Prior to VASA having its own building at the Melbourne Showgrounds meetings were held in the Administrative Building of the RASV. These meetings were catered for by the RASV kitchen staff.
VASA’s first “Showtime” home was a tin shed located in Pearson Avenue at the Showgrounds, in the vicinity of where the underpass off Plummer Avenue now leads. The RASV made available this building for use by VASA during the 1966 Royal Melbourne Show. A Sub-Committee comprising Tom Tehan, Harry Graham and Geoff Norris, was appointed to make the building suitable for use by members of country agricultural shows attending the Melbourne Show.
A hostess was engaged to attend to the needs of visitors and to hand out schedules provided by the various affiliated societies. The Centre proved most successful and many letters were received thanking the Association for its hospitality and all stressed the value of such a meeting place.
In 1967 a request was made to the RASV that consideration be given to the provision of better premises in a more central position so that the activities of the Association and its kindred societies could be more effectively promoted.
In August 1968 a deputation made up of the President (Harry Graham) and Vice Presidents (Jack Hamilton-Smith, Jack Rae and Tom Tehan) approached the Minister of Agriculture (The Honourable G.L. Chandler) to request financial assistance to build a headquarters at the Showgrounds. The Minister implied that this was outside his province, but it was not unlikely that Cabinet would view the request favourably if on a self help basis. This resulted in a Sub-Committee being formed for the purpose of investing funds to better advantage having in mind the construction of a headquarters building at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
February 1969 saw the appointment of a sub-committee consisting of the President, Harry Graham, Frank Ruler, Tom Tehan, Charles Gerrish and the Secretary, John Buckland, to investigate the feasibility of, and planning for, a suitable headquarters for the Association.
In February 1970 the sub-committee made a deputation to the Premier, The Honourable Sir Henry Bolte, in an attempt to receive financial assistance for the headquarters building. The deputation, having been introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, was favourably received, the Premier granting his approval to assist in the construction of a building at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds at a cost of $25,000.00 including Architects fees.
Affiliated societies were invited to make donations of, or for, furnishings for the building. George Anthony, on behalf of the Barham Society, offered to provide a locally made red gum table, in lieu of a donation, the offer was accepted.
The VASA Headquarters Building was officially opened by The Honourable G.L. (Gilbert) Chandler, Minister of Agriculture, at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday 23rd September 1970. On 20th November 1970 the first meeting of VASA was held in the new building.
