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The Returned Services League in Mundaring
Recently it was reported in the Echo that the Mundaring RSL were calling for new members and this prompted us to look at the history of the RSL.
The first Anzac Day was on April 25, 1916 one year after the Gallipoli Landing. Shortly after this in Sydney there was a meeting of veterans which resulted in the formation of the “Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia” in May 1916. After 1916 they were disappointed in the lack of support given to them on their return home. The RSSILA was officially chartered on April 25, 1917.
In November 1940, "Airmen’s" was added to the name, evolving it into the ‘Returned Sailor’s, Soldier’s and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia’ (RSSAILA). Eventually, in October 1965, the collective decision was made to simplify the name to the ‘Returned Services League of Australia’. The last change occurred in September 1990, acknowledging current serving members, resulting in the birth of ‘Returned & Services League of Australia’.
Here in the Shire of Mundaring, we have at this time only three RSL Sub-branches, namely Bellevue, Chidlow and Mundaring.
As reported in the local paper The Echo on June 26, 2026 the membership of the Mundaring Branch is dwindling, and currently they meet at the CWA building in the Sculpture Park. However you may not know that they once met at what is now the Scout Hall.
We are in possession of a letter dated May 7, 1975 when the State Secretary informed the Shire they were disbanding and transferring to the Glen Forrest Sub Branch. Since then the Hall has only been used as the Scout Hall.
Looking through our photographs for this post we have realised we don’t have any older photographs of the scout hall so if any of you have one we would love to see it and take a scan …thankyou.
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