For 100 years, Woorak Hall has been at the heart of community life in the district, bringing people together for celebrations, sporting events, meetings, concerts, dances and countless social occasions.

On Saturday, 8 August 2026, past and present residents, visitors and members of the wider community are invited to celebrate the Hall’s centenary and share in this special local milestone.
While the current Hall was built in 1926, community gatherings at Woorak date back even further. An earlier Woorak Hall and Mechanics Institute stood nearby before being destroyed in the devastating cyclone of 1897. The district then went almost three decades without a hall before local residents united to build the present facility, which has served the community ever since.

Over the years, the Hall has hosted school concerts, weddings, birthday celebrations, Christmas trees, flower shows, tennis club functions, CFA meetings, fundraising events, table tennis competitions and community dances.

Former residents recall attending dances and afternoon teas, school concerts, wedding receptions and milestone birthdays. Music has long been part of life at Woorak Hall, with local musicians entertaining generations of residents at community gatherings and social occasions. A button accordion donated to the Hall almost a century ago remains a treasured part of that history.

The Hall has continually evolved with the times, from the connection of electricity in 1961 to extensions and improvements made by generations of volunteers. Through it all, it has remained a focal point for community life and a lasting tribute to the determination and vision of the district’s pioneers. While the district has changed over the years, the Hall continues to bring people together through the activities of the Woorak Community & Land Management Group, as well as community gatherings and celebrations.

The centenary celebration will be held on Saturday, 8 August, with doors opening at 1.00 pm, followed by the official opening at 2.00 pm by local Olympic Gold Medallist Lucy Stephan.

Historical displays, photographs and memorabilia will showcase the Hall’s rich history, while the contents of a time capsule buried at the Hall in 2001 will also be on display.

Visitors are invited to bring an item or a written message to place in the time capsule before it is resealed and reburied for future generations.

A community afternoon tea, children’s activities and old-fashioned games will provide entertainment for all ages.

The Hall’s historic accordion will provide music during the afternoon, and guests will have the opportunity to share stories and memories from across the decades.

As preparations continue, the Woorak Hall Committee is calling on the community to help build the centenary displays. Anyone with photographs, memorabilia, documents or memories connected to Woorak Hall is encouraged to get in touch. Whether it is a dance, wedding, school concert, sporting event, fundraiser or community gathering, every contribution helps tell the story of the Hall and the people who have shaped its first 100 years.
For further information, to share photographs or memories, or to register attendance, contact Wendy Crowhurst on 0428 387 193 or email woorakhall@gmail.com.

Event information and online registrations are also available at www.trybooking.com/DJLSV.
While registrations are appreciated for catering purposes, they are not essential, and everyone is welcome to come along on the day.

One of the many occasions to be celebrated in the Woorak Hall over the last one hundred years - Phyllis Schultz’s 21st celebration in 1955.