The Woodhill Hall will this month celebrate 130 years of community service to the people of Logan – from law and order to wild parties.
The hall has undergone many changes since 1894, with tales of its parties, fights and pranks.
“The activities and stories of this old hall would more than fill a book,” the hall’s long-serving secretary Arthur Day said.
The hall was first used as a courthouse.
“Along with a police station, jail and jailhouse,” Mr Day said.
“After the courthouse was no longer used, the government called for tenders for its removal.”
But the building was purchased by members of the community for £5 and relocated to a more “central site, to be used as a school of arts and public hall”.
“The building has seen quite a few changes over the years, including a new dance floor, and the first extension on the northern side, in 1929,” Mr Day said.
“Different types of lighting have been installed at the hall, including acetylene lights in 1909, to generators being installed to run electric lighting, before electricity was connected in the 1950s.”
A War Memorial was erected in front of the hall after World War II, paid for by locals for £90.
There was once a library located behind the stage during this time, but it has since been turned into a kitchen.
Mr Day said a dance was run every month in the 1950s for local charities.
“Bobby Dora sold the door tickets, while Len (Darky) Hiscock collected them at the door with his blue dog by his side, and at 9 o’clock, the dog would get up and walk across the road and go home,” he said.
“Two English ladies, Eddie Hiscock and Molly Day, sold soft drinks for six pence a glass.
“They used a wash tub to cool the drinks with a corn sack and a slab of ice from the butter factory, broken up with the back of an axe.”
Mr Day said it was a time of “largy” beer bottles and no breath tests.
“You couldn’t throw an empty bottle down over the fence without hitting another one, there were so many down there,” he said.
“A good time was had by all.
“The stories can go on and on, with many different uses of the hall.”
Mr Day said it was a “grand old hall – well used”.
“Booking have increased over time, with one-year pre-covid there was over 260 booking for the year,” he said.
To celebrate the hall’s 130th year, an Old Time / New Vogue Dance will be held at the hall on Saturday 20 April.
Starting at 7pm, there will be live music, dinner and good times for $10.
Enquiries 07 5543 1301.
