aquilareen
Woodville Institute
Opened 22 Mar 1878, design by W Beattie, of Port Adelaide, used as hall & library, extensions foundation stone 17 Jan 1903, architect C L Gardiner, used by Air Training Corps in WWII, leased by RSL 1952, with new facade now a performing arts school.
“District Hall at Woodville. . . A meeting of the ratepayers of. the District of Woodville was held at the Old Halfway House, Port-road, on Thursday evening, August 10, to consider the advisability of building a district-hall or cottage and council chambers. There was an attendance of about 40 ratepayers. . . the district hall at Hindmarsh had been sold, and the Woodville District Council had received their share of the money, viz., £225. . . It would be well, too, that the building should be utilised as an institute, and therefore a more pretentious structure than a cottage should be erected. . . the Chairman stated that the piece of land he had promised had 40 feet frontage to the Port-road, and was about 160 feet in depth. It was decided, after some conversation, that the size of the building should be according to the plan, 25 feet by 40 feet.” [Advertiser 11 Aug 1876]
“An effort is being made to get an Institute at Woodville. Mr. D. Bower, M.P., the Chairman of the local District Council, in addition to giving a site for the building, has promised £100 on an equal amount being raised by public subscription, towards which Mr. Fletcher has given £50.” [Register 23 May 1877]
“The Woodville Institute Building Committee met on Tuesday, May 29. The Treasurer having stated that £115 16s. 6d. had been collected, Mr. Bower, M.P., handed in his promised gift of £100, and offered the Committee the choice of two suitable sites for the building.” [Register 1 Jun 1877]
“About 10 months ago some of the inhabitants of Woodville, seeing that nearly every town in the colony of any size had a hall of its own in which to hold public meetings or for other purposes, thought it was about time that they had one too. A Committee was therefore formed. . . Subscriptions were then invited, which resulted in a sum being realised of £359. Of this amount Mr. D. Bower and Mr. H. C. Fisher each subscribed £100, the farmer gentleman also giving the land. The building was commenced last October, and was opened on Friday afternoon, March 22, by the Hon. A. Blyth. It is built of grey stone, and has a very neat and substantial-looking appearance. . . The hall is fully large enough. . . A library and greenroom are attached.” [Advertiser 25 Mar 1878]
“A well-attended meeting was held in the Woodville Institute on Tuesday evening, June 30, to consider the advisability of forming a Choral Society. About twenty ladies and gentlemen expressed their willingness to join.” [Register 2 Jul 1885]
“Woodville Institute.— St. John's Young Men's Society Dramatic Club will give an entertainment in the Woodville Institute this evening.” [Register 27 Apr 1893]
“Mr. C. Blackburn, a fourth-year student, will leave the colony for Sydney next week, in order to complete his studies. He has for four years been Librarian of the Woodville Institute.” [Register 28 Jan 1897]
“Woodville Institute. Miss Ward’s School Reopens on Monday, next.” [Register 4 Oct 1901 advert]
“The present Institute Hall at Woodville, which is entirely free of debt, is inadequate for the requirements of the district. A special meeting of subscribers was held on Monday evening to consider the proposal of the committee to enlarge the building.” [Advertiser 19 Aug 1902]
“The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of additions to the Woodville Institute was performed on Saturday afternoon by Miss White-Bower. . . the stone, which was the gilt of the contractor, and consisted of Murray Bridge freestone.” [Register 19 Jan 1903]
“Woodville Institute. . . The additions consist of an enlargement of the present hall by 20 ft., a new library. . . reading-room. . . two small dressing-rooms. . . and a supper-room. . . The extensions are being constructed to the rear of the present building, and they will be reached from a porch at the southern side. . . The foundations and walls are being built of Tapley Hill stone and red brick. The additions are estimated to cost £600. Mr. C L Gardiner is the architect.” [Advertiser 19 Jan 1903]
“The people in Woodville had for a long time been anxious to have a church and school in their midst. . . The first Mass had been said at Christmas two years ago in the house of the late Mr. Thomas Doherty, and Mass had been occasionally celebrated since in the Woodville Institute.” [Southern Cross 25 Oct 1912]
“an excellent concert at the Woodville Institute on Friday, April 16, in aid of the Belgian and Red Cross Funds. The main part of the programme was given by the small children of the Woodville School.” [Observer 24 Apr 1915]
“There was a large audience at the Woodville Institute on Wednesday, when a patriotic concert was given to provide comforts for soldiers at the Dardanelles.” [Advertiser 3 Sep 1915]
“The autumn dahlia show of the Woodville Floriculture Society was held in the Woodville Institute.” [Advertiser 1 Apr 1929]
