Iconic Heads Hall celebrates century

THE community of Barwon Heads joined together to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of one of the town’s major landmarks.

More than 10 community groups and hundreds of residents made their way to 77 Hitchcock Avenue over the weekend for the Barwon Heads Hall Centenary Celebration.

Barwon Heads Hall committee president Alex Kuebler said that despite the existing hall being 90 years old due to a fire destroying the original century-old building, the community still held a special place in their hearts for having a town hall for 100 years.

“The hall has remained the centre of activity for Barwon Heads for as long as it has been around,” she said.

“My children went to school down here, so things like school concerts, film showings, and various meetings between community organisations are just some of the reasons how residents have been touched by the hall.

“We, as a committee, love hosting our monthly market here because not only is it our main revenue stream in maintaining the hall, but it also gives us a chance to welcome new families and individuals into the town.

“Most people around town know who we are, but there are so many new residents calling Barwon Heads home.”

Ever since the hall’s inception in 1922, the people of Barwon Heads have remained its custodians.

Over the years, the site has hosted weddings, birthday parties, dances, film nights, funerals, chorales, music events, karate and tai chi, tap and jazz dancing classes, flower shows, markets, public health vaccinations, fund raisers, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day observations among many more events that have a community focus.

Community groups including the Barwon Heads Fine Music Society, Friends of the Bluff, Barwon Heads Fire Brigade, Barwon Heads Film Society, Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden, Friends of the Lobster Pot, Barwon Heads Scout Group, The Icycle Bicycle, Restoration Coffee Van and the hall volunteers were all in attendance to make the day a festive one.

Among the groups was lifelong user of the hall and one of just a few people to hold a Barwon Heads Hall Life Membership Allan Banfield who said the venue was integral to identify of the seaside town.

“My wife and I ran pictures here for a good while, as well as functions such as the Brigade Ball and the Hall Ball,” Mr Banfield said.

“It’s a building for all you know, everyone used the hall, and when I was treasurer, I was responsible for the upkeep of the hall.

“One of the biggest surprises to me was how much money it took to maintain the hall for things you wouldn’t think off.

“We didn’t want to hand the building over to council when the time came, it’s still here, which shows just how much the building means to the residents here.”

Other parts of Sunday’s Centenary Celebration included MC Ian Cover taking charge of the proceedings, a performance by the Barwon Heads Chorale at 1.00pm, followed by stories about the hall’s early years.

Mr Cover interviewed octogenarian, Dot Sutcliffe, about her memories of the hall, concluded by the cutting of the birthday cake by local centenarian and recently retired hall committee member, Alice Donnelly.