
He isn't interested in this historical landmark building.
He has voted for demolition.
ASK HIM WHY HE WON'T HELP TO SAVE OUT HALL?

Councillor Van Der Kley
6 Murray Avenue
WENTWORTH FALLS NSW 2782
02 4758 6254 (fax/ph) (w)
02 4757 2376 (fax/ph) (h)
0427 805 810 (mobile)
email: cvanderkley@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Save Our Hall Vigil

press release for gazette

Just over 100 years ago some residents of Lawson raised the funds and engaged a builder to construct a community hall to be known as The Mechanics Institute. The bricks were re-cycled from the original Blue Mountain Railway Station building and used for the hall, which was opened in 1903.

Many residents of Lawson feel that the hard work and commitment by those people should be honoured by moving the hall, not demolishing it as is apparently the option preferred by The Blue Mountains City Council. It is quite possible to safely re-locate the building back from the highway.

Lawson and the Mid Mountains residents sorely need a hall for performance, meeting and exhibition space. The hall at Mid Mountains Community Centre is quite inadequate as it is shared with the Lawson Public School. It doesn't have decent facilities for performance or exhibitions. As the volunteers at Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre will tell you it is so heavily booked most of the time that it is hard get a booking owing to a lack of other facilities.

As many of us remember, the old Mechanics Institute Hall has an excellent stage and backstage space for many purposes. With a little tender loving care it could be brought up to scratch and used by the community again. A building report showed a few years ago that the hall was in good condition. Why then are our councillors not even prepared to consider a feasibility report into having it moved?

The Save Our Hall group of residents are holding a vigil every Sunday from 10.30am to remind Mountains residents and tourists of the value of this excellent facility and also to remind our Councillors of their duty to respond to the wishes of the people.

This hall was built by the people, for the people of Lawson.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Hall Inspection



ACMMR has secured a date to open the Mechanics' Institute for a site inspection for Councillors and the general public. Please consider attending so that you can see inside this wonderful building that Council is recommending for demolition and to show your support for saving it to the Councillors who attend. The fact is the hall can be safely and quickly moved back on the block by specialist stone building movers. Council however is flatly resisting even looking into this practical option.

The Hall will be open on Saturday, 2nd June from 10am to 1pm. For reasons best known to itself Council will ask all who attend to sign a personal indemnity form before entering (we believe that the Hall is not appropriately insured), but it's really worth seeing inside. The Mechanics' Institute is located at 284 GWH at the entrance to Lawson travelling west. Parking is available in Orient Street or the empty block next door.

The Hall was built in 1903 by the Lawson community for the Lawson community. It has served as the place of the first shire Council meeting, a library for those who did not have other means of access to books, a cinema, roller-skating rink, community meeting place, congregation spot for historic marches and events and was the home of the Mid Mountains Youth Centre until two years ago.

The present building has a wonderful stage and curtains, a beautiful ceiling and restored wooden floor. It wouldn't take much to bring it up to scratch again as an arts venue unparalleled in the Mountains.

Please help us to SAVE THE HALL by attending on Saturday June 2nd.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Impassioned Plea of Councillor Pippa McInnes


The impassioned plea of Councillor Pippa McInnes to defer the proposed public exhibition of the newest plan of management for the 1903 Mechanics Institute fell on deaf ears at the last Council meeting. Instead Council voted to place on public exhibition a flawed and biased amended plan of management recommending demolition of the historic hall. Cllr McInnes requested the deferral due to detailed 9 page legal advice being provided to the meeting setting out issues which should be addressed prior to the plan’s exhibition.

Not one of the councillors who voted for the plan to proceed to exhibition gave the public the courtesy of their opinions at the meeting. As Council is the custodian of public assets this is a shameful indictment on the lack of accountability of our elected councillors to state publicly their reasoning for their apparent quest to demolish one of Lawson’s most historic, grand buildings, held in high esteem by previous councils. It does appear that the long term agenda is to demolish the hall and in its place build medium density buildings which, no doubt, would be built on the adjoining large vacant lots of land. Again we can expect another “Leura Spires” development to be built here in Lawson at the expense of irreplaceable history.

