One of these was The Temperance Society, which started in the 1830s in NSW. It was not until November 1834 that the first public meeting was held in the Court House at Castlereagh Street, Sydney, with the Chief Justice the Hon.Francis Forbes in the chair.

The Temperance Society’s principles, mainly based on the Total Abstinence Society rules, fought the vice of alcohol consumption by promoting the well-being of the working classes. It attracted good support over the years to become a force to be reckoned with in the community. The Temperance Society became active in Wollongong in the 1840s and with a steady growth in membership determined in June 1870 that a Temperance Hall Company be formed. Arrangements were made to sell shares in the new company at £5 each. In no time 80 shares were sold. Enough money was raised to purchase half an acre of land from Robert Haworth for £100. John Brown, the Wollongong carpenter and undertaker, drew up the plans for the building. In October 1870, William Hewlett, chairman of the society, called for tenders for the construction of a Temperance Hall in Crown Street. The site of the hall would be sandwiched between the Royal Hotel and Andrew Moran’s Bootmaker shop.

George Commens was contracted to construct the building, which he completed in 11 months at a cost of £417. The building was set on a stone foundation of 18 inches thick. The height of the walls were 14 feet and were constructed of hardwood planks 10 inches wide. The length of the building was 62 feet long and 30 feet wide. The inner walls were lined with pine. Two ante rooms at the rear measured 16 x 18 ft and 12 x 16 ft. Fourteen big windows let natural light into the building with six on either side and two windows at the front. It was estimated that the overall cost of land and building as well as fitting out came to about £700. The hall was officially opened with a concert in November 1871.

The well-patronised building was advertised for sale in December 1888 and it was purchased by A.Graham snr for £1039-10-0. Within two months, the property was leased to C.B.H.Smith, whose grand plans were to turn it into the Elite Skating Rink. He extended the building, removed the stage, erected comfort rooms for gents and ladies as well as installing a refreshment bar. The business only lasted five months when on the night of August 30, 1889, fire broke out, destroying the whole building. The fire  threatened the hotel next door to the east, then known as the Royal Hotel and owned by Joseph Makin since 1882, and a two-storey building to the west known as the Kembla Boot Palace owned by bootmaker Andrew Moran who had established his business in Crown Street in December 1887 The kitchen and stables at Makin’s caught alight and the horses were removed to nearby Roxby’s Hotel. A racehorse named Strathaird, spending the night at Makin’s, was also saved.

The most damage was done to Moran’s two-storey shop and residence. All windows were shattered and most of the woodwork charred. The fire also destroyed the Moran’s bedding and furniture and charred all the boots in the shop.

There is no photograph of the Temperance Hall, but a 1902 photograph shows where the  building was located between Joseph Makin’s The Royal Hotel, (until 2014 the Oxford Tavern beer garden), and Moran’s building, which is now the Platinum building, displaying the Beale advertising sign. The name Beale was a brand of piano and sewing machine for which the Morans were successful agents. Two of Andrew Moran’s daughters were seamstresses who resided and worked in the same building.

Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM.  Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au