A century of memories, milestones, and community connection will be celebrated later this month when Tenterden Hall marks its centenary with a special day of festivities.
The celebrations will take place on Saturday, 27 September, from 2pm to 8pm, bringing together locals and visitors alike for an afternoon of live music, delicious food, and plenty of family fun. Attractions will include a jumping castle, face painting, a lolly van, and displays showcasing the hall’s proud history.
For event organiser Celia Nielsen and her husband, Brett, the milestone carries personal meaning, with the hall closely tied to their family’s history in the district.
“Our connection to the hall is that Brett’s Great Great Uncle, Herb Nielsen, built the hall and the family have been members of the Board ever since,” Ms Nielsen said.
Tenterden Hall was officially opened on 2 October 1925, originally built as the Rifle Club Hall. Positioned conveniently by the main road about 17 miles from Guyra, it quickly became a hub for the local community.
Reports from the time reflect the excitement of its opening. The Guyra Argus wrote on October 8, 1925, that nearly 300 people attended the event, with music provided by the Guyra Orchestra. The night was hailed as a great success, with £30 raised thanks to the tireless work of the committee and the generous support of the wider community.
Just a few months earlier, in July 1925, the paper noted that “a new Hall is about to be built by the rifle club, the site being close to the main road, 17 miles from Guyra. Mr H. Nielsen was the successful tenderer for the job.”
Ms Nielsen said the centenary aims to capture the same sense of celebration.
“We really want to capture the excitement again with the Centenary celebrations, so we’re planning for a big event!” she said.
“The original opening was held on the Spring Equinox, so we wanted to try and keep it as close to that date as possible.”
The program is shaping up to be a lively mix of entertainment and community spirit.
“We have a band, a jumping castle, face painting, a lolly bar, food trucks and a BBQ dinner, even the Mayor is coming along – entry is just a gold coin donation to help us keep the hall alive,” Ms Nielsen said.
“There’s no RSVP, this is an open event and we really want to see as many people coming as possible.”
Over the past century, the hall has hosted dances, weddings, fundraisers, meetings, and countless community celebrations. Its centenary is not only a milestone for the building but for all those who have supported and cherished it over the decades.
“I’m really passionate about the next chapter for the hall and I have so many ideas as to what we can do to keep it alive,” Ms Nielsen said.
“Life is so busy and having a space to bring people together in rural communities – especially families – is so important.”
The centenary will also feature the unveiling of a Blue Tree, marking Tenterden as an official member of the Blue Tree Project, which raises awareness around mental health.
“In line with this, we are really proud to announce that we will have representatives from The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) attending the Centenary celebrations and we will also soon be installing a QR Code at the hall that will have links and resources for people struggling with mental health issues to access,” Ms Nielsen said.
“I’m a member of the CWA Evening Branch and we were really lucky to obtain a community grant through the CWA to fund some of these initiatives at the hall.”
In the lead-up to the event, Ms Nielsen is calling on the wider New England community to share any old photographs or memorabilia connected to the hall.
“We’ve worked really hard to gather as much historical stuff as we can for the afternoon – we’ve framed copies of tenders and minutes from the Rifle Club, and we’ve even had a Rifle Club sign made up – but what we really need are some photos. There must be some out there somewhere!” she said.
Organisers are encouraging everyone to come along, whether to enjoy the festivities, reconnect with old friends, or simply celebrate the history and spirit that has kept Tenterden Hall at the heart of the district for 100 years.
The day promises to be a wonderful chance for all ages to celebrate both the past and the future of this much-loved community landmark.
For more information or to contribute memorabilia or photos to the event, please email tenterdenrecreationreserve@outlook.com
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