The first School of the Arts was removed to New Park and replaced by a second building in 1910. The second building had accommodation for 600 people, also reading rooms, library and other conveniences. It was later used for travelling picture shows which used electric lights during performances. Permanent lights were provided by the Kyogle Dairy Company for the School of the Arts in 1916. Their plant also powered the first electric street light in Kyogle on the corner of the Main Street and Stratheden Street which was erected at the request of the Tourist Bureau in 1918. A 30 foot brick addition was commenced to the School of the Arts in 1920 and opened in 1922.
Unfortunately the School of Arts burnt down in the fire of 1931 and was replaced by the current Kyogle Memorial Institute in 1932, so named to perpetuate the School of the Arts and the Soldiers Memorial Club which had been located there. The Memorial Institute was sold to Kyogle Council in 1937 by the Institute members. The building included a picture theatre (with a projector), which was used for concerts during the war, fund raising for the Girl's Patriotic League, wrestling, boxing, dances and other events.
Source: New South Wales Heritage Register.
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This hotel is thought to be located on the site of the first store in Kyogle which was burnt down in 1927. Hales farm buildings which were also among the earliest in town were located just behind the current hotel building. The first Exchange Hotel built between June and November, 1901, was located further down the street than the current hotel building. This building referred to as Schare's Exchange Hotel, was the site of the first meetings to set up a butter factory at Kyogle. The plan that accompanied the 1904 land sale indicated that the Exchange Hotel was located on Block 8 next to Simpsons Store on the corner of Main Street and Geneva Street.
On the morning of the 6th of July 1927 a disastrous fire razed a row of buildings on the west side of the Main Street including the Exchange Hotel. The new masonry hotel was almost complete by Tooth & Co Ltd in March 1929 and they continued to own the premises until 1982 when it passed to Carlton United Breweries (New South Wales) Pty Ltd, who had purchases all Toothy & Co's interests. According to Hasthorpe on the 27th of July 1990 Bill Greenaway and his wife June purchase the free hold of the Exchange Hotel and associated shops from Carlton United Breweries. Today it continues to operate as a hotel.
Source: New South Wales Heritage Register.
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The Shire Council held its first meeting in Casino in June, 1906, then carried out its duties from temporary premises in Kyogle for the next few months before erecting Council Chambers in Stratheden Street. The original Council Chambers were cleared from the site in Stratheden Street in 1937, clearing the way for new Chambers.
Sir Charles Rosenthall designed the new chambers with council chambers and offices for the staff on the ground floor and a residential section occupying the upper storey. The contractor for the building was G. J. Grove of Kyogle. The Council Chambers has recently been altered with additions being added to the rear and the first floor and former balcony space being made over entirely into offices. When the Foundation stone was laid in 1937 it contained a casket with a letter signed by the Councillors and staff. The letter gave a brief history of the district and concluded; 'The present Council has decided to erect the Council Chambers in which this brief record is buried in the sincere belief that the Shire warranted a building which in some measure reflects the progress the area is making.'
Source: New South Wales Heritage Register.
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The Commercial Hotel opened for business in October 1904, after Charlie Larkin had applied to the Licensing Court, however by the 25th of November the License was transferred to Daniel Quain. In 1909 the owner of the hotel C. Larkin had a brick addition to his hotel on the southern side. The extension was of two storey construction and consisted of two shops at ground level with bedrooms above on the second floor. It was the first brick building in Kyogle. In 1925 G. Grove the well known Kyogle builder extended this brick part of the hotel. The brick additions with Federation style embellishments still stand and form the southern side of the present Commercial Hotel.
On Christmas morning of 1926 Kyogle's main street from Geneva Street's southern corner with the main street to the Commercial Hotel was burnt to the ground. This was one of the biggest fires in the history of the north coast. All subsequent buildings were to be built of brick or fire resistant materials.
On Wednesday the 6th of July 1927 a second disastrous fire took place. Almost all the early buildings from the bottom end of the town to the Commercial Hotel were destroyed, leaving virtually no early main street buildings on the western side. Part of the Commercial Hotel was destroyed leaving only the two storey masonry section on the eastern end of the present hotel. The hotel was noted for being the building which stopped the 1927 fire from extending up the street.
According to Hasthorpe, following the fire it was decided to rebuild the hotel and plans were approved by the licensing court on the 23rd of August 1927. By October 1927 the construction of the new hotel had begun. Kyogle builder George J. Grove had won the tender and the cost was estimated at about 13,000 pounds. The new hotel building incorporated the brick section of the old hotel that had escaped the fire and contained forty bedrooms, including those in the old section. The balcony extended the full width of the building. On the 27th of March 1928 permission was granted by the licensing court to occupy the new hotel from the 31st of March 1928. The balcony was retained when the new hotel was completed but it has since been demolished and replaced by an awning.
The building continues to operate as a hotel.
The Kyogle Clock Tower:
On the 11th of July 1941 following the official opening of the Kyogle Ambulance Station this town clock in memory of the former Shire President Mr R. J. Moore was unveiled by Mr J.T. Reid MLA. As described on the memorial Robert Moore had been Shire President for 16 years between 1920 - 1936.
Moore was also instrumental in procuring the Fidden Creek rainforest remnant, now known as Moore Park Nature Reserve, as a National Park. As early as 1926 he was lobbying Council to have this land set aside.
Source: New South Wales Heritage Register.
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The Kyogle Bank Of New South Wales:
An embryonic township had begun in New Park (the showground area) in the 1890s, but the township of Kyogle commenced with the subdivision of the Kyogle estate, purchased by a syndicate from H.T. Smith in 1900. Some 300 town blocks were first offered for sale in 1901 together with dairy farm allotments. Only two blocks were sold, but several sales occurred after the original sale and a further sale of town blocks held in 1904 was very successful.
There was a Bank of NSW and Post and Telegraph Office in Block 63 of the Main Street shown in the plan prepared for the 1904 sale. In 1912 the Bank of NSW moved to a new building, which was constructed at a cost of £3700. However there were structural problems, according to E. Mclean of the Kyogle Historical Society, and the building was demolished. A new building for the Bank of NSW was commenced in 1940, on the site of the existing bank. This building still bears the name Bank of NSW and was for a time occupied by the Westpac. It is now the home of the National Parks and Wildlife Service Office.
Stratheden House:
The Queensland National Bank opened for business in Kyogle on December 8, 1919. However, the first premises must have been temporary and of timber as in June 1920 tenders were advertised for a brick building and residence for the Queensland National Bank. The original timber building was moved forward to the footpath alignment in 1925 (Alcorn, 1994,p175) so it is assumed the new brick bank was built after this date. The bank provided services to the Kyogle Council.
In 1996 the bank building was occupied by the Summerland Credit Union but by 2008 it was named Stratheden House and was used for offices.
Source: New South Wales Heritage Register.
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