Orange Lodges and Protestant Halls – these were the two staples of any Australian country town in the mid 1800s. If, like Taree, you were caught with your pants down as late as the 1870s, well, you’d be getting to laying that foundation stone quick smart, and you’d better make sure you do it in the presence of a large number of people:

SMH, August 11 1876

Protestant Halls have all kinds of amazing uses, not least of which is playing host to an extensive and exuberant round of preaching:

The Sydney Mail, June 13 1896

Why Reverend McIntyre, what a lovely sermon about the evils of alcohol! In most country towns, the Protestant Hall was the hub around which the town grew. Well, you know, aside from the pub. And speaking of which, I’ve seen the future and it will be:

There’s something extremely sacrilegious about this, isn’t there? I don’t think it stands for Beer, Wine and the Holy Spirit, either.

Despite the incongruous, blasphemous tenancy, the building is still damn photogenic. Wha? Oh no, I meant darn!