A rare banner more than 120 years old which was found during maintenance and repair works to the piers under Stroud School of Arts Hall, has been handed to the Museum of Newcastle.
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In December 2009, staff discovered a long, timber box stored under the floorboards of the hall. Further investigation revealed a double-sided, hand-painted silk banner of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows (GUOOF), Williams River District.
The GUOOF was one of what was known as the Friendly Societies. They were introduced into Australia in 1844, to offer support to people in times of hardship, prior to the introduction of Government welfare.
They served two purposes: they were a male social club, an important function with many political and economic implications, and in times of sickness or injury, the Society paid for medical services for members' families, and upon death of a member, paid funeral expenses and provided the widow with financial assistance.
The banner was made by Tutills in London in 1893. George Tutill supplied high-quality banners and other regalia to Australia from at least 1857. The firm produced hundreds of double-sided banners in the 19th and 20th centuries for friendly and trade societies around the world. The banners were painted on silk saturated with a patented india-rubber solution. The Tutills company was destroyed in the bombing of London in 1941.
The banner is approximately 2.4m x 3m and would have been supported by two poles. The poles, original carry straps, ropes and finials are also stored in the box.
Surviving banners of this type are extremely rare, and it is considered that this discovery is of significant local and national interest, because Friendly Societies were an important part of Australia's history.
Great Lakes Council recently made the decision to donate the banner to the Museum of Newcastle as it is the closest Museum to Stroud, where the banner was discovered. The museum has the necessary facilities to preserve the banner, which needs to be humidity and temperature controlled and rested from display from time to time.
"We were keen for the banner to remain accessible to the community, but it was clear that Council did not have the expertise or facilities to preserve it," said Council's general manager, Glenn Handford.
"By donating it to the Museum, we have ensured its preservation and accessibility to the community in which the Society did so much to help. We are delighted with this outcome."
