Wingham Memorial Town Hall

Item details


Name of item:	Wingham Memorial Town Hall
Other name/s:	Wingham Town Hall, Wingham Council Chambers
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Community Facilities
Category:	Hall Town Hall
Location:	Lat: -31.86981818320 Long: 152.36858200600
Primary address:	52 Farquhar Street, Wingham, NSW 2429
Parish:	Wingham
County:	Macquarie
Local govt. area:	Mid-Coast
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Purfleet/Taree

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
PART LOT	124		DP	713925

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
52 Farquhar Street	Wingham	Mid-Coast	Wingham	Macquarie	Primary Address
Queen Street	Wingham	Mid-Coast			Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
former Greater Taree City Council	Local Government

Statement of significance:


	The Wingham Memorial Town Hall is of state aesthetic significance for its architectural design as a landmark twentieth century civic building in the NSW Mid North Coast region. Designed in the Interwar California Bungalow style, which is usually reserved for residential design, the hall has been described as ‘architecturally unique’ (Suters, 1990). It is also rare as a memorial town hall in NSW. It is of state representative significance as a high quality, regional town hall building and for its memorial function designed to permanently commemorate the local men who lost their lives in World War I. Its status as a war memorial epitomises the importance of 'remembrance' in Australian culture. The hall is also of representative significance as a community hall used for social and cultural events that draw the community together.
	Date significance updated: 20 Aug 15
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	James T. Chambers
Construction years:	1922-1924
Physical description:	Wingham: Wingham is an historic town located on the Manning River in the Mid North Coast region of NSW within the local government area of Greater Taree, 335 kilometres north of Sydney. Its population was 5313 in the 2011 census. Wingham Memorial Town Hall curtilage: Located on the corner of Farquhar and Queen Streets in a suburban area on a rise about midway between the town centre and its railway station. To the building's north and east are expansive lawns and three prominent Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis)(Stuart Read, pers.comm., 17/12/2019). The original street fencing and entry gates have been removed. Good photographic records of these elements are available and the community are investigating their reinstatement. The SHR curtilage includes the main hall building, side driveway, mature palm trees and recently planted memorial rock gardens but excludes more recently constructed buildings in the rear of the lot including a shed used by the RSL and a childcare centre. Town Hall building: The building, dating from 1924, is a distinctive single storey brick building with corrugated iron roof, large gables, covered verandahs and castellated corner clock tower. Designed by local architect James Thomson Chambers, it is rare and possibly unique within NSW as an institutional building designed in the Interwar Californian Bungalow architectural style. This style is characterised by its earthy appearance, brown brick work, low-pitched street-facing gables with decorative timber inserts, corrugated iron roof and substantial masonry piers on its verandahs (Apperly et al, 1989, pp209). It also displays aspects of the Federation Free Style (Apperly, 1989, 138), characterised by the asymmetrically positioned landmark tower; and the Federation Arts and Crafts style, characterised by the large arch over the entrance and decorative painted wood work (Apperly, 1989, 142) . Chambers' daughter's history of his career states: 'Much of Chambers' work espouses the philosophies used by the Federation Arts and Crafts Movement, which can be seen in his design of the Memorial Town Hall, with its asymmetric placement of the clock tower; its open vestibule area making it a place for the people; as well as the use of local product, tradesmen and artisans . . . The idea that the landscaping was part of the overall design of a building was favoured by the Arts and Crafts Movement . . . Buildings in the federation Arts and Craft style were . . . not merely facades, but rather were built 'in-the-round', in artful informality.' (Chambers, 2006, 39, p44 quoting Apperly et al, p140) 'The gable to Farquhar Street covers an open spaced entrance vestibule and is entered through a wide brick segmental arch. The vestibule is panelled in wood and there are two segmental wooden arches to double doors that lead into the main hall. Between these doors there is an attractive semi-octagonal glazed ticket box with a timber moulded cornice and a row of little transom lights and each divided, by leadlight, into four panes. . .' (National Trust listing, 1988) The clock-tower stands about 15 metres high and has brick piers on each corner and a circular clock on each face. It is crenelated at the top. 'The hall itself was eighty feet (24.4m) by forty feet (12.2m) and seated 600 people; had an eighteen foot (5.5m) vestibule; the stage was forty feet (12.2m) by twenty feet (6.1m) with three change rooms ten feet by ten feet 3.0m); a supper room thirty-three feet (10.0m) by twenty-six feet (7.9m) and a kitchen thirteen feet (4.0m) by ten feet (3.0m) ; Council Chambers and a Town Clerk's room, both eighteen feet by eighteen feet (5.5m); and two small rooms either side of the vestibule. The clock, costing 225 pounds, was donated through fundraising by the women of Wingham. The interior of the hall was decorated in pale cool finishes, to reflect the climate, the ceiling highlighted in darker paint work along the decorative lattice work.' (Chambers, 2006, p45) By contrast, in 2015 the interior colours of the building are predominantly off-white. Apart from the main hall, there is a supper room and service rooms together with the former civic office spaces, all with high ceilings (approximately 6m). The tower is accessible by ladder stairway. The four clock faces keep accurate time using recently installed electric mechanisms, installed by Ingrams Bright, an electronic master system. Each clock face has its own motor which runs off power. The original clock mechanism, replaced c.1985, is on display in the Wingham Museum. The Memorial Town Hall retains its intact World War I Honour Rolls displayed in the exterior foyer to the main hall. The Honour Rolls comprise a total of 1047 entries encompassing service in both wars and peacekeeping operations. The earliest entry relates to the Soudan (sic) War of 1885, the most recent to service in Iraq in 2003. Of these entries 232 are for service in World War 1 and a further 696 are for service in World War II. The insignia of the Royal Australian Air Force, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy are displayed in the foyer, positioned above the main entry doors and ticket booth. Although the building's office spaces have been under-utilised since the town hall functions moved to Taree in the mid 1980s following local government amalgamations and the closure o the Wingham Shire offices, the various rooms of the building have since been in occasional community use by organisations such as the Baptist Church and Wingham Community Centre. The War Veterans' Remembrance Drive Association are due to assume occupancy of the office spaces in late 2015. The roof was replaced c2010 following hail damage.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good.
	Date condition updated:01 Jun 15
Modifications and dates:	1950s - ticket booth constructed in the vestibule 1969 (circa) - removal of brick fence around perimeter 1970 - verandah enclosed 1985 (circa) – Clock tower time keeping mechanism replaced with electronic system where each clock face runs off its own motor 1995 - toilets installed inside building 1999 – kitchen refurbished 2002 - Heritage Division funding of $10K for refurbishment of the main hall 2003 - restoration of original form of the verandahs 2010 - Corrugated roof replaced following hail damage 2011 - installation of Cenotaph and Remembrance Wall near entrance foyer, dedicated 25 April 2011 (www.monumentaustralia.org.au) 2015 - office spaces repaired and repainted


