Join the party to celebrate 150 years of the Oxley Shire Hall

$COMMUNITY EFFORT: Oxley residents Karina Fallon, Meghan Gehrig, Neil Brock, Sally Day and Sheree Cashman are among the volunteers who have pitched in to organise a party to celebrate the historic Oxley Shire Hall turning 150. The event on Saturday will recognise the hall\\'s value to the local community, in the past, present and in the future. PHOTO: Anita McPherson$

COMMUNITY EFFORT: Oxley residents Karina Fallon, Meghan Gehrig, Neil Brock, Sally Day and Sheree Cashman are among the volunteers who have pitched in to organise a party to celebrate the historic Oxley Shire Hall turning 150. The event on Saturday will recognise the hall's value to the local community, in the past, present and in the future. PHOTO: Anita McPherson

Organising committee plans party for all ages in Oxley on Saturday

Anita McPherson

June 25, 2025 • 02:00

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THE Oxley Hall event committee has been busy decorating the hall this week in preparation for the 150-year celebration being held tomorrow.

While some of the hall's longest standing committee members were actively involved in saving the historic building in the 1970s after it had fallen into ruin, today a new generation of enthusiastic locals are rising to the challenge of keeping the much-loved community hub up, running and relevant.

They've organised a spectacular celebration for Saturday complete with all the trimmings which kicks off at 3pm, combining a display of memorabilia from yesteryear to commemorate the hall's history, with contemporary floral art, barista coffee alongside a traditional afternoon tea, and heaps of entertainment for kids, all set to a soundtrack of live music by indie fold duo The Kate Way.

They will also have a wine tasting - supporting the Oxley Primary School wine drive - and from 5pm, a fire and LED light show courtesy of Melbourne performer, Rich Royale.

Oxley Shire Hall committee vice president Sally Day said she feels quite sentimental about the hall, having held her wedding reception there.

"When I first moved here in 2005 I saw a flyer at the hall asking for help to clean old bricks (which were going to be used for the toilet extension)," she said.

"It sounds crazy, but I thought I'd go along because it would be good way to meet local people - and it was - and I've been here ever since."

Sally said joining local volunteers including Don and Janet Heath and helping them to chip mortar of beautiful old bricks - knowing they were being recycled for use in the extension - gave her a special appreciation for the hall and its importance to the community.

While official proceedings and the cutting of the cake are set to take place from 5pm to 6pm, the fun continues with an evening program.

Visitors can purchase something to eat and drink from a variety of food trucks, warm themselves by the firepits, make the most of the fun photo booth and listen to acoustic tunes by Locky Routledge, before headline band Damn'd & The Preachers gets everyone dancing from 7.30pm until late.

All are welcome to the community celebration and entry is free.