“the Woodville Institute provided scholarships for school children in the town.”[Advertiser 14 Jul 1936]
“The 60th anniversary of the formation of the Woodville Institute was celebrated at the Institute last night with a bridge party.” [Advertiser8 Oct 1937]
“The Mayoress of Woodville (Mrs. F. A. Box) has convened a meeting. . . in the Woodville Institute to form a sewing circle.” [Advertiser 6 Oct 1939]
“At the annual meeting of the Woodville Institute, the secretary reported that the total membership was approximately 400; 332 books were added, and 240 borrowed from the Institutes Association. . . Four scholarships had been presented, two to Woodville, and two to Kilkenny primary schools, entitling the girl or boy with the highest Q.C. marks to a year's full membership. The committee had made the hall available free of charge to the local branches of the Red Cross Society and Soldiers' Comforts Fund.” [Advertiser 13 Feb 1940]
“The Air Raid Precautions Services has established training courses of instruction in stretcher bearing and elementary first aid at the following centres. . . Woodville Institute.” [Advertiser 1 Jul 1940]
“Air Training Corps. . . Headquarters of three metropolitan squadrons have been opened. They are staffed by R.A.A.F. non-commissioned officers. . . north-western at Woodville Institute.” [News 17 Dec 1941]
“More than 100 youths attended the initial drill parade of No. 72 squadron of the Air Training Corps at the Woodville Institute on Saturday afternoon. Squadron 12 includes youths under 18 in the Woodville and Henley and Grange districts who are undertaking an educational course prior to joining the RAAF.” [Advertiser 12 Jan 1942]
“A public meeting of ratepayers will be held in the banqueting room of the Woodville Town Hall. . . to consider the transfer of the Woodville Institute to the Woodville Corporation.” [Advertiser 19 Feb 1943]
“Woodville Council. . . the Commissioner of Civil Defence (Lt-Col. G. D. Shaw) had agreed to vacate the Institute building to permit the reinstatement of the library by the council.” [Advertiser 28 Nov 1944]
“Woodville Council last night decided to offer Woodville RSL sub-branch a 21-year lease of Woodville Institute.” [News 14 Nov 1950]
“Woodville RSL has secured a 21-year lease of premises owned by Woodville Council in Woodville road. In appreciation, the sub-branch the other night gave a social to the Mayor (Mr. W. Hoskin) and councillors and presented the rental — a peppercorn mounted in a jewel case.” [News 26 Sep 1952]
“Woodville has had its institute and library for nearly 80 years.” [News 6 Apr 1954]
Woodville Institute
Opened 22 Mar 1878, design by W Beattie, of Port Adelaide, used as hall & library, extensions foundation stone 17 Jan 1903, architect C L Gardiner, used by Air Training Corps in WWII, leased by RSL 1952, with new facade now a performing arts school.
“District Hall at Woodville. . . A meeting of the ratepayers of. the District of Woodville was held at the Old Halfway House, Port-road, on Thursday evening, August 10, to consider the advisability of building a district-hall or cottage and council chambers. There was an attendance of about 40 ratepayers. . . the district hall at Hindmarsh had been sold, and the Woodville District Council had received their share of the money, viz., £225. . . It would be well, too, that the building should be utilised as an institute, and therefore a more pretentious structure than a cottage should be erected. . . the Chairman stated that the piece of land he had promised had 40 feet frontage to the Port-road, and was about 160 feet in depth. It was decided, after some conversation, that the size of the building should be according to the plan, 25 feet by 40 feet.” [Advertiser 11 Aug 1876]
“An effort is being made to get an Institute at Woodville. Mr. D. Bower, M.P., the Chairman of the local District Council, in addition to giving a site for the building, has promised £100 on an equal amount being raised by public subscription, towards which Mr. Fletcher has given £50.” [Register 23 May 1877]
“The Woodville Institute Building Committee met on Tuesday, May 29. The Treasurer having stated that £115 16s. 6d. had been collected, Mr. Bower, M.P., handed in his promised gift of £100, and offered the Committee the choice of two suitable sites for the building.” [Register 1 Jun 1877]
“About 10 months ago some of the inhabitants of Woodville, seeing that nearly every town in the colony of any size had a hall of its own in which to hold public meetings or for other purposes, thought it was about time that they had one too. A Committee was therefore formed. . . Subscriptions were then invited, which resulted in a sum being realised of £359. Of this amount Mr. D. Bower and Mr. H. C. Fisher each subscribed £100, the farmer gentleman also giving the land. The building was commenced last October, and was opened on Friday afternoon, March 22, by the Hon. A. Blyth. It is built of grey stone, and has a very neat and substantial-looking appearance. . . The hall is fully large enough. . . A library and greenroom are attached.” [Advertiser 25 Mar 1878]
