Originating in Scotland, mechanics and literary institutes were established in early Australian towns to provide adult education and recreational activities. Often known as a School of Arts, they provided for practical rather than fine art pursuits.

A group of members and trustees held land (obtained by grant or donation) and maintained a building, usually erected by local subscription, for public purposes.

In Bowral, from 1873 a weatherboard room behind the Grand Hotel served as School of Arts library and was used for public meetings and evening entertainments.

In 1882 it was decided to build more adequate premises on land in Bendooley Street. Funds were raised through bazaars and by donation, and the new School of Arts was opened in 1885 by Mr PLC Shepherd, a distinguished former Sydney resident. It included an expanded town lending library with Mr JW Osborne, the Town Clerk, as its first Librarian. He was followed in 1888 by Mr W Roylance, who continued in the position until 1941.

A second storey was added to the School of Arts building in 1913, and in 1961 it was renovated and renamed the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. After local council amalgamations in 1981, the library was moved into new premises nearby.

Today the School of Arts/Memorial Hall, as part of the Bendooley Street Precinct, continues to serve as a civic and cultural meeting place in Bowral.

From its inauguration, the School of Arts Committee held monthly meetings which the Bowral Free Press newspaper regularly reported on. To illustrate business arising, selected extracts from September 17, 1887 follow here.

The president (Mr J G Morris) occupied the chair, and also present were Rev JW Debenham, Rev Kenny and Messrs Gavin George, EM Wickham, JJ Campbell, HM Oxley, Dr Newmarch and Copeland Bennett. The previous meeting’s minutes were read and confirmed, and correspondence tabled.

Dr Newmarch moved that the annual library subscription be reduced for families and members of a household. After discussion, the rate for each member after the first was set at 10 shillings.

A letter was read from Mrs Sullivan, of Burradoo, asking the use of the hall once a week for skating. This was granted, at a charge of 10 shillings a week. Mr W J Osborne wrote to request that the skating club's hour terminate at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoons, to allow time to prepare the hall for philharmonic practices. It was decided that on Saturdays the skaters could use the hall for three hours, but not after 6 o'clock.

Letters from business houses in Sydney (stationers) as to prices of periodicals were submitted by the secretary. After discussion it was decided to deal with Messrs Angus and Robertson. A letter was received from the Good Templars, giving a week's notice to discontinue their School of Arts’ tenancy, where they had weekly meetings. A request to hold a ball the following week in the hall and committee room was granted, as was a request from Mrs Howard Reed to hold a flower show there on November 9.

Mr Campbell drew attention to the summary way in which the hall caretaker had turned out the lights on skating evenings, and to the dirty state in which the skaters had found the floor. Mr Oxley drew attention to the fact that the newly erected stage screens had been damaged. He thought the caretaker ought to have a look round the building, say every six months. Much discussion followed, and members of the committee referred to the caretaker as sadly neglecting his duties.

Dr Newmarch moved that the secretary be held responsible for the building’s care. This would give the secretary, in whom they could place every reliance, full power to control the work of the caretaker; and if the latter then still neglected his duties, the committee could finally deal with the matter. The resolution was carried. After that, a few new books were ordered to be obtained for the library, and the meeting rose.

The next article will describe how, in association with the School of Arts, flower shows became very popular in Bowral and Mittagong.