LAKE Charm district residents have celebrated a milestone for the focal point of their community life.
It is 125 years since the lakes district pioneers determined that they needed a meeting place and a space for social interaction.
The Lake Charm Hall was opened in 1892 on an elevated area adjacent to the school and Baptist Church.
It was moved to its current location in 1949 and today remains one of the most used community halls within the Shire of Gannawarra.
The significant anniversary for the district’s gathering place brought district families together, including some from distant places to share the occasion.
Local shire councillor, Charlie Gillingham is now a hall committee member. He recalled attending activities at the hall since he was a child, including attending learn-to-dance classes.
“Locals have volunteered to help run the hall for decades,” he said.
Cr Gillingham said that council was committed to helping district communities maintain facilities and to access funding when possible.
Veteran hall committee president, Stuart Simms said that the hall had hosted 75 events last year, with hall hire barely covering repairs and insurance, making it one of the most used such facilities within the shire.
State Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh said that it was notable that pioneers in the 1880s had seen a need for a hall and had set about building it.
Its official opening in 1892 involved a grand ball, with residents travelling in their horse-drawn buggies to attend.
He said that public halls, often called mechanics institutes and later involving free libraries, provided the early style of adult education.
Mr Walsh said that historical records showed that there was no electrical power and that the hall had been the venue for religious ceremonies, wartime farewells and welcomes and even hosting parliamentary dignitaries investigating water issues.
In recent years, the senior citizens club, Country Women’s Association and cooking classes have been regular users.
Mr Simms said that it was hard to imagine that nails hit into timber 125 years ago were still holding up the hall today.
