The destruction of the Wandella Hall during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires highlighted just how deeply these buildings are tied to identity, belonging and recovery.
When the new Wandella Community Hall officially opened in 2025, the huge turnout reflected how much the hall meant to locals.
For Wandella Hall Committee President June Tarlinton, the loss was deeply personal. Not only did June lose the hall of which she is president, her father also died fighting the fire, as well as loss of farm infrastructure and many of June’s beloved dairy cattle.
They were dark days, but we came together as a community
and slowly started to rebuild our lives.
Rebuilding the hall was important “these simple buildings are the heart of the community,” says June. “People make friends here and even meet their future husband or wife here.” She recalled giving directions to her dairy farm by telling people to drive past the Wandella Hall – until one day “it wasn’t there.” Visibly emotional, she reflected, “The only thing that remained was the chimney.”
Originally built in 1909, the Wandella Hall has long been more than just a building. It’s hosted weddings, birthdays, meetings, dances, memorials and annual events. In the small village of Wandella it’s the only public building – a symbol of resilience, hope and togetherness. “Imagine if the walls could talk,” reflecting the generations of stories, laughter, hardship and celebration held within these spaces.
That same spirit was felt at the Halls with Heart event, where around 70 people came together to celebrate the new hall with music from the band, Smoke and Mirrors. The night was filled with conversation, dancing and connection, with locals describing the event as:
So good for the soul.
Great to sit and have a chat and listen to the great music.
Bega based RAMHP Coordinator, Jen said together, these reflections show that community halls are not just buildings – they’re places filled with heart, history and human connection.