Wisemans Ferry Memorial Hall

Opening in November 1926, the Memorial Hall at Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales was once located opposite the Police Station and adjacent to the Wisemans Ferry Public School, New South Wales. The new hall replaced an earlier meeting place, opposite the hotel which was in use from about 1917 and owned by Mr J R Hennessy. Over the years a number of other buildings were used as the venue for social occasions and meetings including the Band Hall, Mrs Black’s and Walmsley’s.

The celebrations to mark the official opening of the new hall were recorded in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette on Friday 3 December 1926. The hall was not only “a silent tribute to the men who fought and died in the Great War” but also “a tribute to the energy and zeal of the residents of that locality”.

Up till a few years ago a little hall, owned by Mr. J. R. Hennessy and situated directly opposite the Hawkesbury Hotel, served the social requirements of the people of Wiseman’s Ferry. When this building outlived its usefulness, however, it was converted into a garage, and the people soon felt the need of a public institution in which to hold their social functions. A movement was launched, and by the aid of a popular girl competition a handsome sum was raised, which formed the nucleus of a fund for the desired purpose.

During 1925 community meetings were held with the aim of forming a committee to raise funds for the erection of a Memorial Hall at Wisemans Ferry. Trustees for the new hall were elected and comprised Messrs J R Hennessy, W Tuckerman, J Walmsley, J Rose and T Stewart with Mr R Thomson as secretary. Efforts commenced on Saturday 2 August 1925 when a day of sports was held in the town with novelty races such as: SWEETHEARTS’ RACE, CIGAR RACE on HORSEBACK, QUOIT MATCH, HIGH JUMP, LADIES’ RACE, GENTS’ STEPPING COMPETITION and HANDICAP WOOD CHOP.

A dance was held in nearby Maroota with the proceeds going towards the hall was held on 31 October 1925. by all accounts the evening was a successful one from both a financial and social point of view.

The hall was completed the following year and was officially opened on 20 November 1926. Excerpt from the Windsor and Richmond Gazette 3 December 1926 p. 7. Memorial Hall.

The land, now described as Lot 1 DP 317159 was once part of Portion 39, Parish of Cornelia, County of Cumberland amounting to 100 acres Solomon Wiseman on 6 Octber 1830. On the 31 May 1927, a small portion of land in River Road was officially transferred from James Richard Hennessy and Edith Maud Hennessy to Walter Frederick Tuckerman, Tristram Stewart, Solomon John Rose and James Walmsley of Wisemans Ferry, orchardists and James Richard Hennessy of Wisemans Ferry, hotelkeeper as joint tennants (see Vol 4009 Fol 22 Old Form Torrens Title).

The Memorial Hall continued to be administered by trustees until the site was resumed by the NSW Department of Educated on 8 March 1984, becoming part of the grounds of Wisemans Ferry Public School.

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