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Militia
Orderly Rooms to early 20th century drill halls, to late 20th century Army Reserve training depots, and latterly to multi-user depots. The Drill Hall site has historical associations with the former Eltham Estate and the creation of the adjacent Monash Park. The site and this area of Gladesville have clear association with the famous WW1 soldiers, Sir John Monash and Brigadier Sydney Herring. The former drill hall building is representative of the work of NSW Government Architects Branch at the turn of the (20th) century, and is a richly detailed and architecturally satisfying example of that Branch's architectural style. The former drill hall is one of only three such buildings with remain extant. The Drill Hackle and Army Reserve Training Depot has had considerable social connection with the Ryde/Gladesville/Hunters Hill communities, and thus has "social value" to those communities. The former Drill Hall, as a relatively rare example of a pre WW1 civilian training hall thus, providing an understanding of an aspect of the evolution of the Civil Militia movement in New South Wales.
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maintained by the district '10r upwards of 20 years; firstly as the
Hunters Hill Reserves, and later as K Company, 1st Infantry Regiment, and since the reorganisation of the military forces £1903], as F Company, 1st Australian Regiment". The letter also explained that, at the present time, the membership of the company was not up to strength, being 14 short of the establishment of 60, but that recruiting had been suspended for some time. The letter declared that the removal of the company would "necessitate the demolition of the Drill Hall which was erected in 1901, at a cost of between £600 and £700" and the closing of the rifle range, "which offered facilities to civilians as well as the militia".
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342:, Mr E. W. O'Sullivan, first opened the bridge at North Ryde, then returned to Gladesville to turn the sod, after which the official party of between 120 and 130 people "sat down to a banquet in the Drill Hall, Gladesville" at which Alderman J. Redshaw, the Mayor of Ryde, presided. Ex-Alderman Robert Campbell Swan, whose residence in Eltham Street Gladesville adjoined the Drill Hall, "had a string of flags conspicuously displayed" in honour of the occasion.
349:, the "largest seen in Gladesville for many a long day" and included a guard of honour, consisting of 42 members of K Company in review order, under Captain Tilney. The centre of attention was "a little green spot at the intersection of Convent (now Monash) and Ryde Roads, almost opposite the main entrance to the Drill Hall". The proposed tramway was to proceed along Convent, Higginbotham, Pidding, Badajoz and Bridge Road to
418:: '... The Commonwealth Government is erecting a drillhall at Victoria Barracks for the use of the purely volunteer regiments ... There has been no lavish expenditure incurred in connection with the building. It is plainly finished in every detail, yet the authorities will have the largest drill hall in the State, a building in which ample accommodation combined with strength are the leading features... '
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need a khaki uniform to remind a true Cadet that he is on parade... Owing to the scarcity of officers, the shortage of equipment, and the necessity for calling in all rifles, the
Government has decided to suspend all drill for the present, but we may hear of its revival in the near future. Nevertheless, the training the Cadets have received will stand them in good stead.'
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In 1911, a second report in the SJC Magazine reported less optimistically on the corps's fortunes: '... Early in the year we were in hopes of obtaining a fresh supply of equipment, but our hopes were groundless, for after June there were extremely few who possessed a full uniform. However, it doesn't
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The 35th
Battalion remained for ten years to be replaced in 1951 by the 2nd Field Engineers Regiment. This regiment stayed for nineteen years and was replaced in 1970 by the 2nd Division Provost Company. Seven years later they were replaced by the 4th Engineers Regiment, who remained there until the
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Brigade. The
Training Area is 19A Hunter's Fill; Headquarters, the Drill Hall, Gladesville. Our cadets form the "A" Company of the Battalion... The formation of the corps took place soon after the re-opening in January of this year. A company of 120 strong was formed of boys between 14 and 17 years,
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reported on 24 March 1900 that" construction of the new drill hall for K Company 1st
Regiment, has been commenced at the corner of the Quarry Reserve, off the Ryde-road, Gladesville". The hall was to be sixty feet by thirty feet, built of wood with an iron roof, on a concrete foundation. It was to
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As at 26 June 2007, the former Drill Hall is significant because it is one of the few (if any) pre-Federation, i.e. Colonial, drill hall establishments remnant in Sydney. The Drill Hall (and its site) are representative of the continuous evolution of
Citizen's Militia from Colonial Volunteer and
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reported that the letter claimed that the removal of the
Headquarters of F Company from Gladesville to Sydney would be "detrimental to the interests of the district and would deprive the young men of it of necessary military training". The letter went on to explain that the company had been
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The area which was later to become the
Gladesville Drill Hall site and the adjacent Monash Park was, in the late 19th century, used for civil militia purposes. In the 1870s to 1890s the site was under tentage, with a parade ground and a small bore miniature rifle range adjacent.
