Milloo Hall committee members Graeme Collins, Ron Read, Narelle Betts, Margaret Fiedler and Lindsay Mitchell.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
Next month the beloved Milloo Hall will celebrate a century of community, celebrations and events.
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The hall was built in 1925 after Milloo locals came together to discuss the development of a public hall.
A committee was formed, and the community rallied together to raise money to have the hall built.
Bendigo architects G.G. Garvin and G. Eathorne were tasked with designing the building and in May 1925, the first plans were drawn up.
The hall was opened on October 9, 1925 without a ceiling, hosting a sports meeting in the afternoon and a concert and dance at night.
Later on, the supper room was extended, and a ceiling was installed along with a toilet block.
Secretary Narelle Betts said since the hall’s opening night, the facility had remained well loved and well used.
“We’ve had lots of people contact us with their special memories, there were deb balls there and New Year’s Eve balls. It was the hub of activity, especially in the late ’60s and ’70s,” she said.
“There were kitchen teas and there was wedding breakfasts back when you didn’t have your wedding reception in the afternoon, you had it in the morning.
“It was dances every Saturday night, and they had film nights every Friday night and people would come from Bendigo and everywhere — I think they loved the country kind of feel.”
Secretary and treasurer Narelle Betts reading the very first minutes notebook recorded by her great-grandfather.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
The hall was also the home of the Milloo Spring Fair, which was a day of activities for families, followed by a ball at night.
At Christmas, the hall was host to ‘Milloo Christmas’, where Santa would give out gifts to visiting children.
In the lead-up to its centenary, the building has received minor upgrades while maintaining the original interior.
New additions include split-system air conditioning, new gutters, re-stumping the supper room and a new paint job.
For Ms Betts, the hall is especially special, as her family has been involved with the hall since its inception.
Her grandfather, great-grandfather and great-uncle all held the role of secretary-treasurers of the hall over the years, and three years ago, the role was passed on to her.
Ms Betts said she hoped locals and those from surrounding areas would join them to celebrate the milestone.
“We hope lots of locals will come, and we hope lots of people from the surrounding areas come back to Milloo,” she said.
“We’re hoping that people really come and enjoy the day and buy some souvenirs.”
Milloo Hall committee members Ron Read, Margaret Fiedler, Lindsay Mitchell, Narelle Betts and Graeme Collins.
Photo by
Lua Ikenasio
All are welcome to attend the centenary celebrations on Saturday, October 11 from 10.30am to 5pm.
There will be a free barbecue lunch and drinks that can be purchased.
The committee has been collecting photos and memorabilia for the past three years and will have them on display in the hall.
There will also be dresses from debutante balls that were held at the hall in the last century and vintage cars from 1925, the year the hall opened.
The Locky Ukers band will be providing entertainment, singing popular songs from the past century and will finish with Auld Lang Syne, continuing the old Milloo Hall tradition of singing the folk song after each community event.
After a brief ceremony, the commemorative monument will be unveiled and a special centenary cake will be cut by three long-time community members.
After the formalities conclude, there will be an afternoon tea supplied by both the committee and the Country Women’s Association.
Guests can also purchase Milloo Hall souvenirs or a raffle ticket for a chance to win a range of locally sourced prizes.
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