Feature Profiles
10 January, 2026
SUMMER READING The hall that stands as a memorial to service
Centenary of Pyramid Hill's hall
A HUNDRED years ago next Tuesday, Pyramid Hill’s Memorial Hall was officially opened after five years of planning and fund-raising.
It was a proud moment for the town when Colonel Geoffry Hurry, who had been commander of the 38th Australian Infantry Battalion in France during World War I, declared the hall open.
The 38th Battalion was raised in Bendigo, and after the war Colonel Hurry was elected to Federal Parliament as the Nationalist member for the seat of Bendigo, succeeding Prime Minister Billy Hughes, who had returned to Sydney.
A group of young Pyramid Hill residents began raising funds for the hall in 1920 through “entertainments” and sports meetings.
They scraped together about 100 pounds, but planning went quiet for a couple of years until a meeting on Anzac Day 1922 decided to forge ahead.
Another gathering in May decided to hold a “queen competition”, with young ladies representing the Caledonians, the Diggers, the Australian Natives Association and the teetotal International Order of Rechabites.
After six months of fund raising, 1000 pounds had been gathered, and the block of land on which the hall was to be built had been bought for 94 pounds, 10 shillings.
Later a beauty contest was held, with Miss Ruby Barber and Miss Annie L’Huillier battling for a 15-guinea prize.
It is not recorded who won, but the young ladies raised another 245 pounds, six shillings and sixpence halfpenny.
Construction of the hall finally began in July 1924, with the result “a building of which any district might be proud”, the Pyramid Hill Advertiser reported.
“The whole building is lofty and the interior colours are white, buff and brown, with a gay touch of blue on the proscenium moulding.
“Lighting is by electric plant and gas filled globes give a soft, white radiance. The exterior has cement pointing and is of particularly fine design.”
At the opening Colonel Hurry made the poignant comment that if all the “Great Army of Dead” from World War I were to pass the hall “20 abreast” it would take more than three months, day and night, for them to do so.
There were 200 names on the honour roll which was unveiled, those who had enlisted from the East-of-the-Loddon recruiting district.
With the formalities over, the people of Pyramid Hill were ready to enjoy the hall.
That night and all the following day a “Gipsy Fair’ was held, with stalls selling flowers, produce, fancy goods and sweets, along with a sideshow, a fortune teller and a mock court.
The third night of festivities saw the gala ball held: “From the discussion of the event for some weeks before it appeared that it would surpass by much anything of the kind held locally; and expectations were fully realised,” the Advertiser reported. “The dressing was exquisite and in the majority of cases a shade of blue or gold was favoured, while a few favoured white or black, and there were several shades of pink.
“The ladies evidently considered this a night of nights and thanks are due to them for contributing so much to the brilliance of the gathering, for it was a really brilliant affair.”
The Kerang orchestra provided the dance music for the 324 people present “and responded liberally to the acclamation bestowed upon them”. The newspaper then listed more than 70 ladies and the design of their gowns – Miss L’Huillier from the beauty contest wore “an ankle length frock of orange morocain finished with oriental and black fur trimming”.
It is understood that the days and nights of celebration took a toll on some local revellers, with sore heads and weary souls about the town afterwards. And so for 100 years, Pyramid Hill Memorial Hall has been the centre of community life and celebrations ... the memories live on.
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