The Masonic
I don't know how many times I have driven north on the old Pacific Highway and looked longingly down the little side streets of the small Clarence River port of Ulmarra and failed to turn in for a look. Before the new "freeway" was opened not all that long back, the excuse was usually that we were in a pack of reasonably paced traffic and it was just better to keep going. This time around, with the traffic diverted and no such pressures I had managed to plan the route to allow us to drop into this historic riverside village.
What I wasn't bargaining for is that its attractions were well known and a great mob of people and their cars had planted themselves in the middle. Being rather sore and tired, we had a quick look and snapped this elegant and unusual old edifice which had been the Masonic Hall which dates from 1906. It later became known as the Picture Theatre and movies were shown weekly. It also more or less seems to have become the community hall hosting concerts, balls and dances. These days it's privately owned and well kept. I don't know if it still gets used for gatherings or is a large house. Well, just another place to revisit at a slower pace.
The Masonic
I don't know how many times I have driven north on the old Pacific Highway and looked longingly down the little side streets of the small Clarence River port of Ulmarra and failed to turn in for a look. Before the new "freeway" was opened not all that long back, the excuse was usually that we were in a pack of reasonably paced traffic and it was just better to keep going. This time around, with the traffic diverted and no such pressures I had managed to plan the route to allow us to drop into this historic riverside village.
What I wasn't bargaining for is that its attractions were well known and a great mob of people and their cars had planted themselves in the middle. Being rather sore and tired, we had a quick look and snapped this elegant and unusual old edifice which had been the Masonic Hall which dates from 1906. It later became known as the Picture Theatre and movies were shown weekly. It also more or less seems to have become the community hall hosting concerts, balls and dances. These days it's privately owned and well kept. I don't know if it still gets used for gatherings or is a large house. Well, just another place to revisit at a slower pace.