HAWKESBURY HISTORY
with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld
Wilberforce School of Arts
During the nineteenth century, education for adults became popular. It was alleged if working-class men could attend classes to improve their knowledge, it would benefit business and society.
These establishments were introduced into Australia and the first School of Arts in the Hawkesbury district was completed in Windsor in 1861. Located in Bridge Street, it opened in 1862 but was sold in 1948 and used as a business. Richmond’ s School of Arts opened in 1866 and still operates today.
Residents of the Hawkesbury were competent at entertaining themselves. While sporting events were popular in most areas, social activities such as theatre, lectures, dances and musicals were customary throughout the district.
Wilberforce was fortunate in having several buildings that were used for activities in the 1800s. The Schoolhouse adjacent to St John’ s Anglican Church, the Old Retreat Hotel in George Road plus several halls. Local sports clubs met regularly at the Old Retreat; public meetings were held there while Colo Shire Council held their first meeting there in 1906.
Wilberforce was a social township with plenty of activities taking place. There were at least two privately owned halls in Wilberforce during the late 1800s. Bennett’ s Hall, was operated by wheelwright George Bennett. The slab building was used for various proceedings, particularly during the 1880s and 1890s. Dances, meetings and other entertainment events were held and it was even used on polling day.
Despite some improvements in 1892 it
Debutante ball in 1955. Courtesy of Judy Sanders( nee Argent).
appeared to drop off the radar.
The larger of the halls was the Australian Hall on the corner of Wilberforce Road and King Street and built by the Greentree family. In the 1890s there were regular dances held in there. At one event in 1892, about 160 couples“ tripped the light fantastic” to music supplied by Peter Molloy. The term‘ tripped the light fantastic’ meant to dance lively.
There were roller skating nights, fancy dress, Masonic meetings, musical concerts and much more. A Bachelors’ Ball was held in 1903; about seventy people attended the dance from all over the Hawkesbury and“ bachelors of the district and their fair damsels assembled for an enjoyable time.” Fred Greentree was the promoter and dancing finished around 3am the next day.
By the 1920s, it was clear the Australian Hall would need replacing as it was“ too small and out of date.” The hall was demolished in 1930 and Arthur Daley constructed a cottage onsite.
A committee was established to raise funds to construct a School of Arts in the town and find a suitable site. Several residents including the Bowd brothers and Mr Daley, offered blocks of land but they were deemed unsuitable.
Colo Shire Council were consulted and a request was made for land in David Street but was declined. After much deliberation, the committee was offered a block of land,( now 531 Wilberforce Road) originally owned by David Salter. Although David had died in 1923, his son Ernest Henry, graciously made the block available.
Over three years, the committee raised funds for the build, and at the time of the opening, had £ 300 in their kitty. Taking only a few months to build, the total cost was £ 700 and it was constructed by the local Bowd brothers. The building was reported to be light and airy with more than adequate floor space and seating. It was 14.3m long and 8.2m wide and could accommodate 276 people. There was
Wilberforce School of Arts, 2025. Photo: M. Nichols.
also space for future expansion including a reading room and library. The building was opened by Mr W. J. Ross as the local member was unavailable.
There were several developments in the 1940s. In a joint venture, Colo Shire Council and the Hawkesbury Development Company switched on street lighting in Wilberforce and a celebration took place at the School of Arts. Throughout the Hawkesbury, special celebratory suppers took place after World War 2 to welcome home returned service personnel. An event was organised in 1946 by the Wilberforce citizens, followed by a dance and supper. In 1947 the supper room was completed enhancing the hall space.
Over the years, the hall was maintained by trustees. It has been used for 21st parties, weddings, wakes, balls, markets, dances, yoga classes and much more.
In 1946, permission was sought to operate a theatre in the hall and movies were shown on Saturdays. The first proprietor was Guy Rowlands from Windsor. Movies were shown until 1951. In 1953 travelling exhibitor John A. Cornell applied to operate the theatre and screening resumed.
The famous Australian actor
Judy Argent’ s 21st, 1969. Courtesy of Judy Sanders( nee Argent).
‘ Chips’ Rafferty made a personal appearance at Wilberforce when his famous movie‘ The Overlanders’ was screened in 1954. It was known as The Lux at this time. In 1955 CinemaScope, a format projecting a wider image with stereophonic sound, was introduced and closed between 1958-1959.
The School of Arts remains a place of community, used for celebration, recreation and commemoration. At times of floods, a meeting place where the SES boats pull in and depart, to Windsor. In more recent years the hall played a prominent role following the 2020s floods with the establishment of a Community Hub, co-ordinated by Hawkesbury Council, to provide support and connect locals.
Maintaining the hall for nearly 100 years is an incredible achievement by the residents of Wilberforce, and it has made such a big difference to the community.
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10 ISSUE 182 // JULY 2025 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT