History
Talk of building a hall for the Upper Sturt community began in 1911. At first, the suggestion was that it should be an institute where a lending library would be housed, and adult education lessons could be held. The idea was discussed for the next few years and then World War 1 began, and all attention turned to supporting the war effort at home and overseas.
It was in 1931, when the local schoolroom was filled with a record crowd of parents, friends and students for the annual school breakup, that the need for a hall was reinforced, and just a few months later came the announcement that the people of Upper Sturt would soon have a soldier’s memorial hall. In May, a public meeting was held in the Upper Sturt church, and Sir Josiah Symon of Manoah Estate offered a piece of his land. This offer was initially accepted, meaning the hall would have been sited on the opposite side of Sturt Valley Road, but it was later withdrawn when Sir Josiah placed conditions on the offer.
In 1932, five hall trustees were named: Albert Petersen, Herb Slater, Percy Wescombe, Eli Rossini, and Joe McGough. It was decided to try to obtain the piece of land between the original Upper Sturt school and the old post office as a site for the hall, along with a piece of land that had been set aside for a road between the original Post Office and the proposed hall, to add to the size of the property. After a letter was sent to the Stirling Council, the land was made available.
However, another survey revealed the site was still too small, so the Education Department was approached for a gift of the unfenced part of the school grounds, which was agreed to. In 1934 it was decided to build the hall using freestone, a high-quality limestone that could be freely cut in any direction and was fine-grained and uniform in texture. David Evans senior gifted the cost of the stone for the hall foundations, and Albert Petersen offered the family's lorries to cart the stone. Fred Evans provided the stone for the foundations up to floor level from his quarry (now the Heathfield Waste Management Facility), and the committee then strongly recommended that Evans quarry stone was to be bought to construct the complete building.
The hall Minute books contain details of discussions about the dimensions and interior decorations of the hall, including that the front wall would be of dressed stone and the side and back walls would be hammer-dressed. There were to be pillars and an arch over the front door, and the floor would be either pine or jarrah.
Tenders for building the hall were called on 8 May 1935, however when there were insufficient funds available to meet the amounts quoted in the10 tenders and another £200 were needed, Mr Petersen offered to be sole guarantor for a loan from the Savings Bank of South Australia.
The hall was built by William Herbert (sometimes HerbertWilliam) Eckert, a local builder and contractor, with a Mr Nicholls as building supervisor. Mr Eckert wrote asking if the committee wished to embellish the front entrance with the name of the hall in cement for £7/10/-, which was agreed to. He built the hall for £596/9/0 rapidly, and his fine workmanship and generosity were complimented at the hall opening.
On 7 September 1935 at 3 p.m., the foundation stone was laid by Mrs George Wescombe (nee Lucy Bartlett), an old resident, and she received a silver trowel to commemorate the event. More than 100 people attended the afternoon tea held at the school, followed by a concert that evening in the church.
Discussions continued about fittings and fixtures for the hall. The committee decided to install a semi-fixed stage and Mr L. Tucker, who lived near the Upper Sturt railway station, was contracted to construct, and help install it. The stage remained in place for many decades and is still remembered as being used for school concerts, among other things. In an era before electricity came to the district (early 1950s), petrol lights and lanterns were used. Mr Tucker was engaged in erecting a lavatory, and for that and all his help, including the stage, he was presented with a pipe in a case.
A piano was bought for £40 from Port Noarlunga, and Mr Petersen picked it up and delivered it to the hall. Sixty chairs were purchased from Brown Brothers in Hindley Street, and Percy Wescombe picked them up. The volunteer support was there in the earliest days and continues now.
After much discussion about who should open the hall, the proposal was to invite Mr E. J. (Eli John) Rossini to perform the opening ceremony, carried unanimously with acclamation, as the Minute Book noted.Drinks for the event were ordered from Woodroofe's and delivered to Harry Slater's Stand 54 Old [Produce] Market: they included lemonade, squash, sarsaparilla, soda and lime, old style, and orange crush. Also ordered were ice cream, ice, and cones from Amscol, to be delivered to Atkinsons shop in Crafers. Fred Wescombe took charge of the coppers for hot water during the day and several stalls were open: Knockems (A. Petersen & E. Rossini), cool drinks and ice cream (E. Vickery, H. Slater & J. Giles), afternoon tea (Mrs J. Fullgrabe & C. Wylie), strawberries and cream (Mrs A. Petersen & L. Petersen), raffles and concert (C. Wylie). Mr Vickery, the head teacher, offered to be responsible for cleaning and looking after the hall and other members of the committee volunteered to assist.
The hall was formally opened by Eli Rossini on 14 December 1935, in front of a fine gathering of present & old residents and visitors. Eli had served with the 48th Battalion AIF, had been badly injured by frostbite in the trenches, and was one of the most popular Returned Soldiers in the district, as recorded in the Minute book, so it was very fitting he was selected to open the hall. Lady Symon attended.
