History of the Snowy Enterprise Centre Building
The history of the building is incomplete and it is hoped that at some stage a heritage study on the building will be completed.
From 1856 to 1899, Alexander Montague owned the land on which the Army Drill Hall was to be subsequently built. The free hold was sold to the Chief Secretary of the Colony of New South Wales. The title remained as such until 1927, when it was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia.
Tenders called for construction of a timber and galvanised iron drill hall in 1898, and it was completed by July 1899. The standard design late colonial timber Drill Hall exhibits the typical features of a gable roof and skillion roofed end offices. See the recently published study of Drill Halls by Allom Lovell Architects for details.
In 1886 K Company was formed by a Mr Faulkner, and the building was used by the Light Horse from 1904 after K Company disbanded in 1902.
Shane Fenech, a sapper in the last Army Reserve unit to be stationed at the Hall, says, "The building is the only remaining Army building in the town." From his research, Shane believes that at one time there was a barracks in Murray Street and Army stabling in Cooma East.
From an article in the Cooma-Monaro Express of 28 May 1992, it is reported that the Army used the area surrounding the Hall. This included stabling horses on the land now occupied by Rotary Oval and TAFE. The Nebula Motel was the site of the Army Commandant house and the officers' quarters.
From as early as the beginning of the 20th century until 1932, a detachment of the 7th Light Horse regiment was stationed in Cooma. They became famous for their horses they bred from a mountain muster of brumbies in the early 1900s.
It is most likely the land near the Creek, as well as the Show Ground was used as a camping and parade ground during the famous Snowy March which was a recruitment march during the First World War through the towns and villages of the Snowy Mountains and Snowy River country to Goulburn.
A list of Army Units and personnel that served from the Army Drill Hall and surrounding land is still to be assembled. The following have been identified but need verification:
- Detachment of 7th Light Horse Regiment (up to 1932)
- Various units of Infantry, Construction Engineers and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers followed.
- 1/9 Infantry Construction Squadron
- 109 Construction Squadron 201
- 4th Field Troop - 4th Field Regiment, 2nd Division of Royal Australian Engineers (1972 - 1995)
- 4th Field Troop - 5th Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers Combat Engineering Regiment (1995 to 1999)
One unsubstantiated report has suggested that a unit of Greek soldiers were stationed at the Drill Hall during the Second World War. The BEC has some photographs in its scrap books of Army reserve activities at the Drill Hall from the 1980/90s. By May 1999 there were only two local people serving in the Cooma Troop and it was decided to relocate the Troop to Duntroon in Canberra. At this point the Drill Hall became vacant.
Over the years permission was given for the Drill Hall to be used by others, when not in Army use. It has been used for birth and wedding celebrations, as well as wakes.
The First Cooma Troop of Boy Scouts used the hall as a gymnasium and club room for various periods during the 1930s and 1940's. At the time, the Monaro County Council's diesel electricity generating power station operated next door. Some mothers were known to complain their boys came home from the Scouts "full of soot".
The drill hall has also been used as a business premises, being leased by A McDonald, Auctioneer and General Dealer, between 1922 and 1925 and by Frederick John Owers for a small business between 1926 and 1931.
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| Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority 1951 ( Klaus Kofler, Snowy Registry Photo) |
At the start of construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme in the early 1950's the Drill Hall was used by the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority. It is believed the Survey and Investigation Department staff utilised the building.
Conversion to Snowy Enterprise Centre in 2001
In 2001 the Snowy-Monaro Business Enterprise Centre Inc purchased the land and buildings on the land. In September 2001, after over a year of negotiations, the building and land were finally purchased by the BEC for conversion into a community-based industry and business development facility. It was at the start determined to try to keep the heritage of the exterior of the building intact. With the exception of the addition of a verandah and an extended reception area to the eastern side of the building, where the large double roller doors had originally been installed, the original exterior design has been kept intact.
Renovation of the building commenced in October 2001, from plans and interior designs created by Architect Geoff Watson and his wife Sue. Local builder Don Shortridge and a contract team under the project management of BEC Manager John Mercer completed the external renovation and interior construction by March 2002.
The original weatherboard exterior cladding was retained and protected. The original suspended timber floor has been retained but overlaid with carpet, which both protects the flooring and maintains a modern comfortable interior. A new interior shell of false ceilings and partitions make up a modern interior.
The brick toilet block extension was retained with a new roof created to architecturally match the original Army Drill Hall construction. The BBQ paved barbecue patio area was retained but the plastic sheet roof covering removed.
A galvanised metal clad storage shed built for the Army Reserve, has been retained for storage and as a potential light industrial incubator space. The remaining land was levelled to make a permanent, compacted, crush gravel driveway and carpark area. The old steel boundary fencing was removed and replaced with grassed and landscaped areas.
Ex Army Reserve soldiers who served at the Drill Hall purchased the flag pole and the original large wooden roller doors. These can now be found in Jindabyne and at the Rock Lodge property in Cooma, respectively.
In 2008 the Cooma-Monaro Shire Council identified the building as having important historic and aesthetic value and has included the building on the Heritage Schedule of the draft Local Environmental Plan.