THE Peace Memorial Hall at Glenquarry has been the venue for meetings and social gatherings for more than 75 years.
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Although the desirability of having a suitable place to hold meetings and social functions without relying on the generosity of the school principal or a private resident had been long recognised, it was not until after World War I that moves were taken to establish a town hall.
Some progress towards the erection of a hall would have been made in 1914 except for the outbreak of war.
After peace was declared, it was decided to construct a memorial in Bowral to commemorate the names of the sailors, soldiers, nurses and munitions workers who had enlisted from the district.
The residents of Glenquarry immediately decided to assist in the work of providing it.
At the same time the people of Glenquarry felt that the restoration of peace demanded a fitting memorial to those who enlisted from their own locality and a determined effort was made towards the erection of a Peace Hall.
A committee to take control of the work was formed at a public meeting held in August 1919.
The president was L.W. Menzies with the local school master W.A. Coulson, oragnising secretary.
A block of freehold land on which to erect the hall was donated by W.G. Menzies, the owner of the adjoining property.
The hardwood for the building was donated by James Griffiths and the fencing was provided by E. Griffiths.
The stone for the foundation pillars was supplied by L.W. Menzies.
Plans and specifications were drawn up by Alfred Stephens with a view to calling tenders as soon as the financial position looked clear.
A public appeal for funds made to residents and friends was quite successful and by November 1916, about 102 pounds had been raised.
In that month the tender of W.J. Yates, a Bowral builder, was accepted for the erection of the hall.
The official opening of the hall was performed by the mayor of Bowral Ald H.J. Pickard, on Wednesday, April 29 1920.
An opening sports day was held in the paddock adjoining the public school residence on Saturday, April 17 1920.
The first annual ball to raise funds for the hall was held in April 1921 and proved to be an outstanding success.
The admission tickets cost four shillings for gentleman and two shillings and sixpence for ladies.
At a meeting held on May 11, 1920, a constitution was adopted.
This provided the building to be vested in three trustees to be appointed for seven years.
The first trustees were L.W. Menzies, James Menzies and J.J. Wood.
The hall was to be controlled by a committee consisting of president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and not more than 12 or less than five other members.
The following officers were elected at that meeting:
President: L.W. Menzies
Vice president: James Menzies
Secretary: W.A. Coulson
Treasurer: W.A. Norman
Committee: J.J. Wood, J.W. Wills, K.M. Smith, R. Wilson, J. Griffiths, J. Maloney, E. Griffiths, F.C. Cole, J.C. Wood and W.B. Morrow.
Another sports meeting was held in October 1920 and this became an annual event until 1934.
It was decided to hold monthly dances to raise funds and these were sometimes combined with a Euchre party.
The funds raised from these functions were used to make necessary extensions and improvements to the hall as well as keeping it well maintained and paying off the original debt.
In August 1985 two stalwarts of the hall committee, Jim Cole and Colin Menzies, were honoured at a special dinner at Ranelagh House in Robertson.
Between them, these two men had given over a century of service to the hall.
As an indication of its wide community interest, in 1980 the hall committee donated $455 for the provision of specially designed adjustable tables to the Harbison Retirement Village.
Jessie Bradman, wife of the great Don Bradman and formerly Jessie Menzies is one of Glenquarry's former notable residents.
