The Walter Plummer Hall

‘The Walter Plummer Hall’ is a two-storey brick building situated in the heart of the Taree Showgrounds. It was built in 1910 as an exhibition hall for the new showgrounds.¹ Some declaring it ‘the best hall outside the great cities of the state’.²

Walter Plummer was an auctioneer and one of the most popular men in the district.³ During his lifetime he held several important public offices including Alderman and Auditor for the Taree Municipal Council, and Returning Officer for the Gloucester Electorate.⁴ After the death of his father he took over the role of Secretary of the Manning River Agricultural and Horticultural Association (MRA & HA). Walter planned, facilitated and oversaw the relocation of the showgrounds and the creation of the new hall.⁵

On Sunday 20 November 1910, while holidaying at Black Head, Walter unexpectedly died from ‘the effects of an injury to the heart resulting from a blow accidentally received from a wave whilst bathing in the waters of the Pacific Ocean’.⁶ He was only 49 years old. His funeral was the largest ever seen in the Manning at the time with a cortege over a mile long.⁷

As a tribute to Walter the MRA & HA Committee named the hall after him.⁸ For over 100 years the hall has showcased the produce and crafts of the Manning Valley and now houses the North Taree Rotary Club’s Book Shed which sells second-hand books to raise funds for community charities.⁹

Author: Janine Roberts