THROUGH 125 years, the Narre Warren Mechanics Institute Hall has stood strong.
In a grand dress-up celebration on 20 November, families of the district’s pioneers and history buffs once again trod the hall’s boards.
The event included a fashion parade of 1900’s period costumes, the cutting of a celebration cake and festooning of red, white and blue ribbons.
Hall historian, Judy Owen, spoke in depth about the European settlers in Narre Warren such as Sidney John Webb who donated land for Narre Warren Railway Station School and the site of the mechanics hall.
She described Mr Webb as an innovator of farming methods in the district.
There are seven oak trees, planted at the time of the hall’s opening, that still stand next to the hall.
They were linked to the avenue of trees still growing on the north side of Princes Highway, Ms Owen said.
The trees on the southern side had been removed for road widening.
The 70-strong crowd at the celebration included third generation descendants of the Webb family, as well as other early settler families.
Members of the National Trust, Narre Warren & District Family History Group, Berwick Mechanics Institute, Berwick Pakenham Historical Society and other history groups also attended.
