General News
23 October, 2023
Dedicated committee members work to preserve Adelaide Lead Hall
For over 50 years, dedicated residents have worked hard to preserve the last remnant of the locality’s history — ensuring that the story of the Adelaide Lead Hall is remembered for generations to come. One of the oldest public schools in...
For over 50 years, dedicated residents have worked hard to preserve the last remnant of the locality’s history — ensuring that the story of the Adelaide Lead Hall is remembered for generations to come.
One of the oldest public schools in Victoria, the space was formerly known as the Adelaide Lead School, when it first opened its doors 160 years ago for children residing in a gold mining settlement on the banks of Timor Creek.
After improving educational outcomes for local students for nearly a century, the school closed in 1954 due to low attendance — following which it was purchased by the council of the time and turned into the area’s town hall.
Now, almost 70 years later, a committee of about 21 members is continuing to work hard to preserve the space, as a reminder of the past and for posterity to enjoy.
While some residents are recent recruits, other members have been on the committee since it first started in 1967 — with the group honoured with service awards and lifetime memberships last week.
Having taken on different roles since they joined 56 years ago, from secretary to president, the list of recipients for the awards included Keith Bartlett, Noreen Martin, Colin Bartlett, Frank Martin, Jean Taggart and John Hummel who signed up later, in around 1996.
“These awards recognise the work all of them have put in — it’s amazing,” Adelaide Lead Hall committee president Drew Garraway said.
“To have some of the same committee members from when it first started is incredible.
“Colin, Keith and Frank also went to school here so to have them with us is really nice.”
Alongside bestowing the awards, the current management is also amping up work to make the hall a real community asset by organising various programs in the space.
“We recently hosted our first big event since 2019 and it was a fundraising concert with Rod and Gaga,” Mr Garraway said.
“It was very successful, about 90 people attended and enjoyed themselves and we raised around $3000 in funds which we will use to keep the building running and keep it maintained.
“I think it’s important to note the value of ensuring this hall is preserved — it’s the last remaining building of Adelaide Lead from the gold era, so that’s massive. It’s a very big part of our history and it has a remarkable story as well that we need to hold on to.”
The Adelaide Lead Hall has a couple of events in the pipeline including a Christmas Party in December — with all locals encouraged to attend.
Additionally, the committee has also decided to open the space up for weddings, a first since it became a hall.
For more information on upcoming events or to join the committee, search for Adelaide Lead Hall on Facebook.
