About Us
Over 100 years of history,
the centre point for a community
The Early years
Early records from 1905 indicate the Tonimbuk Hall began its life on Crown Land Allotment 85 in Bridal Rd Tonimbuk, where a simple slab structure was constructed and it operated as a school hall and a place for community social gatherings. It remained on that site until 1940 when a fire after a Saturday night dance destroyed the building.
Head Teacher Mr Horsfall wrote to the Education Department: “…I have the honour to inform you on Saturday May 12, 1940; the trustees of the building were holding a dance. I had gone away for the weekend. The floor contained many cracks through which a cigarette is thought to have fallen and smouldered. When Mr F A Nash the school correspondent left, (he was the last to leave), there were no signs of fire but on Sunday morning the building was reduced to ashes…”
Rebuilding of the Hall
Construction of the existing hall began in June 1940 and was completed by November 1940 at 1900 Gembrook-Tonimbuk Rd., Tonimbuk. By November 1940, the Education Department inspector official record stated the structure provides “Adequate accommodation… lighting not sufficient in dull weather. New hall completed, ceiling and upper portion of walls not yet lined. Screws missing from some of the dual desks Cupboard door does not lock securely. New tank almost full. Site not fenced. No shelter shed. Roads gravelled and slippery in winter. Average school attendance 10, 3
boys, seven girls.”
Pupils included Olive, Beryl and Doris Jolley, Heather Barry, Raymond Cohen, Wilma Nash, John,Susan, Peter, and Leslie Mitchell - grades 1 to 8, two post primary.
A space for the Community
In 1947 the Mitchell family decided to enrol their children at Warragul High School. Consequently, it was recommended that the Tonimbuk Primary School be closed. However, the site continued to operate for the purpose of social gatherings.
The Tonimbuk Public Hall Committee of management was nominated at a public meeting and registered with the Lands Department on the 19 August 1952 and has been in existence ever since. The original main hall measured 34 feet x 22 feet and in 1960 was enlarged. (The floorboards indicate where the original wall was).
In 2010 the new internal toilets were added, and the old external toilet block, old water tank and septic system were demolished and upgraded. After the Black Summer fires of 2019, the Hall was used as a Recovery Centre for the community. The Committee applied for and received several FRRR, State Government and Council Grants to upgrade the kitchen, install solar panels, split systems, and insulate the Hall. Externally, a wood-fired oven and rock seat were constructed, and a play space installed.
Eighty-five local people have been identified as serving on the Hall Committee for periods of five to ten years but Crown Records for a 50-year span are unattainable. The family names of Cowen, Jolley, Mitchell, Nash& Topp feature in the early years, some of these names being recorded as committee members with over 20 years of service, including Ernie Nash, Harold Jolley, Ben Mitchell, and John
Tinkham.
More recently Crown Records identified the following as having completed more than 20
years of service: Les Davidson, Mick Trennery, Peter Izzard, Mike Harrison, and Doug Whyte. Elaine Harrison is officially on the records as an office bearer for almost 20 years but is acknowledged as attending meetings in an unofficial capacity for another 15 years.
If you would like learn more about the history of our town hall, please follow the link here