Current use:	Hall & offices, events, park
Former use:	Council Chambers/Offices/Hall/Cinema

History

Historical notes:

Aboriginal land
At the time of European settlement the Manning Valley was peopled by the Biripi people, who occupied the greater part of the Manning Valley, extending north from Blackhead to the Hastings Valley and the Worimi tribe, who occupied the area from Blackhead south to the Hunter River and west to near Barrington Tops. (Smith, 2006, 17). It is understood that Aboriginal people have been caring for this land for at least 20,000 years.

Indigenous lifestyles here would have been typical of coastal eastern Australia. Coastal lakes, beaches and estuaries backed by wooded country of various kinds provided rich and varied source of food and supported a high population. Oxley wrote in 1829:
'The natives are extremely numerous along this part of the coast; these extensive lakes, which abound with fish, being extremely favourable to their easy subsistence; large troops of them appear at the beaches while their canoes on the lakes area equally numerous. In the mornings their fires are to be observed in every direction; they evidently appear to shun us, and we wish for no further acquaintance.' (Smith, 2006, 17).

Population numbers decreased rapidly with European colonisation. Contact with cedar cutters in the early nineteenth century would have intruded harshly into the Aboriginal way of life. The depletion of Aboriginal food sources resulted in hostilities. Massacres of indigenous people and the poisoning of their food and waterholes was widespread throughout much of Australia during the nineteenth century. European diseases also took a heavy toll. By the late nineteenth century the traditional way of life was dislodged and many Aboriginal people were dependent on white employment or gathered into missions, which were in operation at Purfleet, Forster and Karuah during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. (Smith, 2006, 17-18).

