No. 1238 - Hobart - Baptist Church - Jack Soundy Memorial Hall

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This article is one of a series about the history of buildings associated with Tasmania’s historical churches. These buildings include Sunday schools, parish halls, convents, schools and residences of the clergy. Ancillary buildings are often overlooked and rarely feature in published histories. My aim is to create a simple record of these buildings, including those that no longer exist.

The Jack Soundy Memorial Hall is located alongside Hobart Baptist Church on Elizabeth Street. “Jack” Soundy was the son of Sir John and Lady Soundy, a prominent Hobart businessman, politician and mayor of Hobart. He was deeply committed Christian and a member of the Hobart Baptist Church for over sixty years. John Trevor Soundy lost his life in January 1943 as co-pilot of a plane that went missing while delivering military supplies to Port Moresby in New Guinea.

At the conclusion of the Second World War Jack’s friends decided to perpetuate his memory in some tangible way and a memorial fund was established. The increased need for additional buildings for youth work by the Hobart Baptist led to the establish the Jack Soundy Memorial Hall on Elizabeth Street. Sir John Soundy believed that the location would assist in attracting young people off the street. In April 1946 the Advocate reported:

“At an Anzac memorial service in the Hobart Baptist Church this evening, the Governor (Admiral Sir Hugh Binney) unveiled a memorial tablet to the late W/O John Trevor Soundy, older son of the Lord Mayor of Hobart and Mrs Soundy…. In its reconstruction plan, the church proposes to build a "Jack Soundy Memorial Room," in which will be hung the scrolls of honour of those who fought in the first and second world wars”.



Sources:

Advocate, Monday 29 April 1946, page 2

Rowston, L.F.; One hundred years of witness : a history of the Hobart Baptist Church, 1884-1984

https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/military/display/100835-warrant-officer-jack-soundy

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/soundy-sir-john-8587



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