The Austral Society was founded in 1903 because of the influence of The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans to promote Australian Arts and Culture.
14-526: The Society purchased part of the closed Toowoomba Gaol grounds and let a tender to roof part of the goal yard in September 1904. The Austral Hall was built on this site. The plaque located at 84 to 88 Margaret Street (Park Motor Inn) reads: "On this site stood the Austral Hall which was reported capable of accommodating 500 stage performers and an audience of 5,000. "Toowoomba’s Austral Society
28-575: A local enterprise, Austral Pictures, until the Empire Theatre was built in 1911, and the building was later demolished. The bulk of the roofing iron was sold and used to fence the (old) Toowoomba Showgrounds. A town rock was directed on the open space and over the remaining western part of the wall basalt foundations after an archaeological dig was conducted by Dr Bryce Baker of The University of Southern Queensland in 1997. A few other Australian towns ( Bundaberg , Belgrave ) also erected
42-532: The Crimean War ) became first Governor of the Toowoomba Gaol. Female prisoners were transferred from Central Gaol, Brisbane, to Toowoomba Gaol in 1870. A woman's reformatory with a well-patronised laundry was constructed in 1883-84 by Richard Godsall outside the prison walls and opened in 1869. On 14 Sep 1898 the prison was proclaimed a prison for females only. The gaol was closed in 1903 after
56-414: The Austral Hall which was reported capable of accommodating 500 stage performers and an audience of 5,000. "Toowoomba’s Austral Society was founded by George Essex Evans in 1903 for the promotion and advancement of music, literature, art and science. The Society bought the site of the former gaol (1864–1904) and Architect William Hodgen designed the building using three remaining outer walls. The roof
70-518: The Death of King Edward VII in 1910, and moving pictures, the Austral Society ceased in 1911. Moving pictures were shown here by a local enterprise, Austral Pictures, until the Empire Theatre was built in 1911, and the building was later demolished. The bulk of the roofing iron was sold and used to fence the (old) Toowoomba Showgrounds. A town rock was directed on the open space and over
84-547: The Toowoomba Gaol. The foundations supported the red brick wall which confined 52 prisoners in 1869. The Park Motor Inn at 88 Margaret Street was built on the northeast part of the old gaol grounds. The original hospital site for the Women's Gaol at 92 Margaret Street is now the site of the Park House Cafe. The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans was influential in founding The Austral Society , which bought part of
98-494: The ghost of a reformatory inmate can be seen in the attic on the first floor of the building. One of the girls was so unhappy with her situation that she committed suicide by hanging herself there. A plaque marking the site of the old Toowoomba Gaol is located at the eastern end of Stirling Street, off Burstow Street, in the Caledonian Estate heritage precinct. The basalt foundations on the site, are all that remain of
112-483: The grounds and let a tender to roof part of the prison yard in September 1904. The Austral Hall was built on this site. After his death in 1909, the Austral Society ceased in 1911, and the building was later demolished, eventually being replaced in part by a townhouse block. Hangmen were brought up from Brisbane as needed. 27°33′S 151°57′E / 27.550°S 151.950°E / -27.550; 151.950 Austral Hall The Austral Society
126-663: The prisoners were transferred to Boggo Road Gaol and demolition commenced. Some of the hand-made bricks (using clay dug from pits in Queens Park ) from the demolished structure were used to build the Boer Wall Memorial Gateway at the Margaret Street end of East Creek Park near the Mother's Memorial, after being held in storage, as the plaque thereon states. After the prison closure in 1903, it
140-555: The remaining western part of the wall basalt foundations after an archaeological dig was conducted by Dr Bryce Baker of The University of Southern Queensland in 1997. A few other Australian towns ( Bundaberg , Belgrave ) also erected a communal use Arts & Culture building called Austral Hall. Toowoomba Prison Toowoomba Gaol is a historic prison site in Toowoomba , Queensland , Australia. The original Toowoomba Gaol opened in 1864. William Murphy (who served in
154-618: Was founded by George Essex Evans in 1903 for the promotion and advancement of music, literature, art and science. The Society bought the site of the former gaol (1864–1904) and Architect William Hodgen designed the building using three remaining outer walls. The roof was supported by cast iron columns made by the Toowoomba Foundry . "The Hall was officially opened on 5 November 1904 by Sir Hugh Nelson , Lieutenant Governor of Queensland." After his death in 1909, and subsequent important distracting historical world events including
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#1732786661200168-406: Was founded in 1903 because of the influence of The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans to promote Australian Arts and Culture. The Society purchased part of the closed Toowoomba Gaol grounds and let a tender to roof part of the goal yard in September 1904. The Austral Hall was built on this site. The plaque located at 84 to 88 Margaret Street (Park Motor Inn) reads: "On this site stood
182-551: Was reused for several purposes before becoming Rutlands Guest House from 1930 to 1959. It was purchased by the DeMolay Order ( DeMolay International ) for 6000 pounds in 1960 and renamed DeMolay House. The whole original site and surrounding modern buildings, including the Repertory Theatre, are the source of many ghost sightings/tales. One of the original "dark cells" is still part of the basement. At night
196-413: Was supported by cast iron columns made by the Toowoomba Foundry . "The Hall was officially opened on 5 November 1904 by Sir Hugh Nelson , Lieutenant Governor of Queensland." After his death in 1909, and subsequent important distracting historical world events including the Death of King Edward VII in 1910, and moving pictures, the Austral Society ceased in 1911. Moving pictures were shown here by
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