Despite this history of displacement Aboriginal soldiers from the district participated in both world wars and the latter entlistments are commemorated in the Honour Rolls at the Wingham Memorial Town Hall. Given the attitudes prevailing at the time and legislative proscription, Aboriginal men who sought to enlist in World War I often presented at recruiting offices far from their place of residence where their ethnicity was not known, so they could be accepted simply as someone 'of dark complexion'. Perhaps because of this, the World War I indigenous servicemen of the Wingham area are not known to be included on the Honour Rolls as they did not enlist locally. However, by the time of World War II, attitudes had changed and local aboriginal servicemen are included on the Rolls (P.Teerman conversation with Eric Richardson OAM, past president of Manning Valley Historical Society 03.06.1).

Colonisation
The first European explorer to cross the Manning River was John Oxley who first visited the area in 1818. In 1829 the Manning River defined the northern boundary of the vast area of land from Newcastle to Taree which had been granted to the Australian Agricultural Company and the northern limit of settlement in the colony of NSW. Cedar cutters moved into the area around this time. The first official land grant of 1037 hectares was made to William Wynter who settled in the district in 1831. The modern township of Taree stands on this land. It was Wynter who gave his family home the name Tarree and subsequently named a schooner 'Tarree'. The schooner was used for shipping cedar to Sydney and ports to the south of Taree. ('Travel - Taree' The Age 16/8/2007)

Wingham was chosen as a location for the government settlement as it was the furthest inland navigable place on the Manning River. Named after Wingham in Kent, England, it was proclaimed a village in 1844 but allotments were not made until 1854, the same year that Henry Flett laid out Taree as a private settlement. In the meantime, Tinonee had also been established as a government settlement and in 1866 had a population of 100, compared to 90 at Wingham and 150 at Taree. By 1909, Wingham had 285 houses and a population of 900, while Taree 269 houses and a population of 1300.

Wingham was proclaimed a municipality in 1889. In 1981 the municipalities of Wingham and Taree were merged with each other and the greater part of Manning Shire to form the City of Greater Taree. (Wikipedia, 'Wingham NSW', downloaded 29/5/15). Part of Manning Shire Council was also incorporated into Great Lakes Council.

War service in the Manning valley
Australians served overseas in several British Empire wars during the nineteenth century including the Boxer Rebellion, the Sudan War and the Boer War. However it was Australia's experience of World War I between 1914 and 1918 which most profoundly affected Australian identity and self-image. Like most of Australia, a large proportion of Manning valley's young men signed up to fight for King and Empire following the declaration of war on 4 August 1914. Newspaper editorials and readers' contributions in the form of letters and poems called the Manning's young men to support the cause, parades were held, patriotic associations formed and fund-raising appeals were received enthusiastically. The 'North Coasters', or 'Boomerangs' as they were sometimes called, were given a civic welcome when they passed through the Manning Valley in February 1916 on their way from Grafton to Maitland (Smith, 2006, p73).

A large proportion of these young men who went off to fight in Europe and the Middle East never came home, and of those who returned an even larger proportion were seriously injured in mind and / or body. As the Australian War Memorial website explains: 'For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.' (https://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/ww1/)

Following World War I war memorials were erected throughout Australia as an expression of grief for those lost and gratitude to those who served. These memorials were not a short lived emotion but an enduring expression of respect which remain prominent throughout the Australian built environment. Some memorials took years to eventuate as communities organised themselves, raised funds and debated what to build. Community halls were a popular form of memorial and communities would often rally to build a school of arts building as a memorial while some with existing halls frequently added commemorative plaques bearing a roll of honour. In the Manning Valley the Wingham Memorial Town Hall was opened in 1923 and the Taree War Memorial in 1925. (Smith, 2006, p73-74)

Wingham Memorial Town Hall
This lot of land in Wingham had been dedicated as a 'Hall Site' in 14 November 1884, even before the municipality was declared in 1889. However the land lay fallow for many years.

