A photograph of the Warragul Public Hall in Williams Street in 1900.
The public hall was located approximately where the Centrepoint Arcade entrance through to Coles Warragul sits today.
A company was formed during the latter years of the 1800s to erect a skating rink and public hall.
This fine building was built capable of holding 1200 people in Williams Lane—which was later expanded 4.5 metres wider and renamed Williams Street. The floor was especially constructed for skating.
On August 13, 1918, a presentation named “Honour the Brave” was held at the hall. It was described as, “a memorable gathering of the citizens of Warragul and all the surrounding districts assembled at the public hall. on the occasion of the official welcome home to our returned soldiers and the presentation to them of official certificates from the Warragul Shire Council”.
The Warragul Public Hall was burnt down in 1923 at the same time the Warragul Theatre was completed.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Warragul and District Historical Society.
This ‘Snapshot of the Past’ was previously published in Warragul Gazette on 23 October 2018.
The society’s museum at the Old Shire Hall in Warragul displays a range of historical photographs. This image is number 10061