MEMORIAL HALL, Yarra Glen
Following the return of service men from the First World War the Yarra Glen branch of the Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) was formed in January 1919. On April 5th 1919, it was resolved to build a memorial hall and club rooms. Land on the corner of Bell and Rudolph Streets (now Anzac Avenue) was donated by Mr James Herbert The new club rooms, which included a library, billiard room and entrance hall, were opened by Mr Everard MLA on 11 December 1920. A concert hall at the rear of the club rooms was completed and officially opened at a function in November 1926. The building of the Hall cost about £2500 but by June 1928 the debt had been reduced to £900. A Ladies Auxiliary had been formed and they worked very hard to raise funds. Thanks to four small boys aged 4-12 years the Memorial Hall was saved from ruin during the 1939 bushfire. Embers apparently started a fire which burnt the outbuildings, the steps of the Hall and a cypress hedge. It was held in check by the boys until better equipped fire fighters arrived. On Thursday February 15 1951 fire destroyed the Memorial Hall. A new building was completed and a Gala Opening Night was held on on Friday 27 May 1955 The Gala Night was followed by a Grand Opening Ball on Friday 10 June. It was organised by the Ladies Hall Committee to raise funds. From then on a dance was held every Saturday night. The advertisement proclaimed a three piece orchestra, supper and euchre for an admission price of 4/-. A bus ran from Mt Evelyn via Lilydale for the use of patrons. On occasions over the ensuing years (especially on New Years Eve) the attendance at the dances was so great that the doors of the supper room were opened to provide sufficient space for the Progressive Barn Dance. Over the years the Hall has been the scene of many community activities: dances, cabarets, balls (including debutante balls), movie shows, badminton, sporting club presentation nights and fund-raising activities, concerts, and family occasions such as wedding receptions, birthday parties and re-unions. Many citizens have been farewelled at a special function to honour them when they left the district. Educational activities such as childrens dance classes, play groups, health and fitness classes have been conducted in the Hall. Regular meetings of community groups utilised the smaller rooms. From time to time large public meetings have been held to address issues such as town planning or a bushfire emergency, filling the hall to overflowing. Most residents of the past eighty years must have set foot in the Hall at some point in their life. If only those walls could speak... Renovations and additions have been made to the 1957 building at various times, the latest in 2010.
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Source: YG&DHS Newsletter no. 32 July 2009
