When Byron Shire Council (BSC) decided that they would demolish the Mullumbimby Scout Hall in 2026, because it had become too expensive to repair after it was damaged by the 2022 floods, the President of the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community (MCCC), Paul Prior, asked around to see if there was anyone who would consider moving the historic building to an alternative site.
In response councillors then voted to open an expression of interest (EOI) for any groups interested in saving the hall.
The top half of the Scout Hall was the original Mullumbimby Bowls Club, it was replaced in 1957 by the current bowls club and the original clubhouse was moved to its current site as the first storey of the Scout Hall, and the lower level was built in. Returned servicemen had their Christmas lunches at the Scout Hall for many years.
Both the Mullumbimby Community Gardens (MCG) and the Mullumbimby Showgrounds said they were interested in relocating the building, with the showgrounds then stepping back for the MCG to put in an application.
When the EOI was concluded BSC Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, spoke to the MCG and told them that ‘it is not going to happen because Council don’t want to take liability for the building because it would be located on Council land at the MCG,’ Mr Prior told The Echo.
‘Instead they want to demolish it and then bring in a house recovered from the Lismore floods to put on the Scout Hall site.’
Since the Scout Hall was damaged in the flood it has been fenced off, but has had multiple squatters and fires at the building, including another fire last Friday.
‘We have at least three key historic buildings, the railway station, the Signal Masters Cottage, and the Scout Hall that have had wire fences put up around them for years now,’ said Mr Prior.
‘It’s a disgrace. After the last fire at the Scout Hall Council said they would use security to keep the squatters out, but squatters are back in there. It’s a great tragedy that they say we can’t repurpose the building, but we’re going to keep fighting to have it repurposed.
‘The Council’s “let it rot and demolish” is very disappointing, and it’s disrespectful to all of the servicemen that had their Christmas parties there for all those years. It’s shocking, and it’s just not good enough. We want to restore and use Mullumbimby’s historic buildings, not let them rot away as they currently are.’
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