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the training age for Senior Cadets. An over-age section was also formed, but through lack of encouragement it soon disbanded. At the beginning of the year the boys were submitted to a strict medical examination by Dr Lloyd, assisted by three of the military authorities.'
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at the Drill Hall. An extract from the SJC Magazine of 1911 describes the arrangements for the college's cadet corps: '... As all know, the corps now belongs to the
Commonwealth Military Forces. It forms part of the 19th Battalion, 5th
369:, asking Council to protest against the removal of the Headquarters of F Company from Gladesville. The Mayor moved a motion that the request be complied with, and that the Federal representative be asked to assist. The
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to the windows and main entrance door. The exterior is lined with beaded boarding and the base of the main building is filled in with a masonry wall. The gable ends of the main hall have highlist windows with
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above to the apex. The interior of the hall was originally a double storey open space. The interior structure is based on a braced post and beam wall structure which carries a classic timber post
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Reserves. By 1900 the company had become K Company, 1st Infantry Regiment and they had a drill shed of some sort on or near the corner of Convent Road (now Monash Road) and Gladesville Road (now
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The Gladesville Army Reserve Drill Hall is a sophisticated timber building with quality detailing that supports the overall design of the building. The building is rectangular is plan with a
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Gladesville Drill Hall is one of only three surviving examples in New South Wales of the drill halls built by the colonial government prior to Federation and the only example in Sydney.
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went on to say that "the fine commodious hall was packed with a gay and brilliant assemblage" and that refreshments were provided in a"commodious marquee just outside the hall".
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MP re the removal of the Headquarters of the F Company 1st Australian Regiment stating that it was not the intention of the Defence Department to remove the Headquarters.
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reported this event on 21 July 1900, declaring it be a function which "...far exceeded anything of the kind held in the district for many a long day".
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The Drill Hall figured prominently in official ceremonies in Ryde on 23 February 1901. This was the day on which De Burgh's Bridge across the
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Ryde Council minutes of a meeting held on 13 July 1904 noted that a letter had been received from H. Hillier, Col. Sergt. F Company 1st
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In 1904, the volunteers had been reformed as F Company 1st Australian Regiment, and become co-located with the school cadets of
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reported the hall was due to be completed by mid-May and that it was "commodious, substantial and a well ventilated structure".
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extension to the west. The details in this timber building are of a fine quality with timber double hung, multi-paned
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was officially opened and the day on which the first sod of the Field of Mars Tramway was turned. It was, wrote the
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of 16 July 1904 reported that the same letter had been read to a meeting of the Gladesville Progress Association.
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The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.
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including a machine gun company. The Battalion was still co-located with the St Joseph's College Cadet Corps.
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In August 1995 the Reserve Depot was vacated and the 4th Field Engineers Regiment was relocated to Dundas.
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The official party which gathered at Gladesville to turn the first sod of the tramway was, wrote
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published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under
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By the late 1980s, it had become clearly apparent to the Army, and the new Army Headquarters
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Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under
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As at 24 October 2008, the physical condition was good. Archaeological potential is high.
