Almost everyone belonged to a Friendly Society in the early part of the twentieth century in Barcaldine.
A chapter of the Oddfellows Lodge was operating in Barcaldine from the early years.
There were 29 foundation Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) Barcaldine members in 1888, rising to 64 financial members in 1913.
Oddfellows' Hall
A new Oddfellows hall was built in 1913, almost opposite the post office in Ash Street, next to O’Regan’s house (which was behind the National Bank on the corner of Beech and Ash streets). At its official opening in November, A. A. Dyer was embarrassed, as he unveiled the Dispensation Board, to find it had been hung upside down.
The cost of the hall was £365, and had been financed entirely by donations and fundraising – leaving the society debt free. Its dimensions were 42 ft by 20 ft with a front verandah and two offices.
The Oddfellows’ Hall became a landmark building in town. It was the scene of many social functions, gave shelter to people left homeless by fire in 1915, and sported a ‘grassy sward’ at the back which became a popular meeting place on hot summer evenings. In the 1970s it became a roller skating rink.
The Hall was pulled down in 1975. The photos below are from the Stasia Symonds collection, Barcaldine Museum.
