Dangin Agricultural Hall (fmr) - site

Statement of Significance

The site represents the considerable significance of the social centre of the town of Dangin, which was also the first school and church. It has associations with the pioneer of Dangin and the early settlers, making it of historical importance.

Physical Description

Single storey rectangular plan brick building with an iron hip roof. Central within the unadorned brick front facade was a double entry door with fanlight above. Both sides of the hall had t three sets of two double hung windows symmetrical within the facades.

History

1836 Stephen Parker took up a pastoral selection at Dangin Springs. It was not until 1859, that his son Edward Read Parker settled on the selection. After ER Parker's death in 1905, his son Jonah Smith Wells Parker who had been managing the property since 1888, took over the Dangin property. A portion of his estate had been allotted for a townsite, and by 1902, the town lots were surveyed and the town of Dangin declared. The town was surrounded by the Dangin Estate, and fully fenced, with the only access through fences and gates on the Parker's property.
Parker donated the land for the Agricultural hall which was constructed in 1909. In August 1909 Parker's wife Lillian laid the foundation stone for the hall. Dangin town developed and by 1911, in addition to the Agricultural Hall there was a two storey temperance hotel, two general stores, a drapery store, bank, post office, hospital, Methodist church and Manse, school, blacksmith operation, bakery, and twelve residences. In 1912 Parker developed Toapin Weir on the estate to provide the town of Dangin with a reticulated water supply.
The Agricultural Hall was the venue of most of the town's functions including banquets, balls, regular dances, weddings, community celebrations and rollerskating. It provided a venue for travelling salesmen to display their wares. The hali was the first school in Dangin between 1910 and 1915 when a purpose built school was provided. The Anglican and Methodist churches held services in the hall on alternating Sundays. Welcome home dances were held for the men returning from World War One. J O'Dea provided much of the music for the numerous events at the hall. The Masonic Lodge held their meetings in the hall between 1922 and 1925. From 1928 (until 1936) the movie pictures were held regularly in the hall. During the 1920s and 1930s the Dangin Gymnastic Club held their activities in the Hall. During the 1930s the Westralian Farmers' Concert party travelled to Dangin on the day of the Co-op annual general meeting, and entertained the people of Dangin in the hall after tea. This annual event continued until 1947. The advent of World War Two signalled a downturn in the prosperity of Dangin, although many fundraising, war effort, welcome home dances for the soldiers, and social events were still held in the hall. By 1965, most of the major buildings in Dangin had been demolished. The Agricultural Hall, was sold by the Quairading Roads Board in 1964, to Mr Bill Flint who demolished the hall to build a house in Quairading. The Quairading Golf Club bought the hall piano. The hall's foundation stone is in the Quairading Masonic Lodge building. The annual Christmas Tree celebrations had continued at the hall almost until the end. The Dangin District Honour Board for world war One now hangs in the Quairading Town Hall. As part of the Australian bi-centennial celebrations in 1988, a Dangin heritage walk trail was developed and the historic sites in the town were marked and interpreted.

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