Community
8 March, 2021
Art to save iconic hall
Machans Beach residents are holding an art exhibition and sale at their local Community Hall to raise funds for urgent renovations to the beloved 70-year-old building.
The ‘Save Our Hall Art Show” will be held from Friday March 12 to Sunday March 14 in the Machans Beach Community Hall on Tucker Street, Machans Beach.
The exhibition will feature work from more than 50 emerging and established artists from around the Far North and entry will be via a gold coin donation with refreshments available.
All pieces in the exhibition will be for sale, with 80 per cent going back to the artists and 20 percent being donated to the Machans Beach Community Association’s ‘Save Our Hall’ Fund.
A VIP Opening Night on Friday will be followed by two days of display while allowing visitors to mingle with the artists and meet the locals.
Machans Beach Community Association treasurer Judi Hughes said the funds would go towards much-needed renovations to save the hall.
“As with all older Queenslanders, the building requires constant care and maintenance and to finance this the Hall is rented out for private functions and events, everything from Yoga, Tai Chi, Dance, Music and private functions for a very modest fee,” she said.
“We are now looking at doing some major works on the building so are looking towards grants and fundraising to help with these costs.”
The hall is the only one in Queensland solely owned and run by its community.
The land was purchased in 1953 by The Progress Association and the building of the Hall began in 1953 by volunteers.
The hall is run by the Machans Beach Community Association, a group of volunteers who work to keep the community connected and organise projects via regular meetings and Machinations, the town’s monthly newspaper.
Ms Hughes said the Hall was a treasured part of the close-knit community of about 400 homes in Machans Beach.
