It was the 70th birthday of the Hill Top War Memorial Hall, the 10th anniversary of the Friends of the Hill Top War Memorials Inc, and the official revelation of a long-awaited heritage listing. 

The celebration was held on Saturday, October 21, to commemorate the hall and all those who had helped it survive the past 70 years. 

Former Wingecarribee Mayor Gordon Lewis addressed the crowd and said the Hill Top community fought hard to save their hall during the war years. 

The Friends of the Hill Top War Memorials Inc secretary Ian Woolfe sang his original, ‘Hill Top My Home Town’ at the ceremony, expressing his affection for the small Highlands village. 

More than 10 years ago, the Hilltop War Memorial Hall was almost lost to council possession.

But determined residents formed the ‘Save the Hall’ committee and fought for three years to save it from demolition by the Wingecarribee Shire Council. 

Now, the hall has been granted heritage status from the council and has celebrated its 70th birthday.

Mr Woolfe said the hall has come a long way over the years. 

”It’s just funny that 10 years ago the council wanted to pull it down, and now they have given it heritage status,” he said. 

”It’s a real history hall. A lot of things have happened in it. We’ve even had weddings in the hall.

”It’s just an incredible story.”