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Tawera Memorial Hall
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TitleTawera Memorial Hall
DescriptionThere has been a public hall in Springfield from the 1890s. Known as the Springfield Hall or the Springfield Town Hall, it was used for dances, concerts, socials, lectures, farewells, welcomes, elections and indoor sports such as table tennis. Live animals were shown in the hall in March 1895, performing bears and monkeys were included in the 'Soquet Brothers Animal Show.' Annual balls for bachelors and spinsters were held from the 1920s for several decades.
After a period of community fundraising after World War Two, the Tawera War Memorial Community Centre opened at 2.30pm on Friday 22 October 1954 by Major-General Kippenberger. At the front of the hall is a flagstaff with a plaque commemorating the wartime service of 15 local men. Local ANZAC commemorations are held here annually.
Television presenter Selwyn Toogood hosted an evening in the hall in 1961, and performing sheep delighted the audience in a 1970 dress rehearsal about wool for the New Zealand stand in the 'Expo 70' held in Japan.
DescriptionThere has been a public hall in Springfield from the 1890s. Known as the Springfield Hall or the Springfield Town Hall, it was used for dances, concerts, socials, lectures, farewells, welcomes, elections and indoor sports such as table tennis. Live animals were shown in the hall in March 1895, performing bears and monkeys were included in the 'Soquet Brothers Animal Show.' Annual balls for bachelors and spinsters were held from the 1920s for several decades.After a period of community fundraising after World War Two, the Tawera War Memorial Community Centre opened at 2.30pm on Friday 22 October 1954 by Major-General Kippenberger. At the front of the hall is a flagstaff with a plaque commemorating the wartime service of 15 local men. Local ANZAC commemorations are held here annually.
Television presenter Selwyn Toogood hosted an evening in the hall in 1961, and performing sheep delighted the audience in a 1970 dress rehearsal about wool for the New Zealand stand in the 'Expo 70' held in Japan.
Connections
PlaceSpringfieldImageSpringfield War Memorial BoardSpringfield LibraryMore InformationRead about the Tawera Memorial Hall on the SDC websiteRead about the Soquet Brothers Animal Show at Springfield Hall in March 1895See the advertisement for the visit by Selwyn Toogood in 1961Read about the performing sheep for Expo 70 in the Springfield HallRead about the history of the Tarawera War Memorial on the NZ History website
ImageSpringfield War Memorial BoardSpringfield LibraryMore InformationRead about the Tawera Memorial Hall on the SDC websiteRead about the Soquet Brothers Animal Show at Springfield Hall in March 1895See the advertisement for the visit by Selwyn Toogood in 1961Read about the performing sheep for Expo 70 in the Springfield HallRead about the history of the Tarawera War Memorial on the NZ History websiteAttribution
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Tawera Memorial Hall. Selwyn Stories, accessed 19/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/7043