Pearl Beach Memorial Community Hall and War Memorial

About

The Pearl Beach Progress Association was established in 1929, and may have grown out of informal gatherings of residents to discuss local issues and community projects. Initially, the meetings were held in private homes but in 1943, members of the Association raised sufficient funds to purchase a vacant block in Diamond Road, Pearl Beach to construct a community hall. Pearl Beach was a popular spot for ex-servicemen to live and holiday after the Second World War. There was a Pearl Beach sub-Branch of the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. by late 1949 (now the Returned Servicemen’s League or RSL). In October 1948, Gosford Shire Councillor W. L. Lloyd of Umina laid a foundation stone for the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall. Construction was delayed by a shortage of both funds and materials as a result of the war but commenced in early 1949 using a combination of voluntary and paid labour, supervised by local builder Cliff Mazlin. Mazlin was the father of well known Sydney architect Brian Mazlin of Devine Erby Mazlin. Although the hall was not officially opened until September 1950, it hosted its first function in 1949 while still unfinished. The hall is of timber weatherboard construction, with a concrete tile roof. It has been upgraded and enlarged several times since 1950 to accommodate larger gatherings and functions, especially dances. It was extended to the rear to almost double its size in 1957 and in the 1990s, the kitchen was refurbished and a rear deck was added. Located in the front garden of the hall is a memorial monument that was originally built by local builder Jack Butler. Originally faced with brick and featuring a marble honour roll plaque, the monument has been 'restored' many times over the years. The original marble plaque was replaced with a bronze plaque and the original brickwork was bagged and then rendered (c2000). In 2021, it was decided to replace the poor-quality render and masonry in solid sandstone. The stonework was carried out by the RJC Group using Wondabyne Stone. A Community War Memorials Fund grant was received from the NSW Government to support the project. The hall and the memorial were officially unveiled at 3pm on the 16 September 1950 with the Rev Cyril Francis, Rural Dean of Gosford, conducting the ceremony and an address was given by F. A. Bland, the recently retired Chair of Public Administration at the University of Sydney. Following the dedication, Mr Yeo, State President of the R.S.S.A.I.L.A., laid a wreath at the foot of the memorial. Also unveiled and dedicated on that day was a memorial tablet constructed at the front of the hall and facing the street. The memorial was donated by Mr Butler. The Women’s Auxiliary provided catering for the event. The Pearl Beach RSL sub-Branch used the newly completed hall for its monthly meetings, free of charge. The Pearl Beach Progress Association usually arranges for an Anzac Day service in the hall on 25 April each year, during which wreaths are laid at the memorial. This is sometimes preceded by a service on nearby Pearl Beach at sunrise. Services are usually also held at the memorial on Armistice Day, 11 November each year.