Wallace House, the home of Noosa Arts and Crafts celebrated its 30th anniversary last Sunday but it almost didn’t happen, according to former Noosa Mayor Noel Playford, who told the tale of how it came to be, to past and former members at its anniversary.
“Forty years ago those who started the arts and crafts in Noosa used to find a home wherever they could, shift from place to place.
“It was very difficult for them. We were always being asked for somewhere arts and crafts people could ply their trade,“ he said.
“Most would not know this was a farm that stretched from Hilton Tce to Goodchap St, across the housing to the hospital. That was the Wallace’s place.
“It was about the early ’90s when somebody told me that this building was going to be demolished.
“I was a little bit horrified. It was the closest thing that Noosa had to a heritage house that almost everybody knew about.
“The land had been sold to developers. They were going to develop it for housing, all the way to Goodchap Street.
“I said to the staff, what can we do about it because we can’t have it.
“Here’s where leverage can count. To turn the whole place into a housing development you have to get rid of the water, the runoff. Runoff can only go into creeks. Where does it run. It can only run into Lake Doonella. Guess who owned all the land between here and Lake Doonella – the council.
“When that was explained to me, I said right we’ve got a leverage. We said to the developers we want to buy part of this land including the house so it can’t be demolished. If it’s demolished you’ll never get permission to put your water through our land.
“It was a deal done in heaven. The developers were happy to do a deal. We gave them permission to put their water through public land and we paid them a very modest price for all the land that has this community stuff on right now. Otherwise it would have been housing.
“It was just a fantastic deal made in heaven.
“The ink was hardly dry on the paper when you know who was knocking the door down – what are you going to do with the house. Well, you didn’t have to ask, that’s always where the arts and crafts was going to be.
“So that’s how that happened.“
Rumours have long circulated about the former uses of Wallace House including those it was once a house of ill-repute. While Noel couldn’t verify that he did shed some light on its other former uses.
“When we got title of the land I came over with the shire clerk we found a bit more of the history,“ he said.
“I can certainly verify it was used as a casino. There was still a roulette wheel in the front room.
“The house had changed from a place for a family, then a place for some itinerants and eventually it’s become home to the arts and crafts association 30 years ago.
“It’s a pretty remarkable story but look what’s happened, look how many people are here today.
“I think you’ve made an incredible success over 30 years.“
Former association presidents and original members told of their experiences at Wallace House, how they scrounged for equipment, enlisted the help of friends and husbands to build tables or transport goods and the devastation when fire destroyed the building which has since been rebuilt.
Former president Gabi Dick said when she arrived she was given a job in the shop and had no knowledge of art, but over the years had learnt everything.
“The amount of knowledge sharing is amazing,“ she said.
The association now boasts 350-400 members.
For 30 years Wallace House has been like a second home to many members, a place where friendships have been forged, knowledge shared, plenty of good times had and all on Sunday expressed their love of their time within its walls.
