Waituna West Hall turns 100

WAITUNA West Hall’s century-long service to its community is to be recognised this weekend.

An open invitation has been extended to current and former residents of the rural village north of Feilding to attend an afternoon tea and cake cutting ceremony in the hall at 1.30pm on Sunday.

Waituna West Hall Committee’s secretary-treasurer Marj Shannon said reaching 100 was an achievement and worthy of celebration and she was hoping for a good turnout on the day.

“We’re not sure exactly when in 1912 the building of the hall finished,” she said, “but felt selecting a mid-year date was the best.”

Local identity Betty Williamson has been asked to cut the cake.

Designed by noted architect C L Daniel and built by the Burne brothers, Tom and Wilson, of Feilding, the original hall consisted of a main hall and stage, but a series of additions and upgrades were carried out over the ensuing years.

A Queen’s Carnival around 1930 raised enough funds to build a foyer, kitchen, supper room and toilet area, and there were plans for adjoining tennis courts, but that never eventuated.

The hall has hosted a string of different activities including farewells, weddings, public meetings and school and sporting events, as well as a big public dance in 1925 to mark the advent of electricity at Waituna West.

Another major milestone was its relocation in 1998 after the community felt its original site on the main road through the village was too dangerous for locals, especially school children. A two-year fundraising campaign eventually enabled the hall to be lifted and moved to its present address by the Waituna West School on the Waituna-Tapuae Road.            

Mrs Shannon said the building would be best described as a “general country hall that gets used for country things”.