Harrogate Hall

The original Harrogate Hall, built from local stone, dates from around 1861 and is the earliest community hall to be built in any town in the district. A larger, community built hall was constructed alongside in the mid 20th century, and was formally opened on April 28 1962. Harrogate Hall is considered to be the longest serving community hall in the district.*

*source DC Mount Barker Heritage Survey 2004

Harrogate Hall has belonged to the Harrogate community since it was built in 1861. As it approaches its 150th Birthday it is timely to reflect on how well this building has served its community.

The Hall operated as a schoolroom well into the 20th century as well as being the community's meeting place and was the venue for many fund raising socials, suppers, fêtes and lectures.

Over the years various local community groups have used the Hall as their meeting place. Some of these groups are long running as is the Harrogate Tennis Club whose meetings are now held at the Harrogate Tennis Clubrooms. Other groups formed in response to current events and existed only to serve a particular purpose in time. One such group was the Harrogate Red Cross Circle which held its Inaugural Meeting on April 14 1916. The purpose of this group was to raise money to purchase wool, cloth, buttons etc to make socks, pyjamas, undershirts, mittens and the like to be sent along with handkerchiefs, old linen, cholera belts and fly nets to the Red Cross Central Depot to be distributed to soldiers fighting in the Great War. From the minutes of their meetings, it can also been seen that parcels of donated clothes were "dispatched to the Belgium's", and regular gift parcels were made up and sent to "our (local) boys at the front". On March 17 1917 it was noted that "Reference was made to the death of Private Laurie Pym, who was killed on active service, his mother being a member of our Circle...". On February 26 1919 a meeting was held to discuss winding up the Red Cross Circle and March 15 was fixed as the final meeting. The final entry in the minutes book is dated August 9 1919 noting that "a General Welcome Home was given to all the Returned Soldiers from this district, each soldier being presented with a gold medal and a pair of socks".

In the early 1960's the Harrogate Community rallied once again to build a larger Hall alongside the original stone building, now known as the Supper Room. On April 28 1962 a Hall Opening Ball was held to formally open the new building. The Hall's Visitors Book records 299 names for the event and photos of the evening certainly show the Hall at full capacity. The Harrogate Hall is well remembered in the district for hosting many memorable events, including New Years Eve and Anniversary Balls and RSL Dinners.

Harrogate Hall continues to play host to a variety of community and private events and in 2004 the District Council of Mount Barker Heritage Survey found the original stone Hall to be "the best surviving, the oldest and longest-serving example of a mid 19th century hall to be constructed in the Mount Barker district". It is Harrogate's symbol of community spirit.

Pictures clockwise from top left: Harrogate Hall (date unknown)*, Harrogate School Children c1890*, Harrogate Hall (date unknown), Harrogate Hall Mathew Carling, James White & Harrogate School pupils, Oct 14 1938, Harrogate Hall showing 20th century addition c2008, Harrogate Hall (date unknown).

*photos from Appleton Family History 1839-1979 J. Herrmann 1979