The Walcha School of Arts was formed in 1874 to provide intellectual and educational opportunities primarily by establishing a library and reading room, together with facilities for lectures and debates.
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It had some 50 members when first formed and relied upon a mix of fundraising events, donations, member subscriptions and regular but modest government grants for its continued existence.
In 1876 it had brick premises erected on land in Fitzroy Street, directly opposite the present-day Ex-Services Memorial Club.
The building included a hall measuring 45 feet by 19 feet, in addition to the library and reading room.
The reading room was well stocked with metropolitan and provincial newspapers together with a variety of British periodicals.
The library offered works of fiction as well as books of general interest with the majority being the property of the Sydney Free Library, which was renamed the Public Library of NSW in 1895.
The hall was well equipped and was a popular venue for balls, dances and public gatherings. It was where the newly formed Walcha Municipal Council held its inaugural meeting on May 16, 1889.
The premises were lost to fire in the early hours of November 12, 1914.
The hall and reading room were gutted but volunteer fire fighters were able to save some 3000 volumes from the library.
The Oddfellows Lodge, which met there regularly, lost its charter, banners and 30 years of records.
The organisation re-emerged in 1916 as the Walcha Literary Institute and, according to newspaper reports, the committee purchased the building shown in the photo for 850 pounds, and then enlarged it.
The Walcha and Uralla Literary Institutes met regularly during the 1920s and 1930s to engage in competition in a variety of events including billiards, snooker, draughts, chess, bridge, crib and 500s.
The late Helen “Nell” Brazel, who was the last librarian at the Institute, wrote: “It was a well-patronised place but then came the Second World War and most of the young men enlisted.
Billiards had been the main source of revenue but takings dropped off very quickly and eventually it was not paying its way.”
The Literary Institute closed in 1947 with the land and building sold at auction to the Commonwealth Oil Refineries Pty. Ltd. for 3250 pounds in 1952.
A motor vehicle service station was later established on the site.
Proceeds of the sale were distributed among local organisations including St. Patrick’s School, the P&C Association, Red Cross, Hospital and the Walcha sub branch of the RSL.