A concert and dance were held in the evening, organised by Mr and Mrs L. Clough and Mrs H. Slater. The school children contributed items, including a ballet of local girls trained by Mrs L. Clough and Mrs H. Slater. Betty Rossini (later Slater) and her older sister Lois (later Houlahan) remembered performing as butterflies, dressed in costumes made by their mother. The concert was followed by a short dance, with raffle prizes including knives, spoons, a goose, chocolates, and a tray cloth. The stalls raised £73/2/-, a very significant amount.
In 1936, community use of the hall began in earnest (and has continued since that time). The committee listed 13 types of events, with their associated charges:
1. Concert 10/-
2. Dance 10/-
3. Card & Dance 10/-
4. Card Evening 5/-
5. Political Meeting 10/-
6. Local Meeting 5/-
7. Local Social Evening 5/-
8. Birthday or Marriage 10/-
9. Lodge Meeting 5/-
10. Church Service (Day) 2/6
11. Church Service (Evening) 3/-
12. Travelling Tradesmen 15/-
13. Lectures (Lantern etc) 5/-
The first of very many dances was scheduled to be held on 1 February 1936, and by the meeting of 3 March, two dances had been held and an Entertainment Sub-committee had been formed. The piano could be hired out and elocution lessons would be conducted. The dances were extremely popular, and are fondly remembered to this day. Eli Rossini drove his truck to the Upper Sturt Railway Station to meet the train on dance nights. Everyone piled on the back, sitting on fruit crates or standing at the back of the cabin, and they knew Eli would make sure that they returned in time to catch the last train. Nearly 200 people might turn up for a dance.
Less than a year after the opening, the hall was made larger with a 'ladies dressing room' being built and the kitchen being extended, and a hedge was planted on the embankment above the hall. For the hall's first anniversary, a bazaar and sports day were held, with children's sports including treasure hunts, relay races and cotton winding, and stalls including Knockems and "pinning tail on a pig". In March 1938 to further enlarge the hall, the committee decided to erect a verandah and wall at the side and to excavate the bank ready for the wall to be erected. Frank and Eli Rossini were both thanked for conveying patrons to and from the train to attend the dances
The badge board
At its 24 November 1936 meeting, the committee read a letter from Oliver Symon, son of Sir Josiah, "offering to present to the hall a framed collection of buttons & badges struck during the Great War".
The committee accepted the offer with high appreciation of the valuable gift. They decided it should be officially presented and bear a suitable inscription, which reads:
Presented by
Lieutenant Commander Oliver Symon
In Memory of
Sir Josiah Symon, KCMG, KC
War Buttons and Regimental Badges
1914 – 1918
After it had hung in the hall for many decades, the badge board was vandalised and badges were stolen, so it now resides at the State Library for safekeeping and conservation and is one of their treasures. A photograph of the badge board has been placed in the hall in the approximate position where it originally hung.
Hall library
1937 saw a discussion about whether there should be a library in the hall. There was widespread support, and the library was opened each Tuesday evening for the exchange of books, etc. There was a library at the hall until the new Upper Sturt Primary School was built, and older community members still recall climbing through the fence between the school and the hall to return and borrow books.
Hall fetes, fairs and dances
Holding fetes and fairs at the hall has a long and proud history, and the dances were popular throughout the district.
A fete was held on 11 December, with Lady Symon declaring the event open. There were afternoon tea, jumble, strawberries and cream, knockems, and cool drinks stalls; sports "for Ladies and children" that included Throwing ring, Cotton winding, Nail driving, Tailing the pig, Bowling at stump, and Treasure hunt. In 1938 the fete was held on the Upper Sturt oval, with an egg and spoon race for girls; obstacle race for boys; 2 flat races for girls and for boys; a 100 yards Memorial hall Hills District Race; a boys' bike race of about 2 miles starting at Mr R Jewell's house (the Upper Sturt Store),going past the hall and up the hill to Mr C Heyer's house, then back to the oval; Wheelbarrow race; Bowling at stump. Lady Symon presented cups and a trophy.
Australia entered the Second World War on 3 September 1939, and in October of that year, the hall was made available to the members of the Red Cross Circle free of charge for their activities, and they were given permission to have their Certificate in the hall. On 20 April 1940, a dance was held in aid of Red Cross Funds, but some community activities, including dance classes and the fete, were put on hold because of the war.
In the Chairman's report that year, he noted, "The year has been marked by a wonderful average attendance at our dances, which, as you are aware, is the main source of our revenue". Mr Vickery requested a public meeting of residents "to stimulate enthusiasm in War Work". At the 1 July meeting, Betty Rossini (later Slater) was offered the job of cleaning the hall at 3/- per week. Betty remained a member of the hall committee for many decades, only officially retiring in 2022.
Only two meetings were held in 1941. At the first one, the topic of planting trees in honour of local soldiers serving overseas was floated. Because the land surrounding the hall was not suitable, Lady Symon was approached for permission to plant trees on the corner of Manoah estate near the hall, but Elders Trustees refused consent. In 1942, only the Annual Meeting was held.
