The Kulnura Memorial Hall is a single-storey timber building, with a corrugated iron roof. It was built in honour of those who have served in conflicts in which Australia has been involved. A flagpole stands in the front garden, accompanied by a plaque commemorating the Centenary of Anzac.
This is not the first war memorial hall for the town. Its history can be traced back to 20 December 1919, when attendees at a public meeting voted to erect a "Memorial (Public) Hall" as a memorial to "a great many of the young men from Kulnura, who heard the call of Empire, having paid the supreme sacrifice" (The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate, 22 April 1920). Social events were held to raise funds and the hall was officially opened on 2 December 1922. A comprehensive account of the planning and costs for the hall was given in The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate on 14 December. Image 5 above shows a crowd outside the building in the early 1920s.
The hall was destroyed in a fire on 18 July 1938. By the following January, it was decided to re-build, and tenders were called for the construction work. The new hall was to be a spacious and contemporary facility, with a purpose-built dance floor and orchestra stage. The architect, Mr. W. Watson Sharp, said he had "incorporated modern features in the design in an endeavor to avoid the barn-like appearance so often associated with public halls" (The Gosford Times, 21 July 1938; 17 January 1939).
At some stage, it was decided to build the new hall using all or part of the Spencer Public Hall, which was being demolished in the neighbouring town. The new hall was opened on 28 September 1940 with a "gala opening night" (The Gosford Times, 7 May 1740; 20 September 1940). The current hall stands on the exact location of the previous hall. Inside is the Kulnura Memorial Hall Great War Roll of Honor.
The three acres of land were originally donated by George T. Hunt, who served with the 7th Light Horse in the First World War. The road was named after another veteran, George Downes of the 1st Railhead Supply Detachment. He was elected as a councillor on the Erina Shire Council, which encompassed the whole of the Central Coast from Hawkesbury River to Lake Macquarie. Downes was also elected as Shire President but unfortunately died in later years, due to war injuries caused by mustard gas while on the Western Front.
Image credit:
- Image 5 - The 1920s image was sourced from page 39 of The Way it Was by Bill Bottomley, published by Wirrimbirra Workshop, 2001. This book is out of print. It was made available by the author to Central Coast Council Library Service for digitisation.