It was also revealed that it has been left to a community group to commission and fund the provision of an initial feasibility statement as to whether the hall could be relocated on the land back from the highway widening. The Council, despite previous majority public submissions requesting that the hall be saved, has failed to make any enquiries or issue any tenders to determine the cost and feasibility of moving the hall despite public submissions for Council to consider this option. The general manager said that Council can do this but it has not done so. ACMMR provided Councillors with written statements from reputable structural engineers, Mammoth Movers, stating it is possible to move the `whole' building back on the block without causing structural damage. ACMMR asked Mammoth Movers to inspect the building in April this year following frustration that Council had never bothered to do this despite having had nearly 20 years since the 1988 RTA resumption of the land on which the front portion of the Hall stands. The South Australian company specialises in moving whole masonry buildings and is currently being used by the State Government to move a massive brick signal box in Hornsby.

A spokesperson for ACMMR, Erst Carmichael, commented: "It would only cost Council $3,800 to receive a Mammoth Movers report into the cost of removing the building yet Council won't even go that far. This attitude is appalling to say the least. Why is it so hell bent on demolishing a perfectly sound heritage building when there is a need for more community meeting and recreational space, and a Youth Centre in need of accommodation?"

Residents Have Their Say


Long Time Resident Saddened by Council Decision.
Mrs. Patti Louden now aged 87 has had a very long connection with Lawson going back over seventy years. She has spent most of those years in her home in Sayers Street .


Mrs. Louden was asked how she felt about the prospect of the Mechanics Institute / Community Hall being demolished for the widening of the highway and to share some memories about it.



"Before I married I would often come to dances on Friday nights at the hall during the war years to raise funds for the war effort, we had such a wonderful time. I would leave work at 5.30 pm and travel by steam train on Friday evenings, it usually took about 3 hours to get here then from Sydney.The entrance to the dances cost 1 shilling, and I remember it was always packed out.

The Hall was really the focal point of the community in Lawson and I have many happy memories of various functions, dances, special occasions and so on. The hall was used by many community groups, it was used by the C.W.A. for many years and other groups. I remember it being used for Christmas Carols for some years, it was wonderful.

Of my many happy times at the hall I particularly remember it being used on the weekends as a movie theatre. I remember seeing the film 'Going My Way', there were many others, but i can't recall them now.

I feel very strongly that the hall should somehow be moved and be used again for the whole community as it was intended, after all it belongs to the people of the township. Although it looks small from the highway it is really quite large inside. I remember the enormous kitchen / supper area and attending functions such as the C.W.A. and my daughters attending many school and other functions there as they were growing up.

I feel that we should be keeping the old hall as it has such important historical connections with many people in Lawson. Of course I realise that the highway is in desperate need of being widened but I would like to see the hall retained regardless.

I have no memory of much community consultation over the years regarding what would be done with the hall when the highway eventually is re- built. Maybe there was something in 'The Gazette' over the years but I don't recall much being said about it.

I would feel very sad to see this important building demolished considering the connections it has with so many people over the years."




From the website of the Mid Mountains Historical Society




Appalled By Council . Raoul O'Brien Lawson.

Like many of us, I am appalled by this Council's attitude in its attempt to destroy a beautiful and historical building that can be readily be saved at a fraction of the cost in building a new community hall.






My points I wish to add are:

Our local youth group could have a permanent home in this building
with pride.

Personally, I know several groups including painters, drama players and musicians that would regularly use this building for their exhibits and performances.

In a recent cultural strategy workshop organised by the Blue Mountains Council ( co-ordinated by Janne Yardie ) over several months at considerable cost and attended by various artistic / historical cultures including landscape painters / drama schools / dancers/ musicians / writers / youth bands / jazz groups etc., the main recurring complaint from these groups was that there were not enough halls in the Blue Mountains for their activities.

On this basis, why is the Mechanics Institute not in use at the present time and in the future?

Save this Building.

Raoul O'Brien Lawson


If you would like to share your memories or make a comment about saving our hall please contact Kevin : email here