THE KELSEY CREEK HALL

Then and Now

By the mid 1920s, many Proserpine districts boasted a hall of their own. These places were not only hubs of social events but also provided a centre for such activities as meetings of canegrowers, polling booths and Country Women’s Association gatherings. They were the heartbeat of these communities. Sadly, time has seen most of these halls fall into disrepair and close down. BUT not so, Kelsey Creek.

Kelsey Creek Hall, made of timber with corrugated iron walls, was built by J P Muller in 1927 and opened with no debt. District farmers each donated one truck of sugar cane towards the cost. “Bowen Independent” reported, “The Kelsey Creek Hall, measuring 40 x 24 feet with a 10 feet verandah, was opened on Saturday, 23rd April. Mr W B Biggs (Chairman) performed the opening ceremony and Mr Spoor kindly brought a plant along and lit the building up with electricity. A good crowd turned up from town and with the local residents in full force the evening passed (with) one continuous round of merriment.”

The hall had a good dance floor and there were plenty of talented local musicians to play at functions. Before electricity, carbide and kerosene lights, then later pressure kerosene lamps, were used to light up the hall.

Admission to dances was one shilling (ten cents) for gents and ladies – but if ladies provided a plate of goodies for supper, they were admitted free of charge. At supper, a round bath tub full of freshly made sandwiches would be taken around the hall along with cakes (lots of sponge cakes). Even gnocchi made by Italian settlers was served in inverted stump caps. Large enamel tea pots served tea and coffee, water being heated in a copper outside and brought in using enamel jugs. Dances were held by many different groups. On September 28, 1935, the “Proserpine Guardian” noted, “Dances at Kelsey Creek have become very popular, the hall being booked every fortnight until Christmas.”

Typical of all local halls, it was used for meetings of cane growers and the Country Women’s Association (who first met there on October 13, 1960). It was also available for weddings, handicrafts and hoy mornings.

At the meeting of the hall committee on May 7 1927, rules were adopted. Some were: -

· Dances to be held monthly in aid of the hall

· When leased for other benefits, the committee was to decide whether they would forgo one of their dances or add an extra one

· Fees for all dances or benefits other than hall or school dances to be 25/-. The fee may be given back at the committee’s discretion if the benefit was for charity

· Cleaning fee of 10/6d to be charged on all occasions; such fee to be handed back if the hall was cleaned satisfactorily

· All fees to be paid in advance to the secretary

In the early days, at one committee meeting, the following motion was passed – “two males are not allowed to dance together.”

While usage of the hall declined in the 2000s, it remained an important meeting point for locals. And if caught out in the floods, they knew the hall was open so they could wait there instead of sitting in their car at the edge of the creek.

When the hall was struck by vandals in August 2014, this almost spelt its total demise. Today, however, it is heartwarming to see an energetic group of young Kelsey Creekers, committed to preserving this important piece of history, undertaking repairs and maintenance, and injecting new life into their hall.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.

‍
Kelsey Creek Hall. Photo supplied.
The Hall Comes Alive! Photo supplied.