RSL Maleny Memorial Hall History
RSL Maleny Sub BranchThe entrance to Maleny is quietly guarded by the RSL Hall, a building that looks as if it has always overlooked the town. In fact, like many aspects of Maleny it came from somewhere else.
The land on which the Maleny Returned and Services League sub-branch building stands was originally part of a parcel of land purchased by Francis Dunlop. He was granted title to 160 acres to build a homestead in 1880. The land was returned to the crown in 1896.
In 1938 a memorandum of agreement was drawn up between Mr William Burnett and the three trustees of the then RSSAILA. The agreement called for the trustees to maintain the land in a clean condition, not sell the land without prior written approval of Mr Burnett, and pay a yearly rental of one shilling for ten years. On 28 January 1946 building forms were obtained from the Department of War and Industry for the purchase of a building from the Air Force. This meant the RSL Maleny Sub-Branch would have a new home.
The RSSAILA MALENY purchased the building (no77) the Gymnasium/Picture Theatre from Maryborough depot in 1946 for a cost of 2000 pounds. A building group made up of Jim Hunt, Bill Rough, Les Clancy, Maurie Weeks, Ned Weeks, Clarie Wilkins, George Svenson (original ANZAC), and Vivian Layt (registered builder) travelled from Maleny to Maryborough. Their task was to dismantle the building, numbering each plank and door to enable it to be reconstructed in Maleny.
The toughest job according to Les (“Nuggett”) Sinclair was the removal of all the nails from each plank and post.
With the building carefully pulled down, each board and piece was individually numbered before transporting to Landsborough by rail. WL Watson’s carrying service transported the building from Landsborough to Maleny ready for reconstruction.
The RSSAILA MALENY purchased the building (no77) the Gymnasium/Picture Theatre from Maryborough depot in 1946 for a cost of 2000 pounds. A building group made up of Jim Hunt, Bill Rough, Les Clancy, Maurie Weeks, Ned Weeks, Clarie Wilkins, George Svenson (original ANZAC), and Vivian Layt (registered builder) travelled from Maleny to Maryborough. Their task was to dismantle the building, numbering each plank and door to enable it to be reconstructed in Maleny.
The toughest job according to Les (“Nuggett”) Sinclair was the removal of all the nails from each plank and post.
With the building carefully pulled down, each board and piece was individually numbered before transporting to Landsborough by rail. WL Watson’s carrying service transported the building from Landsborough to Maleny ready for reconstruction.
- RSL Maleny website https://rslmaleny.org.au/rsl-hall/hall-history/
