School of Arts Buildings

School of Art halls were generally established early in the development of a township for the education of its members and the cultivation of literature, science and art for adults who may not otherwise have received much education as children.

Jamberoo established a School of Arts in 1846, and the Jamberoo Literary and Debating Society three years later. The opening of the Jamberoo School of Arts building in 1896 provided a venue for a variety of activities. Although its primary purpose was to provide a form of adult education, it had a games room for ping pong, draughts, chess and card evenings.

The Gerringong School of Arts opened in 1883 and was the social hub of the Gerringong community, with regular dances, musicals and suppers held there.

Kiama residents had to wait until the new century for their own purpose-built School of Arts building. The Kiama School of Arts, adjacent to the Post Office on Manning Street (unfortunately no longer standing), opened on 30 April 1901. The opening was celebrated with a bazaar and a flower show.

The Kiama School of Arts cost £900 to build, half of which came from the government and the other half from the School of Arts Committee. Mr Campbell MP, who opened the building, referred to it as a very ‘handsome building’. It included of a reading room, which was used to house all the daily and weekly papers, magazines and periodicals, and members could also access the local public library there. The library, operated by a citizen’s committee, had been in operation within the School of Arts facility since around 1860. There were around 500-600 volumes held in the library in the early years and this doubled to around 1000 by the time it moved into the new building in Manning Street.

While their role may have changed, many of the old school of arts buildings continue to be centrepieces of their communities. The rebuilt Jamberoo School of Arts building is now a community hall, and the Gerringong School of Arts building has recently been restored and reinvented as the (soon to open) Gerringong Museum.

School of Arts being used by the Gerringong Scout & Guide Club Room c.1950s.

Gerringong School of Arts building c.2009

Jamberoo School of Arts c.1915. Violet Noble's wedding day

Jamberoo School of Arts. Photo was taken soon after the opening of the building c.1896