Farndons Community Hall has celebrated its 100th birthday.
By Casey Neill
A MUCH-LOVED hills landmark has notched up a hard-fought century.
Farndons Community Hall, between Kalorama and Mt Dandenong, last week turned 100.
Locals celebrated the milestone with children’s old time games, a picnic, bush dance, thanksgiving service, Australian films, afternoon tea and a talent showcase.
Committee spokeswoman Jean Blencowe said local historians believed the hall was the oldest remaining public building on the Mt Dandenong ridge top.
Early settler William Farndon built the hall in 1910 for his guests and the local community.
Residents rallied to save it in September 2005 when a report found the hall was in disrepair and recommended Yarra Ranges Council sell the community hub.
Councillors in 2008 gave the hall’s committee a chance to rejuvenate the meeting place and funded a restoration. It officially reopened in April last year.
‘Now the 100-year-old hall is looking good and is busier than ever,’ Ms Blencowe said.
It will even host a wedding next month. Kalorama Country Women’s Association, Mt Dandenong and District Historical Society, the local pre-school and primary school, Mt Dandenong and District U3A, Olinda Creek Landcare Group and other community members all regularly use the space.
St Michael’s Anglican Church, Kalorama CWA and now Yarra Ranges Council have all owned the hall during its 100-year history.
Over the past century it has housed meetings, dances, church services, flower shows, CWA meetings, school concerts, preschool and infant welfare and, in 1911, a party to celebrate the accession of King George V and Queen Mary.