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The new Drill Hall was officially opened on 13 July 1900 with "a Grand Military Ball. The
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Directories lists the "Headquarters K Company 1st Regiment" at this address from 1896.
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who remained there until 1941, at which time the Hall and site was occupied by the
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contain three offices, each ten feet by ten feet. The contractor was "Mr Neely of
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The parcel of land on which this building was erected was originally part of the
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The minutes for 30 September 1904 recorded Council's receipt of a letter from
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At or about the end of World War I, the Hall became the headquarters for the
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Around this time the first militia was formed in the district and called the
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of 30 August 1904 described the erection of a large drill hall at
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500. The work was to be completed in 10 weeks. On 5 May 1900 the
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Former drill hall in City of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.
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in 1901 the Halls in NSW continued to be designed by the
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List of former military installations in New South Wales
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Former Army Reserve Training Depot, Gladesville, Sydney
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Former Army Reserve Training Depot, Gladesville, Sydney
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Gladesville Drill Hall; Drill Hall; Army Reserve Depot
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392:took over construction of Drill Halls following
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222:and now residence located at 144 Ryde Road,
49:Location of Gladesville Drill Hall in Sydney
789:Military installations established in 1900
719:Ryde (entry) in The Book of Sydney Suburbs
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553:Gladesville Drill Hall was listed on the
646:Department of Planning & Environment
764:New South Wales State Heritage Register
742:New South Wales State Heritage Register
679:Peter Freeman and Megan Martin May 2000
641:New South Wales State Heritage Register
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555:New South Wales State Heritage Register
462:History during and after World War II
234:and built during 1900 by Mr Neely of
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717:Pollen, F.; Healy, G., eds. (1996).
246:. The property is privately owned.
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458:including a machine gun company.
232:NSW Government Architect's Office
134:New South Wales Heritage Register
122:NSW Government Architect's Office
784:1900 establishments in Australia
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230:, Australia. It was designed by
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708:Peter Freeman Pty Ltd (2000).
689:Peter Freeman Pty Ltd (2000).
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794:Gladesville, New South Wales
751:, accessed on 2 June 2018.
740:, entry number 00782 in the
367:Australian Infantry Regiment
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522:. There are five internal
467:unit was relocated to the
435:History during World War I
398:NSW Government Architect's
403:The Sydney Morning Herald
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774:Drill halls in Australia
636:"Gladesville Drill Hall"
361:Early Federation history
357:. It never eventuated.
738:Gladesville Drill Hall
400:Branch. An article in
238:. It is also known as
212:Gladesville Drill Hall
152:State heritage (built)
24:Gladesville Drill Hall
476:2nd Military District
390:Australian Government
270:Field of Mars Reserve
94:33.8228°S 151.1256°E
423:St Joseph's College
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244:Army Reserve Depot
165:Reference no.
99:-33.8228; 151.1256
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408:Victoria Barracks
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160:2 April 1999
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727:Attribution
511:architraves
501:roof and a
489:Description
224:Gladesville
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85:151°07′32″E
73:Coordinates
68:, Australia
63:Gladesville
758:Categories
581:References
416:Leichhardt
412:Paddington
394:Federation
332:North Ryde
240:Drill Hall
220:drill hall
192:Mr Neely (
176:Drill Hall
157:Designated
82:33°49′22″S
746:CC-BY 4.0
665:CC-BY 4.0
537:Condition
524:king post
480:Newcastle
375:The Argus
351:Marsfield
347:The Argus
321:The Argus
297:Chatswood
236:Chatswood
194:Chatswood
118:Architect
648:. H00782
569:See also
503:skillion
189:Builders
181:Category
58:Location
749:licence
668:licence
527:trusses
516:louvres
250:History
218:former
184:Defence
652:2 June
497:sheet
469:Dundas
355:Epping
285:Sydney
228:Sydney
520:truss
499:gable
214:is a
110:Built
654:2018
290:The
242:and
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113:1900
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301:A£
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