HAPPY Birthday rang through the air as the new Horsham Town Hall officially opened on Friday.
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Horsham Rural City Cr Mark Radford led the special tribute song with a music box to mark the $19.8-million project’s completion.
He joined Member for Mallee Andrew Broad, Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford, Horsham Mayor Heather Phillips and Cr Pam Clarke during the opening proceedings.
The celebration in front of about 300 people also featured performances from Horsham Arts Council’s Stacey Brennan and Brian Harrison, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Saul Lewis, and the Wotjobaluk Dance Group.
Cr Radford said the development process, which started in 2008, had not been an easy road.
“Unity has been the exception, rather than the rule, both within our community and around the council table,” he said.
“But from day one, there have been the 10 fundamental boxes we have worked so hard to tick. Today, you can be the judge if we have achieved our goals.
“Today we celebrate the rebirth of our town hall.”
Cr Radford said enhancing Horsham Regional Art Gallery, keeping the town hall’s Wilson Street facade, and building a 500-seat performing arts theatre were among the keys to the development.
Master of ceremonies Cr Phillips said the project had not been without its challenges, and thanked councillors Radford and Clarke in particular for their hands-on approach to the development.
Cr Clarke chairs the hall’s fundraising committee, and said about $800,000 had been raised to date.
“We’re not finished yet,” she said.
“We are looking for naming rights sponsors for the theatre and the town hall, and corporate sponsorship for special programs.”
Mr Broad said it had been a long journey to develop the hall.
“It has been a combination of federal, state and local governments over different administrations, but the focus all the way through has been the people of Horsham,” he said.
“It’s going to lift people. It is a very worthwhile project.”
Ms Pulford said the hall would provide great shows and many memories.
”I know at some points along the journey, the need to develop this facility came into conflict with some members in the community’s fondness for and memories of the old site,” she said.
“What you have now is a beautiful place in which new memories can be made and celebrated for many years to come.”
The federal government committed $5 million to the project, the state government $6.5 million, and Horsham council $7.3 million.
The building component of the project cost $16 million.