The Mt. Albert War Memorial Hall, opened in July 1961, is showing its age and is in need of maintenance work.
It is a heritage building and a popular community venue, one which locals remember fondly having attended many events, meetings, and concerts there.
“The wooden floor in the hall and on the stage has hosted many dances and activities over the decades and sadly has reached the end of its useable life," says Albert-Eden Local Board Chair Margi Watson.
"The floor needs to be replaced”
“Once building works are completed, the venue will have a brand-new wooden floor in the hall and stage area as well as fire separation between the stage area and the green room area below the stage."
"We have worked closely with the Heritage Team at Auckland Council on its replacement."
The works will also strengthen the subfloor beneath the hall floor and stage area
In the 1950s, local groups felt the community needed a community centre. They raised funds through bottle drives, raffles, cake stalls, a butter box (trolley) derby, carnivals and even motorcycle races in Fowlds Park. Their firm advocacy and efforts resulted in the building of the Mt. Albert War Memorial Hall.
The Hall was designed by architects Wilson Moodie and Gillespie, in the shape of a reverse hyperbolic paraboloid and at the time the roof design was considered futuristic.
The Hall is included in the Ōwairaka - Mt Albert Heritage Walks booklet found here or here.
Today, the venue is used all through the year and was used by approximately 43,000 people from July 2019 to December 2020. It also hosts a Civic Anzac Day service on 25 April each year.
Albert-Eden Local Board Chair Margi Watson says that having well-maintained venues for people to use and where people can gather for social occasions contributes directly to building well-connected, thriving communities.
The hall was closed on 14 January to commence the floor renewal works and cannot be booked for public use at least until 15 March 2021.
Other local Auckland Council venues can be booked here.
