100 years of the Derby Town Hall
• Sharing memories of the Derby Town Hall are Gail Scott, Ronnie Hayes, Virginia Valentino and Trevor Lester.
March 15, 2023
Derby’s first chapter – a new hall!
By Taylor Clyne
Did you know that the 1923 Derby Hall replaced an 1883 hall in the township?
Much to the opposition of community members around the municipality who petitioned the council in May 1921 claiming that the loan of 1,500 pounds was too steep for a town that was declining.
Brothers’ Home book shared ‘the debt would fall on the ratepayers of the whole municipality if it cannot be paid.’
After a fiery public meeting, a long list of deputations, further polling and a special resolution, matters were eventually approved eight votes to six.
The Launceston Examiner reported on January 23, 1923,
“An old landmark of Derby, the old Town Hall, was demolished this week.
“This hall had been in use for 40 years, and great excitement was caused amongst the young folk when the floor was uprooted and search made for money.
“Various sums rewarded the efforts of the searchers.
“The material of the old building is being used by the contractor for the new hall for the purpose of building an ante-room.”
The new 1923 Hall was built by George Albert Rodman who was born at Ulverstone and came to Derby in the early 1900s.
He and his wife Ada had 11 children, of whom nine survived infancy, and died in Scottsdale in 1962 aged 87.
He built the hall for 1,200 pounds leaving 300 pounds for the purchasing of furniture.
The new hall officially opened on Thursday July 12, 1923 with more than 350 people in attendance.
The Branxholm Orchestra provided musical entertainment.
Stories shared shape hall’s history
The four walls and solid hardwood floor of the Derby Hall hold stories and memories for so many, and we take a look back at some of those stories that have shaped its history.
When writing a story on a hall as prestigious as this, that was very much the focal point of a township who in its heyday around the 1920s had more than 3,000 residents, one must speak with local historian John Beswick who wrote the book Brothers’ Home.
Although of course, I was more interested in hearing the stories of what people got up to on a Saturday night rather than the integral history one might find on a quick google search.
Thankfully Mr Beswick was happy to oblige.
He remembers the many dances and balls, the Anglican and Catholic Churches and other organisations holding various events and the fund-raising concerts featuring mainly local talent.
“From the time it was built in 1923 the Derby Town Hall was frequently used as a venue for many and varied community events.
“One of my early memories is of one such concert in which the long-time local doctor, Dr Jones, performed a popular song of the day that featured a lion tamer.
“The good doctor was dressed in a lion tamer’s costume and carried a whip, which he cracked as he sang – quite a performance,” he laughed.
“During the period when movies were “king” of the entertainment options, the “Derby Talkies” played every Saturday night and sometimes on a week night as well, showing all the classic pictures of the “golden age” of Hollywood.
“Many local families attended every week, the children sitting in the front seats and adults further back.
“Two films were usually shown, with an interval between, when crowds swarmed to the nearby shop to buy ice creams and lollies.
“Travelling performers also used the hall.
“One such group I particularly remember was Mulga Bill’s Bicycle Band, whose members were very complimentary in their comments about the acoustics.
“Later, at the time of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations of 1988, the hall featured as the venue for the launch by then Governor of Tasmania, Sir Philip Bennett, of the book “As the River Flows”, a history of the Ringarooma Municipality; and for a “Settler’s Ball”, for which patrons dressed in period costume and the program began with a grand march – a memorable occasion,” Mr Beswick recalls.
Debutante balls and kissing in the back
The Derby Hall was known as the entertainment centre of the greater North-East with many people meeting their lifetime partners on the dance floor of a ball.
A now 88-year-old Ronnie Hayes has 70 years worth of memories, from courting girls on a Saturday night at the pictures only to fall asleep watching the film to partnering up debutantes.
“The dancing was the biggest thing, they used to have a ball for the English Church, a ball for the Catholic Church, a ball for the Derby Football Club.
“I was in a lot of deb balls here, partnering up all the bloody girls. They would need a partner to dance with and they thought I could,” he laughed.
“Mrs Grace taught us how to do all the dances, Robert Cosgrove was up on stage accepting all the debs at the time.
“They used to have terrific concerts here, the big school concerts were good – I was in a lot of them,” Mr Hayes laughed.
Virginia Valentino remembers learning to dance in the hall as a little tacker and later became a deb.
“My grandparents moved to Derby in 1957, took over the general store where the bike shop Vertigo now operates.
“My nan used to play cards (Euchre) once a week in the supper room, and often went to the Saturday night movies which were run by Mr Eddy.
“She took me to see my first Elvis Presley movie, I can't remember which one, possible Jailhouse Rock.
“When my parents took over the store a few years later, the Hall became a big part of their social life, with dances, balls, movies, fund raisers of all kinds, and most exciting, visiting variety shows,” she said.
Trevor Lester remembers Slim Dusty performing in the hall.
“He came here several times, it was great.”
Another strong memory was when a hypnotist came to town and a quiet local Bruce Beaudinette got up on stage.
“He made him act like Elvis Presley, it was hysterical as he was so shy and there, he was up on his toes being Elvis – it was truly unbelievable,” Ms Valentino laughed.
Later in the piece Derby had an Amateur Dramatic Society with locals acting in wonderful shows and the hall set up restaurant style.
Sporting hub and famous boxers
The Derby School used to have 300 children in attendance at its peak and with it a thriving sporting calendar throughout the town.
The hall was used to host a number of sports from large badminton tournaments, indoor bowling to boxing.
Before the boxing took off there was a rifle range under the hall which you could access from under the stage or through a door around the back.
Ronnie Hayes said it was a small bore rifle shooting range that finished up in the early 50s.
“If you go in there now you will still find some of the targets and things.”
Ms Valentino said her grandfather, who had been a well-known wrestler on the circuit in England started a boy's club and taught local lads how to wrestle and box.
“Harry Howlett trained local boys here, he had a big gym, put a big boxing ring on the stage of the hall and they put on a big exhibitions.
“Harry was a lightweight champion across Europe,” she said.
“They ended up here in Derby, all these boys used to go and fight, I’ve seen heaps of them fight here.”
Two of the boys he trained, John Terry and Adrian Bishop made the trials for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, unfortunately neither made the team.
However, Graeme Mundy won a boxing title in Derby when they were training.
The rebirth of Derby and the hall
The tin boom in the late 1800s undoubtably was the biggest population growth the Derby township had ever seen but tourism is now giving it a new lease on life.
Put simply, “These bikes are the best thing that has ever happened to this town since they found tin here in 1876,” Mr Hayes said.
After a few decades of laying dormant the town has been enriched once more and with it the hall.
Hosting huge markets, events, meetings and more.
Trevor Lester said the growth also gave those longstanding locals the opportunity to retire.
“People all had houses here that were nearly valueless, maybe $40,000 in price, then when the biking happened, they were able to sell them for $300,000 and set themselves up to buy something else.
“It’s just marvellous to see what has happened, all the families and people about, the street thriving once more.”
To celebrate the 100th birthday of the hall the Derby Community and Development Association is planning an Op-Shop Ball to commemorate in July.
Information will be shared in the coming months.
• 350 people attended the Derby Town Hall’s official opening on July 12, 1923.
• Biking tourism has rebirthed the hall once more. Image Leigh Blackburn.