June 25, 2021
The many dances, special events – and antics – that have occurred at the Inverlaw Farmers Hall were recalled at the hall’s 100th Anniversary celebration held on Saturday night.
Many former residents returned to the South Burnett especially for the birthday dance.
They enjoyed dinner as well as the opportunity to cut the rug to some traditional – and not-so-traditional – tunes, courtesy of “Mystique”.
Hall committee president David Muller – the man behind “Mystique” – shared some of the hall’s long history during a break in the music.
“In 1910 a group of farmers formed a progress association which they called the Four Mile Gully Progress Association,” he told the assembled crowd.
“They had their first meeting on March 2, 1910. As time went on (the meetings) moved, because their farms kept getting bigger and bigger, from individual houses to the Wattle Grove School.
“They used to go to those meetings every full moon of the month, because a horse doesn’t have headlights!
“In 1920, a proposal for the Inverlaw Hall was made. A pioneer, R.J. Crawford, donated two acres of land.
“They went to the Commercial Bank on August 8, 1920, and borrowed £300 to build the hall.”
The Inverlaw Farmers Hall was opened in 1921, but it was only about half the size of the current building.
“They started having concerts and bigger crowds, and later on, the movies came,” David said.
“They extended (the hall) in 1928 to where it is today. In 1932, they put the supper room on.”
During the 1970s, Kumbia Apex Club used to run a New Year’s Eve dance, but many of the other functions at the hall dropped away.
In 1983, a new committee was elected, and monthly dances resumed as well as annual balls.
Since then there have been many improvements at the hall thanks to various grants the committee has accessed.
These include the toilets (and a disability toilet), lining and cladding the hall; and upgrading the kitchen.
Former South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell made sure the many people who have volunteered at the hall over the past century were not forgotten.
“(They were) men and women who put their shoulders to the wheel to get this structure happening, and the men and women over the generations who have kept this place as a spot for parties, dances and reunions,” he said.
“This place brings back an enormous amount of memories. No doubt, it’s a place where romances blossomed.”
Keith also recalled the infamous “car boot bar” which was a feature at dances in earlier years.
“Apparently – and I’ve only been told this – the blokes would bring out the kegs and bury them in the ground, somewhere in a hole, to keep the beer cooler,” he said.
“The whisky and the rum didn’t need to be chilled. It tasted fine just the way it was.
“There’s lots of stories …”
Keith said he hoped the Inverlaw Hall would live on for another 100 years or even longer.
A new stone plaque – donated by a Brisbane company – has been placed on the memorial rock at the front of the hall to mark the centenary.
Related articles:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
