Carlton Hall was built by John Pigdon in February 1877, in controversial circumstances during the election campaign for the new seat of Carlton. James Munro, a temperance advocate, stood against Carlton publican John Curtain. Munro's opponents allegedly prevented him from hiring a hall in Carlton, so he countered their opposition by building his own hall, at a claimed cost of £2,000. James Munro won the seat of Carlton by a narrow majority in May 1877 and he honoured a pre-election promise in granting 2 years' free rent to the Carlton Mechanics' Institute. Carlton Hall provided temporary premises for the Carlton court of petty sessions and was home to several temperance organisations, friendly societies and masonic lodges. It served as a polling booth for state and municipal elections and was the focus of victory celebrations following the end of World War 2 in August 1945. From 1947 until the late 1960s, the Carlton sub-branch of the RSL was based at Carlton Hall. The Carlton Community Centre was located there in the 1970s and offered community activities, school holiday programs and classes to residents of Carlton and North Carlton. The contemporary dance hub Dancehouse has been in residence since June 1992.
by cchg on Sept. 27, 2018Please login to comment on this item