Sunday 15th June 2014 2.00 pm - Acheron Mechanics' Institute Hall Centenary Celebration

Acheron Hall
Acheron had long been the home of the Daung Wurrung aboriginals and we acknowledge that the Acheron Community Hall, formally the Acheron Mechanics' Institute and Free Library, is built on this land. The hall was designed and built by Mr.J.R. Ferguson in 1914 on a one quarter acre block donated to the community by Mr thomas Connely (not to be confused with Mr John Connolly mentioned below) using money donated by the community and £50 donated from the Government grant. A subsequent donation of land in 1926, enabled the building of a tennis court opposite the hall. This land extended along the western side of the Acheron River. 

At the time of its opening the Hall was described as a monument on the site of John Conolly's orchard. John Connolly's mother Charlotte ran the punt across the Acheron River and a hotel beside it. John Connolly was Mr Hugh Glass's farm manager in 1854. Hugh Glass leased the Niagaroon Run from 1850 onwards. .The Acheron Run was first leased in 1839.

Today, the Hall is administered in trust for the local community by the Acheron Hall Committee. Legally, the Acheron Hall is an incorporated body known as The Acheron Mechanics' Institute Inc.

In 2014 the hall celebrated its centenary. The celebration event and photos are shown below.

The afternoon's proceedings were as follows:

• Welcome from Master of Cermonies, John Thorp, Hall Committee President, to the approx. 230 residents, past and present who had assembled to participate in the Centenary.
• Address by Geoff Dobson who is a direct descendant of Mr Anderson Dobson, the first president of the Mechanics' Institute, who opened the hall in 1914. This was finished off with a rousing rendition by the audience of 'God Save the King', as was sung in 1914.
• The centenary cake was cut by Stella Webster, with help of her daughter Bernice Webster.
• Cindy McLeish MP, launched the book, Acheron: a history of the district, and made a presentation to the two major authors, Andrea Turner and Elaine Furniss and to the designer Beth Thorp. There was also a presentation to Bernice Webster for her contributions to the book.
• Wykeham Perry, local artist who painted 'A View of the Acheron Valley' - the raffle prize, was given a round of applause.
• George Cumming, partiach of the Cumming family - very early selectors in the district - drew the raffle and also addressed the audience.
• Corinne Brewis, a representative of the Mechanics' Institute, gave a history of the Mechanics' Institutes and presented a Centenary Plaque which will be attached to the front of the Hall.
• Centenary tree planting by the Mayor of Murrindindi, Margaret Rae, together with representatives of the Rennie families, Jenny and Marian Rennie
• A sumptuous afternnon tea was provided by the Hall Committee and other locals.