There were three meetings in 1943, with the February one reporting the purchase of a Delco lighting system for the hall: the petrol lights had been failing because it was impossible to purchase spare parts due to the war. Delco lights consisted of a generator that ran on kerosene and connected to a series of batteries like those in a car. In August 1940, the committee donated £2/-/- to the Cheer-up Fund. The Cheer-Up Society was uniquely South Australian, set up during the First World War to support soldiers at home and overseas.
Members would meet soldiers from the trains, visit them in camp before they left for the war, and provide them with supper, concerts, conversations, etc. In the Second World War, a Cheer Up Hut was set up near Adelaide Railway Station, with a hostel and a canteen for daily use and social events. One way to raise funds was by selling buttons and badges.
1944 saw a few more meetings take place. At the Annual Meeting in June, Eli Rossini's Chairman's report noted that the hall had been made available free of charge to the Ironbank and Upper Sturt Red Cross Circles for their work, and that a dance had been held with the proceeds donated to the local Circle. He alluded to the war, saying, "The horizon just at present does not appear to be the brightest, but we look forward with confidence to the future firm in the belief that right and justice will prevail and that all will be well with the world". Keeping the hall maintained was high on the list of priorities because many fewer events had been held over the previous years, so it was decided to hold a fete at the hall on 9 December. "The ladies present evinced keen interest in the proposed fete, but pointed out the difficulties of obtaining sugar, butter, etc, owing to the rationing of same." Several men said they could still obtain ice-cream, cool drinks and sweets, and Mr Petersen offered a case of apples to be raffled.
By the next meeting, the community had rallied again, and several members "reported progress in their search for raw & finished materials. Mr D. Evans & the Secretary had secured enough sugar for cooking, etc." Besides the case of apples, Mr Petersen offered 1lb. chocolate to be auctioned at the fete, and Mrs E. Rossini had 2 towels that could be raffled. The stalls were to be: sweets; cake; strawberries and ice cream; fancy goods etc; produce; ice-cream and cool drinks. The balance sheet for the fete was written up in the book, and it showed that the ladies were able to provide afternoon tea in addition to the other stalls. There were games of Knockems and Ball in Bucket, as well a dance.
The raffle saw a case of apples, supper cloth, towels, biscuits, and cigarettes offered. The auction for the chocolate raised 19/9. Harry Slater, Honorary Secretary, reported that, "In spite of dismal &stormy weather conditions the fete was a great success both financially & socially, everybody appearing to enjoy themselves thoroughly, & giving up their cash cheerfully to the band of keen & skilful stall holders. A great deal of the fete's success was due to the ladies of the district & IronBank, especially the stall holders & their assistants."
Only two meetings were held in 1945, and at the first one, it was decided to donate £10/0/0 of the fete profits to the local Red Cross. Mr L Tucker was asked to paint and effect minor repairs to the hall. In 1946 only the Annual Meeting was held, where the Secretary gave a resume of negotiations with the Adelaide Electric Light Company with regard to hall lights, and a fete was held on 30 November but only the balance sheet was included in the minutes.
Two meetings were minuted for 1947. At the Annual Meeting of 30June it was noted that Harry Slater would approach the War Effort committee" with a view to having a fete and unveiling of an Honor Roll". It was decided to hold the fete in January 1948.
Only one meeting was held in 1949, and it was decided to hold a fete sometime early in December with the School and hall committees to hold a joint meeting to discuss the matter. In a sign of the hall committee's role asa community organisation, "it was regarded necessary that some signs should be placed along road to warn motorists of children crossing". Traffic had increased along Upper Sturt Road after the Army had upgraded it so vehicles could use it when travelling between Woodside and the plains.
The next set of minutes in the book was for 1954, when only one meeting was included. The hall committee had not been meeting for sometime because the meeting was called to form a new committee. Gordon Evans was elected Secretary, a position he was to hold for many years. The hall had apparently been going through very difficult times because Mr O. A. Petersen moved that the President and Secretary approach the Institutes Association, North Terrace, and also the District Council of Stirling about the custodianship of the hall. Mr L Tucker was to be asked to do necessary repairs to doors, plaster, the tank, guttering etc. This might have been the time noted by Jean Evans OAM, hall President for about 50 years when committee members decided to donate money to keep the hall ownership in the hands of the community, as it still is today.
Hall hire, sports and community functions
The hall has been available for hire since it opened. It's been used by artists and craftspeople to draw plans of a boat, run art classes, and hold art exhibitions. It's seen weddings, funerals, birthday parties, pastime clubs, fitness classes, CWA meetings, and many other events, and table tennis competitions have been held there for many decades.
Annually, a Strawberry Fair is held on the first Saturday in November. Services are held on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, with the Honor Roll and stained-glass window contributing to the commemorations. An Art Exhibition takes place, and the CWA meets monthly. The hall remains a living soldiers' memorial for the Upper Sturt district and the community.