Michelago Hall

From the manager

The Michelago Hall is located on Main Road, Michelago 1 km east of the intersection with Monaro Highway. Michelago is located 75km north of Cooma and approximately 30km south of Canberra.

From at least prior to 1935 there existed a timber hall on this site. The hall was meant to be located near the sports ground, but through a land swap with a local landowner, the hall was built in the present location.

The early use of the hall was for regular balls, dances and also wedding receptions. Being close to several churches couples being married in the local church held a reception in the hall and then caught the night train at Michelago Station (opposite the hall) to either Goulburn or Sydney for their honeymoon. Films were shown prior to 1948. During the period prior to 1948 a local inhabitant described the hall as the ‘centre of the universe’.

It is thought that the old hall was condemned in the 1950’s and demolished when the new hall was built in 1971. The new hall was built by two local’s McTurnan and Seigal with fund from a drought relief government program.

The hall has a stage, small hall, toilets, change room, kitchen and storerooms.

The hall was officially opened by Steve Major the local MP in 1972. A new addition was opened in 2001 which enlarged the hall and provided a new kitchen and small meeting room.

As well as community meetings and family functions the hall has been used by the Monaro Pre-school in the last few years, one day a week. Other programs are also conducted in the hall regularly.