On Friday July 30 the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services shut down McGregor Hall one month before it was scheduled for closure. A fundraiser for the ACT Women’s Legal Centre had to be relocated to Corroboree Park Hall in Ainslie; a place where Jon Stanhope had admitted “young, emerging, noisy bands are wanting to practise or to play and issues were created there as a result”. The Canberra Musicians Club’s benefit for Vorn Doolette, an ex-Canberra musician who was recently involved in a serious car accident, was relocated to DNA Dance Studios in Gorman House. The CMC’s second birthday bash, which was to double as McGregor’s final curtain call, had to be canned completely.
McGregor Hall was closed because a routine inspection by DHCS on July 30 uncovered “low risk” asbestos sheeting. Subsequent tests were conducted, and on August 5 CMC’s Nigel McCrae received correspondence from DHCS stating that “although the results of air quality testing are positive, recommendations by the Environmental Protection Agency, Worksafe and ACT Health indicate the work required to make the building safe could not be completed prior to the transfer of the property.” Can anyone else see why this smacks of beaurocracy? As McCrae espoused, “there’s no health hazard as such, but said non-existent health hazard would require too much remedial action to allow reopening within the month. Go figure.”
The fact that the National Trust believes McGregor Hall has “strong historical significance” has also been completely ignored. As savemcgregorhall.org.au proclaims: “The building is all that remains of the Turner Workers Hostel. In the period after WWII the federal government initiated an expansive building program that established much of what is now known as the inner north and south of Canberra. To cope with the massive influx of construction workers and tradesmen seven hostels were quickly built and these hostels accommodated up to 2,500 workers. Turner Hostel was the last such hostel. All of the former hostels have been demolished. The building that includes McGregor Hall is the last and only standing example of the type of structure that housed the men who built a significant part of post-war Canberra.” So not only is McGregor Hall historically significant, it also holds strong social significance relating to the migration history of the ACT.
On Friday August 6 Stateline aired a report on McGregor Hall, during which Canberran author and historian Alan Foskett said, “I, as a historian, would feel it is important to have some sort of recognition of the fact that it is a final remnant of an important part of our history.” CMC’s David Howe admitted during the report, “having it appraised and assessed as having historical value is probably the only thing that will save it. The battle’s not lost. The building’s still standing. While it’s still standing I believe there’s still hope.” A nomination has been lodged with the ACT Heritage Council and a recommendation is expected this month.
You can view the full Stateline report on the BMA website.
