Eumundi School of Arts

Overlooking Memorial Drive at the southern entrance to Eumundi stands the School of Arts, which has served the town since 1912, replacing an earlier hall dating to 1908 on the same site. Eumundi was established in 1891 as a rail stop on the line from Brisbane to Maryborough. The economy was initially based on timber getting and later dairying. When the town outgrew the 1908 hall, a new one was built by Gympie builder, W Bytheway. The Nambour Chronicle described it as; 'a big hall, with stage at back and a couple of anterooms at the front, having a library, wide passage and reading room under the front, and supper room under the centre'. It was reputedly designed by the Cooroy sawmill owner, W Fenwick. A two day bazaar was held to commemorate the opening by the Hon JW Blair, Minister of Education, on 15 November 1912. Local dancers were appreciative of the crows-ash (Flindersia australis) floor. By 1918, the building was adapted to allow for picture shows. Although the hall suffered the ravages of termites from the 1930s through to the 1960s, the community has ensured its retention. The hall is available for hire for private functions.