Crooble War Memorial Hall

About

The Crooble War Memorial Hall is a typical rural community hall, built from galvanised iron with a gabled roof. It has an entrance on the eastern side and an extension on the northern side, housing a kitchen and supper room. A public meeting was held on 25 June 1949 to discuss the erection of a memorial hall for the town. A committee was elected and a constitution was to be drawn up for consideration at a later meeting. By October 1949, some ₤290 had been raised by various means (Warialda Standard and Northern Districts' Advertiser, 3 October 1949). Fundraising activities continued, including a ball at the Crooble woolshed on 30 August 1950 and a fair and sports day at the Crooble cricket ground on 30 September.  The first annual meeting of the committee was held on Saturday, 7 April 1951. By this time, the fund held ₤820 and it was felt building could commence within a year. The North West Champion, 12 April 1951, reported: It was unanimously agreed by all to continue with the building of the Hall which was to be the Crooble's Memorial to the splendid young sons of the country who gave their lives that we may carry on. Despite these positive signs, the hall was not ready until 1958, with fundraising continuing in the intervening years. The land was officially reserved for "public purpose" on 29 July 1955 and the hall was registered under the Theatres and Public Halls Act, 1908–1954 three years later, on 4 June 1958 (Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, 29 July 1955; 4 July 1958).  In 2015, a ceremony was held on site for the Anzac centenary, and some 500 people attended. The event was funded by an Anzac Centenary Grant, awarded to the Crooble Memorial Hall Committee. The grant also funded the establishment of the Crooble War Memorial Hall Memorial Garden, which is located on the right-hand side of the entrance to the hall. Funds also went towards updating the Crooble War Memorial Honour Roll and creating the Crooble War Memorial Anzac Centenary 2015 Honour Roll. Both of these rolls are on display inside the hall. The hall also hosts an Anzac Day service every third year, alternating with the two other halls at nearby Croppa Creek and Yallaroi.