| Central
Tilba's Community Halls
are wholly owned and maintained
by the Tilba community and are
managed by the Central Tilba
School of Arts Trust Inc. |
The Little Hall was built in
1894 by S.W.Bate as a Temperance
Hall and was one of the first
three structures in Central
Tilba.
The Large Hall was built in
1914 by S.W.Bate as a roller
skating rink.
This image opposite (of the
then skating rink) was taken
on Australia day 1915, one year
after the large hall was built.
It is most likely the earliest
photo taken of this hall. |
The
two storey rear section of the
Little Hall was added around
1900. The village library was
housed in the lower section,
together with a meeting room,
where organisations such as
the CWA (1927) and the Red Cross
(1935) met.
After some years as a roller
skating venue the floorboards
of the Large Hall were lifted
and turned over, and the building
converted to a dance hall.
For nearly half a century it
became the venue for Saturday
night dances, and was renowned
throughout the region and regularly
filled to capacity. It was famous
for having one of the best dance
floors in the region.
Regularly painted and maintained
until WW2, both halls suffered
from neglect in the period of
economic decline that followed,
as did many of the buildings
in in the village. Following
the classification of the Conservation
Area by the National Trust in
1974 a renewed interest took
place and a plan of restoration
was commenced. |
Following an initial grant in
1997, the management committe
has sucessfully managed over
$200,000 to effect the changes
seen to-day.
The committee is currently acting
upon a 10 year plan that includes
rebuilding the meeting room
under the Small Hall, construction
of a mezzanine level in the
Large Hall, to accommodate lighting,
sound and projection equipment,
fire sprinkling systems, extending
the Large Hall stage including
dressing rooms, office space
and toilet facilities.
This is an incredible effort
relying solely on grants and
donations from the community,
who own the halls outright;
land and buildings. They are
an enormously valuable social
and cultural asset, and they
belong to the people.
Fund raising efforts include
a Piggy Bank (see image),
trivia nights, trash &
treasure markets and hire
of the Halls for various events.
» Tilba
History |
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