That is the question posed by Maitland District Historical Society publicity officer Val Rudkin who needs the community’s input to solve the puzzle.

Mrs Rudkin’s curiosity stems from an aerial picture taken during Maitland’s 1955 flood and an architectural drawing of a building which stood for a short period on High Street, below the post office.

Mrs Rudkin said a building was erected for use as the Great Northern Skating Rink, also known as the Premier, which was a popular venue at the time.

The plans were drawn by architect John Wiltshire Pender and dated May 25, 1888.

The venue opened in April 1889.

“There is nothing remarkable about this except after two years it was advertised for sale in the Mercury on March 17, 1891,” Mrs Rudkin said.

The advertisement read:

“Tenders are hereby invited for the purchase of the Premier Skating Rink, High Street, West Maitland, to be removed from the site in one month from acceptance of tender at the purchaser’s risk.

“Tenders to be lodged at the office of Bennet and Yeomans, architects, Newcastle or Lee and Scobie, architects, High Street, West Maitland.”

“What happened next is where this is all heading,” Mrs Rudkin said.

“The skating rink was erected on leased land and after its removal a new building was to be erected.

“That building still stands today and was known as the Bank Arcade.

“Beside this building is Drill Hall Lane and the drill hall can be seen in the 1955 flood photo.

“The similarity in the two buildings cannot be ignored.

“I think the skating rink ­building was moved across the land and repositioned but I have no proof.

“Maybe someone in the ­community can help.”

The materials in the colonnade at the front of the Pender-designed building was used in the colonnade of the new ­building.

However, Mrs Rudkin can not find mention of the fate of the building.

A mention was made of a meeting held in the drill hall (Maitland Mercury June 29, 1909) to discuss a military ball at Maitland Town Hall.

Mention was made that repairs to the drill hall, West Maitland would be made at a cost of 221 pounds in December 1927.

“The question to be answered is when and where the first drill hall was erected in Maitland and we may get the answers we seek,” Mrs Rudkin said.