A Short History of the Clunes Coronation Hall

In a small village, a hall is rarely “just a building.” It is where people gather when life is good — for weddings, dances, performances, school nights and fundraisers — and where they gather when life is hard too: for meetings, planning, practical help and community decision-making. For well over a century, Clunes Coronation Hall has played that role at the heart of village life.

From a Small Settlement to a Community Hall

Clunes began as a small settlement in the early 1880s. As the village formed, local residents built an early timber hall in the late 1880s — a simple, practical space that met the social and civic needs of a growing community.

1911: A “Coronation Hall” Opens

In 1911, the original timber hall was replaced by the building now known as Clunes Coronation Hall. It officially opened on Coronation Day, 22 June 1911, and was named in honour of the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.

The opening was more than a formal occasion. It was marked by a genuine community celebration, including a “Fancy Fair and Sale of Work” — early twentieth-century fundraising events that echo the social gatherings and community efforts that continue to support the Hall today.

A Place for Marking Major Moments

Within a few years, the Hall was hosting significant civic and community events. During the First World War period, it became a place for remembrance and reflection, including the unveiling of a local Roll of Honour in 1916.

By 1919, the Hall was also the setting for welcome-home events and presentations for returned soldiers, reinforcing its role as a shared space for both celebration and collective support.

The Decades In Between: Dances, Balls and Fundraisers

Across the decades that followed, the Hall remained central to Clunes’ social life. It hosted balls, dances, weddings, performances and fundraising events — many reflected in the photographs that survive today.

Behind these public gatherings was steady, ongoing work by volunteer committees: managing bookings, maintaining the building and ensuring the Hall remained available for community use. This quiet, behind-the-scenes effort has been key to the Hall’s longevity.

A Heritage-Listed Community Asset

Today, Clunes Coronation Hall is recognised as a heritage-listed building, valued not only for its architecture but for its deep social and cultural significance.

Still community-run and not-for-profit, the Hall continues to be cared for by volunteers, maintaining the tradition of a space built by locals and run for the benefit of the community.

From “Then” to “Now”: A Living Building

In 2025, the Hall Committee ratified a Strategic Plan to guide the Hall into the future. The plan focuses on heritage conservation, accessibility and safety upgrades, community programming, strong governance, financial sustainability and disaster readiness.

More than a century on, the purpose remains the same: to ensure this much-loved place continues to serve Clunes and its surrounding community for generations to come.