MOREE Plains Shire Council mayor Susannah Pearse will pay tribute to Moree’s grand old dame, the 103-year-old War Memorial Hall, when it is reopened to the public on April 25 as part of the Moree RSL Sub-branch’s official Anzac Day commemorations.

The hall was officially opened on April 17, 1923, by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Walter Davidson, and partly paid for with subscriptions from generous locals.

The hall’s second coming includes multi-million-dollar upgrades for a new acoustic ceiling, fresh paint, all-new air conditioning, a levelled stage, a refurbished kitchen and bathrooms, accessibility and fire safety improvements, chairs and installation of state-of-the-art audio-visual system.

As the town’s dedicated war memorial, it was once called by local media a Memorial of Freedom and cost the princely sum of £13,000 to build under the War Precautions regulations at the time.

“We are delighted to finally be reopening our iconic Moree Memorial Hall,” Cr Pearse said.

(from left) project manager Todd Jones, Moree Plains mayor Susannah Pearse, general manager Natalia Cowley and events manager Rachel Cubis on the steps of Moree War Memorial Hall.

“It is not just a vital community asset but a renowned part of our main street landscape and it will be wonderful to see it filled with people once again.

“It is fitting this beloved facility will be reopened on Anzac Day, honouring our war history while opening the doors to a vibrant new era for public arts, culture and community events.

“Following the Anzac Day formalities, everyone is invited to stay for light refreshments and a look at the rejuvenated Moree Memorial Hall.”

Cr Pearse said the reopening is supported by a soon-to-be-released diverse events program which will bring the space to life over the next 12 months, including comedy, children’s theatre, live music, wrestling, expos, movie screenings, a community showcase and more.