Alton Downs Hall

Opening of the Alton Downs Farmers’ Association Hall

The official opening of the Alton Downs hall was on Monday the 2nd January 1905 . Approximately five hundred people attended, a great proportion of whom were ladies. They came from all parts of the district including Rockhampton.

The celebration commenced with some sports events, foot races, tug-of-war, tent-pegging and a cricket match between Leichhardt C vs Alton Downs. These took place on the old polo ground between Black Gin Creek (October 2020 renamed Dundula Creek meaning Gum Tree Creek) and Limestone Creek about a mile and a-half from the hall.

A luncheon booth providing tea, coffee, lunch and soft drinks was available at a small charge with the profit to aid the Alton Downs Hall Building Fund. The total Including the profits from the art union was about £35 for the day.

The official opening of the hall started in the evening at eight o'clock. The building was overcrowded and many were not able to get inside. On the stage were the Committee, Messrs. S. Hoare (President of the Alton Downs Farmers’ Society), L. P. Landsberg, J. B. Walker, W. Crook, T. Thomasson (Secretary), R. Duncan, J Edmistone, H. Klaproth, and J. Walker with Mr. S. Hoare in the chair.

Mr George Sanderson (Chairman of the Fitzroy Shire Council) was called on to open, the building. He was received with loud applause.

He said that Alton Downs was to be congratulated on having laid out the money for the erection of the building in such depressed commercial times as the present, but it showed that Alton Downs looked forward to a prosperous future, which was more than Rockhampton could do. The future of Alton Downs depended agriculture. The hall would be serviceable for many purposes. It would serve as a meeting place. It would also have a strong educational influence.

He said that the greatest credit should be given to Mr. Edwin Robert Carpenter who designed and supervised the construction of the building, without any remuneration.

Then, thanking the people of Alton Downs for their hospitality, he declared the hall open and called it the Alton Downs Public Hall and Agricultural Institute. The Hall was to be open to both young and old for the promotion of the welfare of the community.

Messrs. Edmistone and Crook also spoke, the latter stating that the Alton Downs people were much indebted to Mr. Hoare for the donation of the half-acre of land on which the hall stood.

Mr. Thomasson proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Carpenter for supervising the erection of the building and it was carried.

A vote of thanks to the trustees James Crook, James Edmistone and Sidney George Hoare was also proposed and carried by acclamation and acknowledged by those gentlemen.

The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the members of the Fitzroy Shire Council, who represented No. 3 division and the vote was acknowledged by Messrs. W. Wells, J. Crook, and L. P. Landsberg.

Dancing was then commenced and carried out until nearly daylight.

The Rockhampton Foresters’ Band under the conductor ship of Mr. T. Norman, numbering twenty, performed music throughout the day and night.

State Library of Queensland

Alton Downs Farmers’ Association Hall

Alton Downs Hall has been constantly used by the local community since its opening through to the current day.
Fund raising events for local organisations including Dances, Concerts, etc., Card Nights (euchre) with raffles and guessing competitions, eg. the number of seeds in a pumpkin.

Also the hall was used for Church Services, Polling Booths for council, state & federal elections, Meetings; e.g. Alton Downs Farmers’ Association, Alton Downs Agricultural Progress Association, Alton Downs Progress Association, Fitzroy Ratepayers’ Association, Alton Downs Musical Union, Country Women's Association, Loyal Wattle Lodge (from 1945). Limelight and Phonograph Shows and other entertainment functions were also held at the Hall.

National Library of Australia

Extensions to Alton Downs Farmers’ Association Hall

Alton Downs Hall additional wing was officially opened on Saturday 13th July 1935. Alton Downs Farmers’ Association responsible for the event.

Mr Sidney George Hoare, chairman of the Association apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr O. Daniel, M.L.A. and regretted that Mr Daniel’s absence was due to a severe cold. He called upon Mr John Henry Salmon, chairman of the Fitzroy Shire Council, to declare the addition officially opened.

Mr Salmon, who was well received, traced the progress that had been made since the first official opening more than 30 years ago. The several additions since, had made the hall the largest and most up-to-date country hall within the Fitzroy shire.

He had happy recollections of many pleasant evenings spent in the hall. He congratulated the association on its enterprise, and paid a tribute to the C.W.A branch for its initiative in having such a splendid floor put in the main body of the building for dancing, and declared the new wing of the building of officially opened.

Messrs James Edminstone and Alexander Duncan trustees of the building, supported Cr Salmon's remarks.

Mrs H. Green, president of the C.W.A. branch, also offered her congratulations to the Farmers’ Association and trusted that all entertainments under the auspices of the association would be well patronised until the debt had been liquidated.

Mr. Arthur Lavery was the successful tenderer for the construction of the new addition to the hall.

Electricity at Alton Downs Farmers’ Association Hall

National Library of Australia

Alton Downs Hall 120th Anniversary