The community of Wingham initiated the idea of building a memorial hall during World War I and made significant contributions to the original fund raising. The money raised was then passed on to the Returned Soldiers, Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League (RSSL) to administer further fund raising activities and develop the plan. In order to finalise the project and ensure its long-term future, it was proposed that the memorial hall be combined with the function of town hall and municipal offices. Wingham Municipal Council took over the project and obtained an additional loan of 4,000 pounds so that the hall would also accommodate municipal offices and council chambers

Mr S H Brewer was appointed the foreman of works alongside the architect, James Thomson Chambers, and builder, F C Sweeney. Mr Dudgeon, a monumental mason from Taree, supplied the foundation stone free of charge. The Honour Rolls were executed by monumental mason, A. Siddall. In a self-published architectural history about her father's career, Heather Chambers discussed the construction of the Wingham Memorial Town Hall:
'Chambers used local product wherever possible. The first question raised in the erecting of the building was how to procure suitable clay for the making of bricks. This in fact was done locally, and the bricks were made of clay from a local quarry on Cedar Party Creek. These bricks were made by A. Tufrey at the rate of (Pounds)27s 6d per 1,000. The water to the hall for the building project was provided by four 1,000 gallon tanks, the water to be drawn from the roof of the adjoining Presbyterian Church. Gravel from the Manning River at Wingham was used in the cement for the foundations, and the mortar used in the brickwork was coloured by the sand also obtained from the nearby river. The timber for both the exterior and interior of the building was procured from the local sawmills at Comboyne and Killabakh, of black butt and white mahogany, and Chambers donated (Pounds)25 worth of timber from his mill for the building of the hall. The use of local product and tradesmen were hallmarks of the Arts and Crafts movement.' (Chambers, 2006, pp44-45)

'The foundation stone was dedicated by Charles Rosenthal (1975-1954), a popular major-general who had commanded soldiers through most of the World War I theatres of war (and was wounded four times), also an architect, musician and NSW politician; he may have been a part-model for the authoritarian ex-soldiers' leader Benjamin Cooley in D. H. Lawrence's novel, Kangaroo (London, 1923) (Hill, 1988). The Wingham Memorial Town Hall was officially opened on 2 April 1924. The Mayor's speech described the memorial hall as a monument and talked about how the history of a country is written in its monuments. He also stated that the hall, although owned by the Council, was the soldiers' hall and would be available for free use by any soldier for their direct benefit of any dependent of the fallen. The honour rolls, located in the vestibule of the hall, were also unveiled on that day. Anzac Day memorial services for the district continue to be held here and a new low-rise memorial wall was constructed 2011 near the entrance vestibule to contribute to this civic function.

Following the opening, a garden plan was submitted and a brick fence constructed around the Queen and Farquhar Street boundaries. Also at this time a clock was paid for by the ladies of Wingham and subsequently mounted in the clock tower.

Wingham Council had its offices in the building and held its Council meetings here until 1981, when the Municipality of Wingham was amalgamated with Taree Municipality and part of the Manning Shire and the building ceased to be used for many civic functions. The new Council, Greater Taree City Council, continued to use the offices at the Town Hall until c.1985.

The Wingham Memorial Town Hall also has played an important role as a community hall and meeting place, having been in frequent use for large social and cultural gatherings such as dances, wedding receptions, meetings and even funerals. In past years community halls functioned in broader educational and cultural roles than today, often serving as literary institutes and schools of arts before the introduction of council-administered libraries or when travel to the main centres was time consuming or difficult. (Smith, 2006, p74)

The Wingham Memorial Town Hall was also in use as a cinema from 1924 until 1939 and again from 1948 until 1955. It was been licensed for this by Gerald Allport in 1924. The first Wingham 'talkie' movie was screened here on 23 August 1930. It does not retain any of its projection equipment. An oral history drawing on the recollections of elderly residents of the Manning Valley in 1988 reported this account by local resident Stella Butterworth of the running of the cinema in the Wingham memorial TownHall in the 1930s:
'We had what they called a sound on disc in those days. The records had to synchronise with the film. If you happened to get a faulty record the needle would stick. I can remember on one occasion we had a film and it got to the words, 'I'll have to be going', and the needle stuck there. There was the hero kissing the girl and saying, 'I'll have to be going, I'll have to be going'. The audience was in stitches.
'One shilling and sixpence was the price to go in the theatre during the depression. We had two screenings, Wednesday and Saturday. We eventually had to give up the Wednesday screening. In the first twelve months we lost about two thousand pounds. We showed in the town hall for seven years. By 1937, we had sound on film.
' 'Gone with the Wind' was offered to us for 90 to 10. Ninety percent for them and we had to do all the advertising. The big films were sold by percentage. The westerns were the cheapest and most popular. On a big night we'd have 400
people. It would average out at about 200.' (Hannah, 1988, p153)

