School of Arts History
Somersby School of Arts was established circa 1894 and accommodated in a small hall built at the corner of old Gosford (Debenham) Road and Hall (Ulinga) Road, Somersby, This original hall burnt down during a bushfire in 1944.
The social life of early Somersby centred on the School of Arts Hall. Twice a month dances were held at the Hall and cricket matches played on the Recreation Reserve across the road. The Hall also served as the local church with services once a month, a meeting place for community associations, and accommodated the first Somersby Public School. The current School of Arts Hall, at 830 Wisemans Ferry Road, was erected in 1947, and continued the work of the School of Arts Trustees and committee, holding dances, lectures, picture shows, CWA meetings, school lunches, fancy dress parties, public meetings, Guides, Playgroup, church services, debates, dog obedience classes, and dance lessons. The Hall provided a place for a hobbies room, library, toy pool, and sporting equipment storage for local children; a CWA readers circle, agricultural bureau meetings, school banking, Gould League and Junior Red Cross, and dances organised by the “Younger Set”. More recently the School of Arts Hall has been the venue for contemporary music and art events, and a centre for the research and display of local culture and heritage. The present Somersby School of Arts owes its existence to the generosity and public spiritedness of the late Mr. A.R. (Jack) Studds, who in 1926 leased to the Education Department, for a “peppercorn” rent (1/– a year, payable every 5 years), the land on which both the Somersby Hall and the school were built. It was the wish of Jack Studds, that on his death, the site of the hall be given to the community. This was done, and a plaque in appreciation was presented to Mrs. Studds and hung in the hall on August 29, 1979.” |