The Omokoroa Settlers Small Hall will be one hundred years old in 2029. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the committee is planning numerous events and projects which depict the importance and historical significance of the Settlers Hall to our local community over the past one hundred years.
Funded by local families, (who each donated ten pounds) on land donated by Edith Prole, Settlers Hall was originally built in 1929 as the first proper Omokoroa school. At weekends, Settlers Hall was also used by the local community for events, functions and special occasions such as weddings and 21st birthday celebrations. Settlers Hall soon became the hub of the local community and in 1975, the large hall was built, originally housing the community church as well as providing a much bigger and needed meeting space.
Over the years, our much loved and utilised halls have provided facilities for the local community to meet, play, worship, exercise, and join together for numerous reasons. As the centenary year draws closer, the Settlers Hall committee would like to tell the story of how the halls have been used over the past one hundred years, from the first proper school opening in 1929, to holding weddings, 21st birthday parties, Scout/Cub Groups, Indoor Bowling and, in more recent decades, Council meetings, artists, dance and exercise groups, along with many and varied creative activities.
To bring this hundred-year story together, the Settlers Hall Committee are working in collaboration with the Omokoroa History Group, to create a large historical photo montage of old photos. This montage will become a permanent reminder of the importance of a beloved and important community facility over the decades and will be permanently displayed as a feature wall in the main hall foyer.
The two committees working on this project are keen to find any photos which help to tell the story of the halls through photos depicting events, functions, activities, meetings and people at the halls over the decades. Photos can be black and white or coloured.
If you can help with any old photos, be they black and white, or coloured, the committee would really love to see them. Please contact Cory on 02102 490 430 or email settlers.hall@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Honouring our past and acknowledging our present – this sign is now proudly on display in the Foyer. Our Honours Board was created from recycled flooring from the railway hut that was attached to the Small Hall in 1929 and demolished in 2023:
