Notes taken from a privately owned copy of the Minutes 29.06.1918 – 30. 06.1925

Objects: To obtain funds to erect a hall in Banyo to be used as a school of arts.

Membership: Every resident or property owner in Banyo more than 21 years to be eligible.

Subscriptions: Annual sub of one shilling payable in advance.

Officers:          Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer,  3 trustees elected for 12 months, qorum of 7 members.

7 September, 1918: Trustees were appointed and the Government was to be approached with a view to obtaining an overdraft. A board was to be erected to identify the site of the school of arts.

1918: Committee occupied with organising fund raising events – concerts, fete, euchre evenings, socials, dances etc. These functions were held in the Shire Hall.

Jan 1919: Arrangements made for land to be cleared and a gate erected.

Feb.1919: Committee obtains permission to continue receiving a subsidy as a building committee after the erection of a hall. This would help reduce the overdraft. It would be conditional on the committee getting the books in order. It was a major concession as all established schools of arts were expected to spend the full subsidy on literature.

March 15, 1919: Receipt of £6.0.9. from the Department of Public Instruction.

April 1919: Work of the committee is being undermined by locals who are spreading negative rumours about it. Despite this the fete had been successful but the concert was a farce.

29 July 1919: Mrs. Buchanan requests that a shop be built on the school of arts land so she can lease it. Committee agrees to ask Department of Public Instruction if part of land can be leased. Cost of the building not to exceed 50 pounds.

27 August 1919: Circular from Thomson and Birch advertising new books. 12 pounds three shillings and three pence received as subsidy from Department of Public Instruction. Total of £63.10.0 received in subsidies, and committee had a balance of £85.0.0 in total so it was decided to proceed with the erection of the shop.

26 May 1920: Extraordinary public meeting to discuss arrange the amalgamation of the committee with the Banyo Progress Assn.

9 May 1921: Public meeting to discuss the formation of a new school of arts committee. Chairman and trustees elected.

13 May 1921: Confirmation of election of chairman and trustees. Other officers appointed. Previous rules of School of Arts adopted and  Department of Justice to be informed. Plans for a dance and euchre tournament.

June 1921: Discussions re hall. Some were reluctant to burden a small community with debt. Others optimistic that subs of 10 shillings per year, fund raising, income from billiard table, and hire of hall would provide ample income to pay interest on a loan.

 

No minutes again until 14 MARCH 1924.

Public meeting called on notice from Department of Public Instruction.

Discussion on the prospects of building a hall and the support needed for a committee to continue. Six to three voted that school of arts was not viable.

Oct. 1924:  Public meeting to reform the school of arts committee. Previous rules adopted.

Dec. 1924: Report on proceeds of fete; stalls – works, mock court, produce, chocolate game, skittles, jumble, sweets, refreshment, ice cream. Proceeds to be used for the erection of the hall. Proposed hall to be 40 by 30 ft. with a porch, steps and window at the front. Walls 12 ft. and stumps 7ft. out of the ground.

Jan 1925: W.J. Chalmers of Newmarket to produce plans.

Trustees signed transfer of the ground to the Crown

28 Jan  1925: £120 to be paid to Mr. Thorngard for the erection of hall, (total cost £265).

14 March 1925: Building officially opened. Proceeds from stalls and donations (Toombul Shire 5 guineas, Shire Clerk one guinea, W. Schultz 5 guineas, W.B.  Robinson two guineas, His Excellency one guinea.) as well as tickets at door amounted to 63.18.10

16 March  1925: First meeting held in the school of arts building, “School of Arts Memorial”, St. Vincents Rd, Banyo. Hall to be let for church services at cost of two shillings per service during day, three shillings at night. Progress Association  to pay two shillings six pence for meetings, a dance or social would pay one guinea, private parties – ten and six. Discussion re purchase of piano.

23 March 1925: Piano to be purchased on three year terms for 130.10.00 pounds.

Arrangements for the honour roll to be presented to the school of arts at a sacred concert on Anzac Day. The board had been housed at the station pending the erection of the hall.

Arrangements for a dance every Saturday night until June.

1 May 1925: Decision to allow denominations one free night per year for entertainment. Young people to be allowed to decorate hall prior to jazz evening.

15 May 1925: Review of rentals: 2 hrs 7/6, 3hrs 7/- per hour, 4 hrs 6/6 per hr, 5 hrs 6/-. Charges for benefits for hospitals or ambulances to be at discretion of the committee.

22 May 1925. Hall to be open on Friday evenings for members to play cards, drafts, etc. Permission for another jazz evening for young people in aid of the ambulance fund.

29 May, 1925: Accounts to be paid for oil, Benzine and Boracic Acid.

5 June 1925: Accounts for paint, Boracic Acid and colouring. Regular income from dancing class. Receipts £6/14/11. Expenses 10/5.

12 June 1925: Receipts from refreshment stalls provided at events in the hall. Extra cups and saucers to be purchased with proceeds. Thanks to King and Tingle for painting windows.

3 July 1925: Library opened with 70 books. General meeting of subscribers  to elect committee:- July 8. Virginia school of arts approached for copy of rules.