Town Hall Centenary
HISTORIC HOMECOMING FOR PRECIOUS MEMENTO
There’s great excitement in the historic town of Yorkas Centenary celebrations begin for the magnificent York Town Hall,one of Western Australia’s iconic landmarks.
2011 marks the 100th anniversary of this important heritage listed buildingthat dominates the York streetscape with imposing grandeur.On 31st May 1911 Mayoress Neville laid the foundation stone and was presented with “a handsome solid silver trowel with chaste ivory handle”.
On Tuesday 31st May 2011 her descendants will be presenting the trowel to the York Residency Museum in a ceremony at York Town Hall to celebrate the historic occasion.Museum Curator Carol Littlefair said “Everyone is absolutely thrilled about this very generous and extremely important donation of such a highly significant object. No-one in York knew where the trowel might be, although it was a logical assumption that it might still be in the possession of the Neville family. When Mrs Valma Wilding contacted the Shire offices after hearing of the Town Hall Centenary celebrations this year and offered the trowel, I was amazed and delighted”.
Mrs. Wilding explained that the family had decided the trowel should ‘return home’ and were very pleased that it will be part of the forthcoming centenary exhibition at the Town Hall in November, then have a permanent home at the Residency Museum.
Shire President Pat Hooper said “It’s an outstanding addition to York’s civic memorabilia and the Shire of York is most grateful to the family for this kind gift. York’s Town Hall is a much admired and valued public building and the Shire has this year completely repainted the interior, with a major facelift for the façade currently in progress”.
Mayoress Neville’s trowel will go on display as part of the Town Hall Centenary Exhibition in November along with many other fascinating exhibits that tell the story of the struggles, joys, tragedies and triumphs that have taken place here over the last one hundred years.
For more information please contact;
Carol Littlefair, Curator, York Residency Museum tel 08 9641 1751 Weds/Thurs
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