A study of the Wingham Memorial Town Hall by student Vanessa Penfold proposed that the use of the California Bungalow architectural style was part of the emergent Australian nationalism of the early twentieth century:
'Vanessa Penfold, in her Wingham Memorial Town Hall Study suggests, 'Australian Architects were designing their own interpretation of a style now called the Californian Bungalow', which stylistically allowed an original Australian architecture to emerge. Penfold says that the 'striking features representative in Chambers work in Wingham include the low pitched roofs, prominent gables and overhanging eaves and barges' (1993, p17) of the Californian Bungalow style. . . his designs had a much more decorative character in this period in Wingham, from 1918, as he was designing with his own flair and style and working within the Arts and Crafts idiom. He also followed the new fashionable trends of 'simple forms, open verandahs, wood structures and shingle surfaces', and as an architect of the Scottish tradition, he brought his own influences from the International School to his work. Chambers was very much influenced by the important changes in architecture in Sydney at the time he was working there, as Australian design was evolving towards its own and original architecture.'

The then Mayor of Greater Taree City Council, Mick Tuck, stated in his speech for the 75th Anniversary Celebrations for Wingham Town Hall in 1999 that 'This Hall will forever be, the centre, the heart, of Wingham'. (Chambers, 2006, p47)

James Thomson Chambers, architect (1870-1854)
James Chambers, though little documented, has been described by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) as 'an important Sydney architect' (National Trust listing entry for Wingham Memorial Town Hall, 1987). He was born in Scotland and trained as an architect there, first settling in Roseville in 1910. His father had owned a timber milling business in Scotland and James evidently came to Wingham to run the sawmill business he had bought in 1917 in nearby Killabakh. Settling his family in Wingham in 1918, he designed them a fine home (also in the Interwar California Bungalow style at 4 Machins Parade Wingham) and carried out other architectural commissions in the area including the Rectory for St Matthews Church of England, extensive renovations to the Wingham Hotel (sadly destroyed by fire in 2010), additions and alterations to Maitland Stores in Bent Street Wingham, a War Memorial at Killabakh and several substantial homes in Wingham. In 1921 he became a foundation director of the Wingham Land and Building Co. Ltd with several Wingham councillors, which constructed four more modest houses in Dingo Street (now Queen Street). However it appears that none of these businesses took off and he returned with his family to Sydney in 1925. After relocating to the Orange district for some years, he retired in Sydney where he died in Gladesville in 1954.