“A well-attended meeting was held in the Woodville Institute on Tuesday evening, June 30, to consider the advisability of forming a Choral Society. About twenty ladies and gentlemen expressed their willingness to join.” [Register 2 Jul 1885]
“Woodville Institute.— St. John's Young Men's Society Dramatic Club will give an entertainment in the Woodville Institute this evening.” [Register 27 Apr 1893]
“Mr. C. Blackburn, a fourth-year student, will leave the colony for Sydney next week, in order to complete his studies. He has for four years been Librarian of the Woodville Institute.” [Register 28 Jan 1897]
“Woodville Institute. Miss Ward’s School Reopens on Monday, next.” [Register 4 Oct 1901 advert]
“The present Institute Hall at Woodville, which is entirely free of debt, is inadequate for the requirements of the district. A special meeting of subscribers was held on Monday evening to consider the proposal of the committee to enlarge the building.” [Advertiser 19 Aug 1902]
“The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of additions to the Woodville Institute was performed on Saturday afternoon by Miss White-Bower. . . the stone, which was the gilt of the contractor, and consisted of Murray Bridge freestone.” [Register 19 Jan 1903]
“Woodville Institute. . . The additions consist of an enlargement of the present hall by 20 ft., a new library. . . reading-room. . . two small dressing-rooms. . . and a supper-room. . . The extensions are being constructed to the rear of the present building, and they will be reached from a porch at the southern side. . . The foundations and walls are being built of Tapley Hill stone and red brick. The additions are estimated to cost £600. Mr. C L Gardiner is the architect.” [Advertiser 19 Jan 1903]
“The people in Woodville had for a long time been anxious to have a church and school in their midst. . . The first Mass had been said at Christmas two years ago in the house of the late Mr. Thomas Doherty, and Mass had been occasionally celebrated since in the Woodville Institute.” [Southern Cross 25 Oct 1912]
“an excellent concert at the Woodville Institute on Friday, April 16, in aid of the Belgian and Red Cross Funds. The main part of the programme was given by the small children of the Woodville School.” [Observer 24 Apr 1915]
“There was a large audience at the Woodville Institute on Wednesday, when a patriotic concert was given to provide comforts for soldiers at the Dardanelles.” [Advertiser 3 Sep 1915]
“The autumn dahlia show of the Woodville Floriculture Society was held in the Woodville Institute.” [Advertiser 1 Apr 1929]
“the Woodville Institute provided scholarships for school children in the town.”[Advertiser 14 Jul 1936]
“The 60th anniversary of the formation of the Woodville Institute was celebrated at the Institute last night with a bridge party.” [Advertiser8 Oct 1937]
“The Mayoress of Woodville (Mrs. F. A. Box) has convened a meeting. . . in the Woodville Institute to form a sewing circle.” [Advertiser 6 Oct 1939]
“At the annual meeting of the Woodville Institute, the secretary reported that the total membership was approximately 400; 332 books were added, and 240 borrowed from the Institutes Association. . . Four scholarships had been presented, two to Woodville, and two to Kilkenny primary schools, entitling the girl or boy with the highest Q.C. marks to a year's full membership. The committee had made the hall available free of charge to the local branches of the Red Cross Society and Soldiers' Comforts Fund.” [Advertiser 13 Feb 1940]
“The Air Raid Precautions Services has established training courses of instruction in stretcher bearing and elementary first aid at the following centres. . . Woodville Institute.” [Advertiser 1 Jul 1940]
“Air Training Corps. . . Headquarters of three metropolitan squadrons have been opened. They are staffed by R.A.A.F. non-commissioned officers. . . north-western at Woodville Institute.” [News 17 Dec 1941]
“More than 100 youths attended the initial drill parade of No. 72 squadron of the Air Training Corps at the Woodville Institute on Saturday afternoon. Squadron 12 includes youths under 18 in the Woodville and Henley and Grange districts who are undertaking an educational course prior to joining the RAAF.” [Advertiser 12 Jan 1942]
“A public meeting of ratepayers will be held in the banqueting room of the Woodville Town Hall. . . to consider the transfer of the Woodville Institute to the Woodville Corporation.” [Advertiser 19 Feb 1943]
“Woodville Council. . . the Commissioner of Civil Defence (Lt-Col. G. D. Shaw) had agreed to vacate the Institute building to permit the reinstatement of the library by the council.” [Advertiser 28 Nov 1944]
“Woodville Council last night decided to offer Woodville RSL sub-branch a 21-year lease of Woodville Institute.” [News 14 Nov 1950]
“Woodville RSL has secured a 21-year lease of premises owned by Woodville Council in Woodville road. In appreciation, the sub-branch the other night gave a social to the Mayor (Mr. W. Hoskin) and councillors and presented the rental — a peppercorn mounted in a jewel case.” [News 26 Sep 1952]
“Woodville has had its institute and library for nearly 80 years.” [News 6 Apr 1954]