Pasture Protection Board - Warialda
Written by Graham Wilson
In January 1903 preparations were made by the Lands Department to proclaim new districts under the Pastures and Stock Protection Act and for the election of Board Directors. Seven Directors were elected on 26 June 1903 with W.B. Geddes as secretary. The first meeting of the Board of Directors took place at the ‘Royal Hotel’ on 21 August 1903.
The first Board’s office was situated in an office near the ‘Royal Hotel’ where J.A. McGregor’s office now stands. These offices were destroyed by fire in 1925 and business was then conducted in rented premises until 1935.
Photograph 14 (left) : Pasture Protection Board, Warialda, Blake & Wilson 2006
At the October 1929 meeting the Board discussed the matter of securing a block of land to build their own offices. A sub-committee was formed but found that the proposal would cost some ₤2000. Because of the depressed state of the pastoral industry, the Board let the matter stand. The Board announced that it would erect new offices in Stephen Street and the present site was purchased in May 1935. Tenders for construction of the building were called in June. On Tuesday 13 August 1935, the foundation stone of the building was laid by the chairman, Ronald Mackay. At the same time, Chairman MacKay also donated a photographic record of past chairmen of the Board and a photograph of the existing Board directors.
B.M. Wade was the successful tenderer for construction of the building and a steel garage and tool shed was also erected at the rear of the new offices. A further renovation took place and in 1957 ₤143 was spent on a laboratory named the Austin Mack Laboratory, in honour of Director A.M. Mack, who acted as Chairman of the Board for a period of nearly 10 years. Other extensions took place in 1972 when R.H. Lockwood of Inverell was appointed architect and the contract let to A.J. Wiskens of Warialda.