Byford Hall

Byford Hall was the second community hall built on this site.

Historical information

First built in 1950, Byford Hall was used for community gatherings such as weddings, dances and a picture (movie) theatre. You can still see the projector holes in the western wall.

“…there was entertainment available in the town almost every night of the week – concerts, two picture shows and two dances a week, and the publican Dick Walsh did a roaring trade!” The Serpentine, a history of the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale. By Neil J.Coy.

In 2022, the old Mundijong library moved to this location, becoming the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale Library you see today.

 

Physical description

Constructed of face brick with a roof of zincalume, little of the original town hall remains - at least inside. In 2022, extensive refurbishments were undertaken to transform the hall into a modern, contemporary library. Works included extensive upgrades to the building's interior and the construction of public toilets, a new car park, and a playground. The library also boasts multipurpose meeting spaces that offer a quiet place to work or an area to host a community or creative program.

Present day

More than seventy years after it was first built, Byford Hall continues to serve the local community in a different way. The library hosts children’s reading time, community groups, small business owners, and of course, a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment in the form of thousands of books.

Further reading and references

Coy, N. J. (1984). The Serpentine: A history of the Shire of Serpentine–Jarrahdale (p. 166). Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.