A Unique Venue
Built for the Bowral School of Arts back in 1884, a multi-million dollar transformation of Bowral Memorial Hall, completed in 2023, has re-established the venue as unique in the Southern Highlands.
Great care has been taken to preserve the exquisite Victorian ‘Free Classical’ style architectural detail of this treasured heritage landmark in the Bowral streetscape. The original building was designed by Gordon McKinon of Parramatta whose concept sketch was selected from among 20 submitted by architects from all over Australia.
Generating great excitement in its day, it was reported that the building promised ‘to be an ornament to the town of Bowral’. The main hall was 60ft x 90ft with a large stage and two retiring rooms behind. A committee meeting room and reading room faced the street, with a classroom and library immediately behind. There were additional ‘ladies’ and ‘gentleman’s’ retiring rooms and a Librarian’s room.
Empire Pictures which relocated to Bong Bong Street in 1915. The School of Arts was also home to the original town library from 1888.
Arts and culture has long had a home here, with Empire Pictures taking up residence before relocating to Bong Bong Street in 1915, followed by the town library from 1888.
The building has been enhanced over the years, starting with the addition of a new 70ft x 40ft modern hall in 1926 which was celebrated with a grand opening ball.
The cost of maintaining the venue led to it being transferred over to Council by referendum in 1939. It was then that the venue was re-named Bowral Memorial Hall as a monument to community members who served in WWII.
A free public library was established by Council to share the School of Arts Collection with the community and in 1947 the institution was brought under the Public Libraries Act.
More recent modifications in the 1960’s added a hall to the rear of the building, a new entrance, bathroom facilities and stage at the Eastern end, Supper Room with kitchen on the Southern side, and a basement with dressing rooms and Green Room.
Fast forward to the 21st century and an extensive, $6m refurbishment has firmly re-established Bowral Memorial Hall as a premier live performance space and function venue unique in the region.
Officially launched by Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, who remarked that the fine acoustics and impressive interior of the concert hall were comparable to Sydney Opera House.
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