Grand hall gets heritage listing

After a 60-day public submission period the Heritage Council considered the Executive Director’s recommendation and determined to include the hall in the Heritage Register on December 1. There were seven submissions received in response to recommendation during the public submission period.

Mr Avery has identified in his recommendation report that the Yarrawonga Shire Hall is of state-level cultural heritage significance and should be included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) in the category of registered place and registered objects integral to a registered place in accordance with section 49(1)(a) of the Heritage Act 2017.

He also identified that objects in the hall are also integral to understanding the cultural heritage significance of the hall. Some of the objects noted in the recommendation are the War Memorial Honour Boards and some of the original Yarrawonga Shire Hall council furniture.

The proposed extent of protection incorporates the Yarrawonga Shire Hall building, the public garden area to the north of the building, and a five-metre strip of land to the east of the building.

Mr Avery also stated that the proposed categories of works or activities which may be carried out in relation to the Yarrawonga Shire Hall as part of a permit for a new library will not harm the cultural heritage significance of the shire hall.

As a result of the VHR recommendation the hall’s owner (Moira Shire Council) has certain obligations under the Act relating to advising the Executive Director in writing of any works or activities that are being carried out, proposed or planned.

Our grand shire hall – a brief history

Following the First World War, Yarrawonga township commenced several public improvement works, beginning with the proposed construction of a new shire hall.

A site was chosen by Yarrawonga Shire Council in early 1929 – the premises of the Grove Picture Company at the corner of Belmore and Orr Streets.

Tenders were soon accepted for the design and construction of the new shire hall. The proposed design by the Albury-based architects Harrison & Glaskin was selected, with Mr J Keith and Mr Alfred Chappell chosen to commence building works.

An article in the Yarrawonga Chronicle and Riverina Advocate extensively described the internal layout of the building with the mechanics’ institute, water trust and rate collectors’ offices on the ground floor; Council Chambers, strong room, and offices of the shire president, secretary, and engineer on the first floor.

Construction of the shire hall was supported by a ‘judicious pooling of funds’ which included contributions from the council, the mechanics’ institute and an unconditional gift of almost £300 from the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA).

Although the opening ceremony of the shire hall was not held until 1931, performances and other public events were held in the auditorium from December 1930. In 1931 a ‘talkie plant’ supplied by Vocaltone Pty Ltd was installed to facilitate the screening of talking pictures.

Competing financial pressures led to a delay in the shire hall’s completion, notably the installation of a clock and chimes in the tower.

The Soldiers Memorial Clock was installed in 1937 at a cost of approximately £381 and was dedicated to district soldiers who had fallen in the First World War. The following year, a timber structure was erected on top of the clock tower to house the new chimes which were cast by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon, England.

From the 1930s, the auditorium in the shire hall has been a popular venue for major town events, film screenings, theatre performances and dances