Hibernian Society Temperance Hall

Many early buildings in Victoria are named after the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society, also known as the Hibernians. This group was formed in 1868 by Irish immigrants (hence the reference to ‘Hibernia’ or Ireland) who formed what was known as a friendly society. Before state welfare, friendly societies were an important resource to their members, who paid a small contribution fortnightly and in return received not only a a social network but also supports such as sick pay, worker’s compensation, funeral cost support, family medical care, and so on. By 1913, over 50% of the population of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania were connected to friendly societies and eligible for their benefits. Church Street was part of the first suburban Crown Allotments of land sold in Melbourne during 1839, and by the 1870s, this part of Richmond was well established. When the Hibernians constructed the Temperance Hall on this site in 1873, it was partly intended to hold meetings of the Richmond Temperance Society, but as part of the Hibernians’ wider interests, it also functioned as a wider community centre, providing a library and reading room. The building was designed by John Koch, who would go on to become mayor of Richmond in 1882. The City of Yarra has developed a Richmond Hill heritage walk which includes this site: https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/the-area/visiting-yarra/heritage-walks/richmond-hill-heritage-walk

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