Former Pambula RSL Hall, Toalla Street, Pambula:
Although now forming part of the Mitre 10 hardware complex, the unassuming brick and fibro cement sheet building began life as rooms of the Pambula RSL sub-branch.
As with so many other small towns and centres across Australia, many of the district's young men had rushed to enlist during World War I. As the conflict drew to a conclusion, the town’s first war memorial, a pressed metal roll of honour manufactured by Wunderlich, was unveiled in 1918 on the porch of the local Post Office. Ten years later the community began moving towards construction of a more impressive monument to memorialise the contributions of local men during the “Great War”. After Councillor D. W. Hart called a public meeting in November 1928, the community spent the next six years raising the funds needed to construct the marble cenotaph. Made by Bega monumental masons Messrs. Zeiglar and Son, the official unveiling took place in February 1936.
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Taking advantage of the large muster of returned servicemen present at the ceremony, Mr. W. Godfrey began enrolling potential members for the Pambula and District branch of the Returned Sailor’s and Soldier’s Imperial League (RSSILA) (now known as the Returned Services League or RSL). By March 1936, the organisation had been officially formed.
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The activities of the sub-branch continued throughout and after World War II, with members
Anzac Day at the Pambula RSL, C. 1964. Fred Whant pictured in the doorway.
Image courtesy of & © the estate of the late A. C. ("Bubby") George.
All rights reserved.
Pambula RSL, Anzac Day, C. 1964.
Image courtesy of & © the estate of the late A. C. ("Bubby") George.
All rights reserved.
such as Bill Hardaker, Ronnie Haigh, Jack Walker, Jack Jones, Fred Whant, John Dorl, Ron Ford, Allan George and Jack Bennett meeting in venues such as the town’s School of Arts. By 1956, an auxiliary had also been established, undertaking a range of important activities including catering on Anzac Day, as well as visiting sub-branch members in hospital and holding an assortment of fundraising events.
By the 1960s, the local RSL decided that the time had come to construct their own hall. Sub branch member and World War II veteran Ronnie Haigh donated an allotment of land to the cause, while Jack Walker drew up the necessary plans and in November 1962, the Magnet Voice reported that the Pambula RSL had commenced construction of their clubhouse. Hoping to have the project completed entirely with voluntary labour, Ray Rollason took charge of overseeing the construction side of the project.
After its completion, the building not surprisingly became the centre of the sub-branch’s local activities. A luncheon function was held in the hall each year on Anzac day for local and visiting returned service
Anzac Day luncheon at the Pambula RSL, C. 1964.
Image courtesy of & © the estate of the late A. C. ("Bubby") George.
All rights reserved.
people, while other activities were also organised on site, including bowls competitions.
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Although the Pambula RSL had been one of the stronger of the local sub branches for many years, membership began to wane towards the end of the 1960s, with the result that it was eventually subsumed into the Merimbula organisation.
During the 1970s, the hall was used for the Pambula pre-school facility. It was eventually sold by the RSL's NSW state branch and now forms part of the Mitre-10 hardware complex.
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© Angela George. All rights reserved.
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NOTE: This property is privately owned. Inclusion in this publication does not indicate or imply any general or specific permission for the general public to have access.
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The former Pambula RSL Hall on the right.
Approximate location of site.
References and bibliography:
Brown, Stella, pers. comm.
Delegate Argus
Eden Magnet
Imlay Magnet
Jones, Jack, pers. comm.
Magnet-Voice
Munn, Chappie, pers. comm.
Pambula Voice
Southern Record and Advertiser
Walker, Jack, pers. comm.
Weekly Times
Whant, Fred, pers. comm.
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