In the early 1950s, renewed interest in the RSL as an institution – following Australian involvement in the Second World War (1939–45), Korean War (1950–53) and Malayan communist insurgency of 1954 – encouraged the idea of extending Toowoomba's Soldiers' Memorial Hall to provide improved club facilities for members, and a larger dance hall for the citizens of Toowoomba and district. The firm of Hodgen &amp; Hodgen was once again asked to prepare plans, . The proposed scheme was for the 1930–31 hall to be replaced with a larger, two-storeyed building with partial basement and roof garden – the basement to contain kitchen and supper room; the ground floor to contain the dance floor; and the upper floor to contain a cafeteria and bar. Tender prices proved prohibitive, so the extensions were modified to contain only a single-storeyed dance hall with basement kitchen and supper room, omitting any new facilities for RSL members. In negotiations with the Toowoomba City Council on this matter in March 1956, Dr Furness, President of the Toowoomba Sub-branch of the RSL, explained that the modified plan was intended for the citizens of Toowoomba, to provide a centrally located dance floor which could be used for a variety of public functions. The RSL believed that they should build for the whole community, not just for returned servicemen.