THERE is something special about standing inside an old building and just listening; striving to hear echoes of the past as one imagines antique floors, walls and ceilings whispering secrets about the many people and events that have brought them life over the decades.
While no architectural structure in Australia can rival the age or history of those in many other parts of the world the 5000-year-old Newgrange in County Meath, Ireland; the almost 1000-year-old Westminster Abbey in London; or the 1200-year-old Buddhist temple, Borobudur, in Indonesia, for instance the country still has its share of historical buildings worthy of celebration.
Two such structures in the bayside area are Dunwich Public Hall on North Stradbroke Island and St Paul's Anglican Church Hall in Ernest Street, Manly, both of which are celebrating centenaries.
More than 100 people, from the very young to the very old, turned out in December to celebrate the Dunwich Public Hall, paying their respects to the sturdy old building that was once the men's mess hall in the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum.
The asylum was a residential care facility for the aged, infirm and destitute.
It operated on the island from May, 1865, when inmates were transferred to the Dunwich Quarantine Station from the Benevolent Ward attached to Brisbane hospital, to October, 1946.
At its peak in the early 1900s, it housed up to 1100 people and, on closing, inmates were transferred to Eventide at Sandgate.
The asylum's original mess hall was a wooden structure built in 1869 that by 1913 was no longer adequate for the number of people using it.
The new, brick building, however, was able to cater for up to 400 men in a single sitting.
It was opened on October 24, 1913, and, three times a day, meals would be carried 100 metres from the kitchen to the mess hall, where they were served onto enamel plates before the bell was rung to call the men for their meal.
The women had their own mess hall, which was located 400 metres from the kitchen, on what is now known as Hospital Point.
During World War II, the middle part of the hall's floor was removed and an air raid shelter was built there for the use of asylum inmates and staff members.
After the asylum closed in 1946, the old mess hall eventually became known as Dunwich Public Hall and has since seen a vast range of events and activities, including concerts, plays, weddings, funerals, political rallies, educational activities and more.
Redland Council restored the hall to its original condition in 2001 and the building also received a new roof last year.
The hall is still regularly used by the island community.
In December, the hall hosted its own centenary celebrations, which included a Welcome to Country, a water blessing, a historic talk about the hall, given by community member Howard Gill, a slide show of historic photos of the hall, a commemorative morning tea, market stalls and more.
The hall is still regularly and proudly used by the North Stradbroke Island community, and became a haven for tourists and locals alike during the North Stradbroke Island bushfire in January.
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From page 10
Across the water from Dunwich Community Hall, in the bayside's Wynnum-Manly area, is Saint Paul's Anglican Church, where the hall will turn 100-years-old in November this year, and the current church building itself will celebrate 50 years, also in November.
Wellington Point resident and church member Sandra Davis has compiled a bookof the church's history to commemorate the anniversary.
Her book, Here at the Edge of The Sea - The Story of Wynnum-Manly Anglican Worship and St Paul's 1890 to 2014, documents the history of Anglican worship in the area from 1890 to present day.
She said such a history of the church had never been written and she thought it a worthy project, especially as the church was celebrating two significant anniversaries in the same year.
"I decided to prepare the book as it posed a challenge, in addition to providing a history of the Wynnum-Manly Anglican worship," she said.
"I hope that it may be used as a reference book in years to come.
"The 18 months spent in its preparation were interesting and challenging.
Of the hall, Sandra wrote that the present church site was purchased in 1912 for the sum of 120 pounds and, in March 1914, parishioners met to discuss the building of a parish hall.
Fundraising activities began and by July, 1914 a contract for building the hall had been issued.
It was to cost 500 pounds.
Sandra wrote: The stump capping ceremony was held on 8th August, 1914, conducted by Archdeacon Henry Le Fanu. In the October 1st, 1914 'Church Chronicle' we read from Reverend Teale: 'We are pleased to see that the contractor has St Paul's Hall well under weigh (sic); it will be completed about the end of October.' It is of great interest to note here that this is the first mention of the hall being dedicated to St Paul.
A church dedication ceremony was then held on November 10, after which a meeting of parishioners heard that the hall cost five hundred pounds, with 90 pounds for extras.
It was lighted with gas and, according to the December 1 edition of the Church Chronicle it was 'fitted up with all modern requirements'.
Far from just a story about the church buildings, Sandra's book is a detailed account of the church's activities, as the title indicates, 'at the edge of the sea'.
Drawing on historical documents and records, she completes a comprehensive, well-organised church timeline from 1890 to present day, complementing the written history with hundreds of historic photos both in print an on a DVD that accompanies the book.
As St Paul's Reverend Shan Vierow writes in the book's preface: Not a stone (or parish council minute) has been left unturned in an effort to gather the life of the parish into this history.
Here at the Edge of The Sea - The Story of Wynnum-Manly Anglican Worship and St Paul's 1890 to 2014 is available from the parish office at 99 Ernest Street, Manly; 3396 2746.
The cost is $36 for the book and DVD, plus postage costs if postage is requested.
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BREAK OUT TO FOLLOW ST PAUL'S STORY
The St Pauls' Anglican Church community has planned the following celebratory events for this year, with everyone welcome to attend.
For more information, phone the church office on 3396 2746.
* Sunday, April 20, 2014: 8 a.m. Easter service at St. Pauls, 99 Ernest Street, Manly, to mark the laying of the foundation stone on April 18, 1964,by Archbishop P.N.W. Strong, assisted by Reverend G.E. France-Hall and Father Fred Wilson.
* Monday, June 23, 2014: Evening service to celebrate 40th anniversary of consecration of St. Paul's on 23rd June 23, 1974 by Archbishop Felix Arnott.
* Sunday, November 9, 2014: 8 a.m. commemorative service in the hall followed by a morning tea to celebrate 100 years since the blessing of the original church by Archdeacon H. Le Fanu on November 10, 1914.
* Saturday, November 22, 2014: Picnic in the church grounds with historic displays in the hall.
* Sunday, November 23, 2014: Celebration service, marking 50th anniversary of the dedication of the church by Bishop W.J.Hudson on November 22, 1964; folowed by a celebration luinch at midday.
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