MOYSTON - The Moyston Hall was opened in 1914 after 46 years of using the Moyston Mechanics Institute as a public meeting place and this month celebrates its centenary with a weekend full of activities.
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The hall was funded by the local people who felt a need for a new facility and it took many years to pay off the debt. It holds photographic displays of sporting teams, some trophies and a magnificent display of photos from '95 Pioneers of Moyston'.
The centenary celebrations will be held on February 15 and 16 and will begin with an official opening and book launch on the Saturday at 2pm with afternoon tea to follow. That night a Gala Centenary Ball will be held with bookings to 5354 2536 or 5354 2604.
On Sunday there will be a guided cemetery walk from 10am and a barbecue lunch will be available in the hall with music provided by Carmel Phelan, while the Moyston Primary School will be open on the Sunday from 1pm.
There will be many people in the district who can trace their ancestry back to one or more of Moyston's pioneers and while all the photos have names there has been no further information available at the hall.
The present hall committee has researched these pioneers and has published the information found in the book to be launched on the Saturday afternoon.
Also in this book is a history of the hall itself with descriptions of various events, photographs and highlights gleaned from minute books.
The Moyston 'pioneers' were nearly all immigrants to the country and district.
The finding of gold in 1859 lead to a rush to Campbells Reef (now known as Moyston). Alluvial gold was found but deeper mining meant that companies were formed. In the 1860s there was a change to the Land Act and many miners took advantage of the opportunity to select land and thus stayed in the area.
The town was self-sufficient with stores, hotels, a baker, blacksmith, police station, court house, schools and churches.
All interested people are invited to attend any or all of the activities.
Further information can be found at moystonhall.com or 5354 2536.