Hall stands the test of time

Volunteer Les Sanderson at Little River Mechanics Institute. (Damjan Janevski) 487511_01

For 110 years, the mechanics institute hall has stood in Little River as a local landmark.

Next month, the hall will received new stage lights, allowing volunteers to proceed with plans to host live music performances.

Volunteer Les Sanderson said the addition of live music would add to the history of the important local landmark.

The Little River Mechanics Institute began in 1908 when the townspeople came together to raise the money needed to build a community hall.

The building opened on August 3, 1910, and the library opened in July the following year after a 100 pound grant from the state government.

The hall is community owned and managed by volunteers, like Mr Sanderson.

He said the hall has been used for a variety of events over the past 110 years, with parties, dances, weddings and funerals being among the most common events.

There are also groups that regularly use the hall including the historical society, the cemetery trust and railway revival group.

“It’s still one of the main focal points for any large gathering,” Mr Sanderson said.

“The school always use it to do their annual Christmas concerts” and sports clubs have used it for their fundraising events in the past.”

Mr Sanderson said the mechanics institute is well worth the visit, with the building “still having a lot of its early day charm about it.”