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Vacy Hall - Newsletter

Vacy Hall Guesthouse delivers to our subscibers the interesting and insightful “Vacy News” on a quarterly basis.

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News Flash (36 KB PDF)

NEWS BREAK -
Missing Information on Vacy Hall's History 1924-1940's

Source Barabara Laird - conversation with Vacy Hall owner Graham Higgins in 2009
Niece of Philip and Hettie Koskin who recalls visiting Vacy Hall during the 1930's as a small child.

Vacy Hall was owned by Philip and Hettie Hoskin between 1924 and 1942. They had moved into Toowoomba from “Avenel” which was a large sheep station in South West Queensland near Roma with their three children Norman, Phillipa and Jeffrey for their schooling.

During the Hoskins ownership Vacy Hall was divided into 3 flats named Locarno, Clutha and Struan which they rented out or used for visiting family.

Hettie Hoskin died during World War 2 and Philip sold Vacy Hall to a “colourful” woman called Shirley McWilliam who turned Vacy into a so-called “hostel” for US Sailors on shore leave.

Stories abound about the wild parties that occurred during this time with old Toowoomba cabbies recalling stories about “ladies” dancing on the tables. Mrs McWilliam was famous for driving around Toowoomba in a sporty bright red MG.

Previous news

Vacy Hall is featured in a new book by Barry Stone published by Allen and Unwin titled “Great Australian Historic Hotels” Download cover (150KB PDF).

Symmetry Magazine
Toowoomba 'In full bloom' Aug 2010. Download article (545KB PDF).

“Short breaks Toowoomba”
Brisbane Sunday Mail article June 2010. Download article (250KB PDF).