On August 27 1947 the Honorary Secretary of the Nundah Progress Association advised the Treasury Department that various public bodies in the Nundah district were anxious to secure portion of Boyd Park for the purpose of building a Memorial Hall. Under the provisions of the Sale of Land Act of 1882, the price of crown land purchased by Local Authorities was to be considered a loan. This required the Brisbane City Council to pay the balance owing to the Treasury Department and meet other conditions laid down by the Act. Once this was done, the land requested was available for leasing.
The Nundah-Northgate Memorial Hall Building fund Society was formed after the Nundah Progress Association invited local organisations to send a representative to a public meeting, called to form a committee to raise funds for the construction of a public hall as the district War Memorial. Mr. A. K. Lawton was elected President, Mr. E. G. Dawson, Secretary concentrated on holding two large fetes a year to raise the money required. The Governor of Queensland, Sir John Lavarack KBE., C.B., C.M.G., D. S. O. laid the foundation stone on May 23 1953.
An article in the Nundah Express of October 1954 stated, ‘the sub-branch of the Nundah-Northgate RSL accepted the Memorial Hall as the official War Memorial of Its district’. Mention was made of the support given to the project by the local RSL and other organisations, including the Victory Fishing Club and its member Mr. Jim Thomas. The official opening of the hall on October 23 1954 was followed by a week of festivities culminating on October 30 with the inaugural Saturday Night Dance, with music provided by the Maisie Goulding Orchestra.
At the official opening a public appeal was launched to raise funds to complete the hall. Plans were drawn up to extend the building a further 20 feet (6.1 metres) to include a stage and dressing rooms. With the initial design of the hall, the Ladies and Gents toilets were positioned behind the hall. The new extensions allowed people attending functions the opportunity to put the Brisbane City Council sewerage system to good use.
Over the years the hall has been used for many purposes such as private parties, dances and meetings. For many years the Nundah and District Youth Club, formed in the early 1950’s, held Saturday morning gymnastics classes. Local schools have used the hall to hold concerts, learn to dance, and practise for their annual balls. At present it is used as a dance studio. There is a plaque in the garden at the front of the hall in memory of the late Jim Thomas for his dedicated contribution of time and effort towards the building of the hall. The hall is heritage listed.
Nundah Memorial Hall 