Comparisons
There are currently seven town halls listed on the SHR in NSW: Sydney (1869), Paddington (1891), Granville (1988), Maitland (1880s), Marrickville (1879), Newcastle (1929) and Mudgee (1880). Of these, only the Newcastle City Hall dates from the twentieth century like the Wingham Town Hall. The Wingham Town Hall also differs from all those already listed because of its strong and representative associations with the commemoration of twentieth century wars.
There are just two other known 'memorial town halls' extant in NSW, both also built in the interwar period: Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall and Manilla Memorial Town Hall. Like Wingham they have lost their formal civic function and are in use as local community halls. The Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall is listed on the LEP.
There are hundreds of memorial halls dotted throughout NSW, of which more than 150 are listed on LEPs or on other heritage lists. Only one other memorial hall has so far been listed on the State Heritage Register: the Malachi Gilmore Memorial Hall in Oberon, an art Deco style building dating from 1937. The research suggests there is no other NSW town hall built in this 'Interwar California Bungalow' style (Apperly et al, 1989, pp209); Suters Architects Snell report of 16th May 1988 states that it is 'probably stylistically unique in NSW' (Greater Taree City Council Heritage Study 1990).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Gardens-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Introduce cultural planting-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Cultural: Plains and plateaux supporting human activities-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present.	All Nations - associations with Aboriginal war service-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes of passive recreation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Landscapes and parklands of distinctive styles-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Developing local landmarks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Providing a venue for significant events-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences	Commemorating a major event-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Building settlements, towns and cities-National Theme 4
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Adapted heritage building or structure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Architectural design-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Townships-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Administering and alienating Crown lands-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from suburban to urban-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th century Suburban Developments-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Beautifying towns and villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	main street-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Civic centre-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	20th Century infrastructure-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	local government-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Urban landscapes inspiring creative responses-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Planned towns serving a specific industry-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Planning relationships between key structures and town plans-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing government towns-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	Developing the social life of a rural community-
5. Working-Working	Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour	Working in local government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Local government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Town Hall-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Open Space Provision-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - providing fire stations-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administration of land-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	local government asset management-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Providing public offices and buildings-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - public land administration-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Local and municipal self-governance-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - parks and open spaces-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Monuments-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Developing cultural institutions and ways of life-National Theme 8
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Interior design styles and periods - 20th century Inter War-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Interwar California Bungalow-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Parks and public gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Designing structures to emphasise their important roles-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Building in response to climate - bushfires-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Building in response to climate - bushfires-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Architectural styles and periods - Federation Arts and Crafts-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - Federation period-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Adaptation of overseas design for local use-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities.	Landscaping - 20th century interwar-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1900-1950-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Domestic life-Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions.	Ways of life 1950-2000-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Outdoor relief-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	musical gatherings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	community park-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to the park-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to talks and lectures-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Developing collections of items-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Enjoying public parks and gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Leisure-Includes tourism, resorts.
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Participating in ANZAC Day celebrations-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Participating in ANZAC Day celebrations-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Community organisations-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Joining together to study and appreciate philosophy-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Places of formal community gatherings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Places of informal community gatherings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Commemorating war losses-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Developing local clubs and meeting places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Fund-raising activities for community charities-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities	Community enterprise-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	Was death commemorated in other ways, such as plaques? Did the nature of commemoration change?-Death: cemeteries, undertakers
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	Erecting and visiting monuments and memorials-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	Erecting and visiting monuments and memorials-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	Remembering the deceased-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead.	War Memorial-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Thompson Chambers, architect-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Wingham Memorial Town Hall has local historical significance as the seat of local government prior to amalgamation in 1981.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Wingham Memorial Town Hall is of state aesthetic significance for its architectural design as a landmark twentieth century civic building in the NSW Mid North Coast region. Designed in the Interwar California Bungalow style, which is usually reserved for residential design, the hall has been described as 'architecturally unique' (Suters, 1990). The town hall is a strongly and confidently massed building with a dramatic entrance vestibule. Its asymmetrically placed clock tower and mature phoenix palm trees contribute to its strong streetscape presence.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Wingham Memorial Town Hall is of state significance for its rarity as one of only three known memorial town halls in NSW (along with Tamworth and Manila memorial town halls). It is also rare as a civic building designed in the Interwar Californian Bungalow style.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Wingham Memorial Town Hall is of state representative significance as a high quality, regional town hall building and for its memorial function designed to permanently commemorate the local men who lost their lives in World War I. This commemoration function, extended over time to recognise men who died in later wars, demonstrates the high level of commitment by local communities in NSW to honouring the young men they lost to war. Its status as a war memorial epitomises the importance of ‘remembrance’ in Australian culture. The hall is also of representative significance as a community hall used for social and cultural events that draw the community together, including its several decades functioning as the local cinema.
Integrity/Intactness:	Fairly intact
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Produce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		01967	08 Apr 16	26	739
Local Environmental Plan	Greater Taree Local Environmental Plan		01 Jan 95

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	A.J.Hill	1988	Sir Charles Rosenthall, Australian Dictionary of Biography entry	View detail
Written	Chambers, Heather	2006	A Small Architectural History
Written	Cullen, Lillian	2015	State Heritage Register nomination for Wingham Memorial Town Hall
Written	Garry Smith	2006	Thematic History and Historic Themes Study - Greater Taree City Council
Written	Hannah, Helen	1988	Voices, A Folk History of the Manning Valley
Written	Jacinta Fisher	1999	NSW State Heritage Inventory Form
Written	Penfold, Vanessa	1993	Wingham Memorial Town Hall Study
Written	Penny Teeman	2015	Conversation with with Eric Richardson OAM, past president of Manning Valley Historical Society
Written	Ramsland, J.	1987	The Struggle Against Isolation: A History of the Manning Valley

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5053369
File number:	H98/00425, EF14/23054

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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